Longmeadow, MA —Following a national search, Bay Path University is pleased to announce that Dr. Ruth Lahti was selected to be the inaugural dean of the School of Education, Psychology & Humanities.
“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Lahti to the Bay Path community,” said Dr. John Caron, interim vice president of Academic Affairs. “Dr. Lahti has vast experience as an educator and administrator, and possesses extensive knowledge of online learning platforms and strategies. She is a creative and entrepreneurial student-focused leader whose background will be integral as the University looks at new ways to expand and deliver our academic portfolio in the School of Education, Psychology & Humanities that benefit both our students and the marketplace.”
In her previous position, Dr. Lahti served as the associate vice president of academics at Southern New Hampshire University, Global Campus Online. In that role, she led a team of 70 full-time administrators and faculty while overseeing 22 online programs; spearheaded the development of a career-oriented MFA in Creative Writing that is now the largest MFA program in the country; oversaw DEI strategies that produced positive, measurable results; and implemented data-driven decision making to foster student success, grow online programs in both enrollment and revenue, and launch a suite of career-focused embedded certificates.
“Dr. Lahti clearly shares Bay Path’s values that are reflected in our mission and career-focused education: innovation, diversity, equity, the pursuit of excellence, inclusiveness, collaboration, and social responsibility,” said President Sandra Doran. “As the inaugural dean, she will bring a new vision that will enable the University to expand and evolve our offerings and provide an even richer and more engaging experience for our students.”
As dean of the School of Education, Psychology & Humanities, Dr. Lahti is responsible for leading and coordinating the operations of department chairs and program directors to support student and faculty success. Through collaboration with cross-University departments, she will be a member of teams that develop strategic external partnerships, implement ongoing processes for the development of and scanning for new curricular ideas and initiatives and identify and assist in obtaining new revenue streams to support the expansion of School programs and infrastructure.
Dr. Lahti earned her PhD and MA in English from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and her BA in English from James Madison University.
About Bay Path University
Bay Path University was founded in 1897. Today, Bay Path’s population of approximately 2,500 students includes traditional undergraduates; adult women at The American Women's College, the first all-women, all-online accredited degree program in the country; and women and men master’s and doctoral students. Throughout Bay Path’s history, it has held true to the vision that “Every learner’s dream of a better career, a richer life, and a brighter future will be realized.”
