Dr. Cesarina Thompson

Dr. Thompson, a resident of Oxford, is interim dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Health and Science at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ). Prior to joining USJ in July 2025, she was dean of the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions (ENHP) at the University of Hartford for seven years. She also served as dean of the School of Health Sciences at American International College (AIC) in Springfield, MA. Among her leadership accomplishments, Dr. Thompson introduced new academic programs, increased the number of full-time faculty, enhanced enrollment by about 20 percent, and oversaw successful professional program accreditation reviews. Prior to AIC, she worked for 25 years at Southern Connecticut State University where she became a tenured full professor. She also served in a variety of leadership positions including interim associate dean of the School of Health and Human Services and chair of the Department of Nursing.

Dr. Thompson holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Bridgeport and earned her master’s and PhD from the University of Connecticut. She is a Fellow of the National League for Nursing’s Academy of Nursing Education and a Fellow in the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions.