A painting of a cobblestone bridge sits on Melissa Napolitano’s desk in Seacobeck Hall. A gift from her sixth-grade teacher, the watercolor is both meaningful and metaphorical for Napolitano, the inaugural dean of the University of Mary Washington’s newly expanded College of Education, now called the College of Education and Human Development.
On the back of the painting, Mrs. Blake wrote, “You crossed one of life’s important bridges today,” marking Napolitano’s graduation from college.
In her new role, she’ll create her own type of bridge, melding the teacher training on which Mary Washington was built with the Department of Nursing and the Department of Athletics, Health and Physical Education. The disciplines share a purpose, said Napolitano, an academic leader whose background spans clinical psychology, physical activity, public health, behavioral medicine and student success. Teachers, nurses and coaches are on the frontlines throughout people’s lives, helping them learn, grow, stay healthy and thrive, she said. They’re also often the first to notice student struggles, like food instability and mental health challenges.
“I really think about building bridges … across disciplines, for students into their careers, and solidifying our campus-community bridges,” she said. “There’s so much that unites us. I’m excited to think about how we build on all the strengths across different areas and continue to create our shared purpose together.” Read more about UMW’s inaugural dean of the College of Education and Human Development.