Dr. Tresmaine Grimes named new VP for Academic Affairs

^{By: Andrew Mees, Director of Institutional Communications and Campaign Marketing                         communications@bloomfield.edu} 

Bloomfield College President Richard A. Levao announced today the appointment of Dr. Tresmaine Grimes to the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty at the private, liberal arts institution.

"Dr. Grimes brings great enthusiasm and energy to this most important position,” said Levao. “She has served a wide range of populations at Iona College which have prepared her well for her new responsibilities, including focus on the academic success of undergraduate students among many other areas. Her commitment to a collegial and consultative decision making process are among the many great assets she brings to Bloomfield College.”

Grimes will join the Bloomfield administration after serving as Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs at Iona College from 2007-2015. During her tenure, she acted as the institutional liaison to the New York State Department of Education and was a member of the school’s self-study working group for reaccreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. She also assisted with several areas of strategic planning, including assessment of student learning outcomes and the development of academic programs.

“I am extremely honored to have been selected for this important position at Bloomfield College,” said Grimes. “Bloomfield serves large numbers of students who share my own background; ethnic minority, first generation, and from immigrant families. My desire is to work with other professionals who share my passion for this population of students. I will be very proud to be a part of this vibrant, caring community.”

In addition to her stint as assistant vice president, Grimes served in several roles at Iona, including ombudsperson for harassment and discrimination and acting chair of the school’s psychology department from 2006-07.

Earning a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Columbia University Teachers College in 1990 and an undergraduate degree in psychology and Afro-American studies from Yale University, she began her career in academia as a faculty member at institutions including South Carolina State University and Iona.

A decorated scholar, Grimes has seen her work published in the book "The Handbook of Multicultural School Psychology” and journals including the “Review of Journalism and Mass Communication”. Her two-year study “Rural Black Youth in Transition; Impact on Drug Use” earned a $100,000 grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse from 1998-2000.

Grimes joins an institution in Bloomfield College that features over 60 majors and concentrations, including a master’s degree program in accounting. Recently ranked among Money Magazine’s 2015 Best Colleges, the school’s Frances M. McLaughlin Division of Nursing has also seen its graduates post the top pass rate in the state of New Jersey among four-year colleges and universities on the NCLEX exam for 2014.

The institution has also developed a unique one-cost tuition model for the 2015-2016 academic year, remaining committed to providing access to higher education and upholding its status as New Jersey’s most affordable private college.

“Bloomfield has a rich history of preparing students to be highly qualified scholars and professionals in their chosen fields,” said Grimes. “The school’s dedicated faculty and staff have made the College an increasingly popular institution in the tri-state area.

As I begin my tenure, I hope to help the College increase the number of highly-qualified, full-time faculty; encourage and enhance faculty professional development opportunities; and continue efforts to recognize those members of the faculty who make significant contributions to the lives of our students.”