August 31, 2021
This academic year, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts welcomed three new vice presidents to its executive team: Joseph DaSilva, Vice President of Administration and Finance; Dr. Richard Glejzer, Vice President of Academic Affairs; and Dr. Jeannette Smith, Vice President of Student Affairs.
The three new vice presidents were hired after an intensive search process that included multiple interviews and open meetings for campus community members including students, faculty, and staff.
“I’m excited to have three highly experienced vice presidents join our campus community at this pivotal moment in higher education,” said MCLA President James F. Birge, Ph.D. “They’re already offering new perspective and thinking about ways to continue to carry out our mission of providing an affordable, high-quality education to our students.”
Joseph DaSilva, Vice President of Administration and Finance
Joseph DaSilva joined MCLA in June 2021. He has worked in public higher education
for over 28 years of which the last 21 years were at Springfield Technical Community
College (STCC) in Springfield, MA. During his tenure as Vice President of Administration/CFO,
Joe provided executive-level vision, leadership, planning, direction, and managed/oversaw
all aspects of fiscal operations, facilities management, Campus Police, Information
Technology, Student Financial Services, and Human Resources/Employee Benefits and
Operations Center.
DaSilva holds a Bachelor’s of Art from Western New England University, Springfield, MA and a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration from Bay Path University, Longmeadow, MA. Joe represented the STCC in numerous community-based activities, on various organization boards and in many community-based efforts.
Richard Glejzer, Ph.D., Vice President of Academic Affairs
Dr. Richard Glejzer joined MCLA in July 2021. He was most recently the Interim Dean
of Graduate Studies at Muhlenberg College, and previously served as Provost and Dean
of Faculty at Marlboro College for 10 years. Prior to joining Marlboro, Glejzer served
as professor and chair of English at North Central College, and as chair of the college’s
academic programs and policy committee. Among his other institutional duties, Glejzer
served on the college’s steering committee and the Dean’s Academic Advisory Committee.
He was a faculty liaison to the Board of Trustees. Earlier in his career at North
Central, Glejzer revised the composition program as the Director of Writing.
Glejzer received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in English from the University of New Hampshire and his Ph.D. from University of Missouri-Columbia.
Jeannette Smith, Ph. D., Vice President of Student Affairs
Dr. Jeannette Smith joined MCLA in June 2021. She is a scholar-practitioner with 16
years of work experience in higher education having worked most recently as the Associate
Dean of Student Affairs and engagement at Evergreen State College. Smith was employed
prior at Truckee Meadows Community College, University of Nevada, Reno, and Elmhurst
College. Her practice areas of experience include student unions, residence life and
dining, academic advising, financial aid, shared governance, and student employment.
Her scholarship areas of interests include policy, equity, financial aid, and student
development.
Smith earned her BA in Journalism/Marketing, and her MA and Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration/Educational Leadership from the University of Nevada, Reno.
