Craig Fuller, Ph.D., is the new interim dean of the School of Natural, Health, Social & Behavioral Sciences at Centenary University.

A highly-experienced scientist and faculty member, Fuller is the architect of the University’s ongoing expansion into academic programs focused on health and wellness.

Before entering higher education, Fuller worked in hospitals and reference laboratories, as well as in the biomedical industry. He earned masters and doctoral degrees in infectious diseases and microbiology from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology from Baylor University, Waco TX. He was trained in medical technology by Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Texas and certified as a medical laboratory scientist through the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).

“Dr. Fuller’s extensive experience in both industry and higher education have proven invaluable to ensuring that Centenary’s new health and wellness programs maintain the University’s high academic standards and meet the needs of employers,” said David Dauwalder, Ph.D., interim vice president for academic affairs. “He has also aggressively pursued partnerships with area healthcare institutions to enrich clinical experiences for Centenary students and employment outcomes for our graduates.”

Under Fuller’s direction, Centenary has introduced a series of new healthcare degrees and concentrations to address growing nationwide demand for trained workers across a broad spectrum of health-related fields. The new programs introduced at Centenary include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing for registered nurses to earn a baccalaureate degree, Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science, Bachelor of Science in Health Science, Bachelor of Science in Public Health, and Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science.

“Centenary is committed to meeting the critical need, in the Skylands Region and across the nation, for well-trained healthcare workers in laboratories, hospitals, and other healthcare settings,” Fuller said. “There is also great demand for these programs among students. For instance, the Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, which launched in fall 2021, is now Centenary’s fastest growing major.”

NJBIZ CITES MBA PROGRAM

In other college news. Centenary University’s Master of Business Administration was voted New Jersey’s best MBA program by readers of NJBIZ, an influential business publication that covers the state. In addition, the University was named the state’s second best college/university and accounting degree program in the 2022 NJBIZ Reader Rankings.

Centenary’s placements in this year’s rankings reflect the excellence of the University’s academic programs and the high level of satisfaction of alumni and students, said David Dauwalder, Ph.D., interim vice president for academic affairs. “These rankings demonstrate the pride students and alumni feel for Centenary University,” he said. “This University offers outstanding academic opportunities that propel our graduates to career success and provide employers with a highly-skilled workforce in business, healthcare, education, equine studies, and many other in-demand fields.”