Published: 11/04/2022
Dr. Sarah Ewing, Dean of the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences
Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Ewing, Dean of the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences at Gannon. She was recognized as a Distinguished Alum of North Carolina State University.
“A night to remember. Feeling honored and humbled to be recognized among some incredible NCSU alumni,” wrote Dr. Ewing.
Learn more about Dr. Ewing, featuring here: Leaders. Visionaries. Role-Models. The Stories of our Deans, published in March 2022.
Sarah Ewing, Ph.D. is the dean of the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences.
Ewing is the oldest of five children and funded her own college education, earning a bachelor's degree in biology from Penn State Behrend in 2001 as a University Schreyer Scholar and Excellence in Biology Award recipient, and a Ph.D. in comparative biomedical sciences from North Carolina State University in 2007.
Ewing said she found herself soul-searching during her final years as a graduate research assistant.
“I realized it was the one-on-one interactions with my professors that really had an impact on me. I wanted to be a part of that – helping students find and achieve their own educational and career goals.”
She returned to Erie as a biology professor at Penn State Behrend in 2007. That’s when things became clearer.
“My own recognition for the research that I had been doing wasn’t enough to drive me,” Ewing said. “Mentoring students and helping them to learn research skills and determine how they might use them in their future career in the classroom and in the lab – that’s what drove me.”
That assurance led Ewing to forge a career in academia, transitioning to Gannon in 2009 as an assistant professor of biology and director of pre-health professional programs. She advanced to chair of the biology department (2013), associate professor (2015), associate dean in July (2015), and interim dean (2017).
In December of 2017, Ewing became the permanent dean and has since established herself as a leader with vision and drive.
“It was a series of administrative roles with growing responsibilities across the college,” Ewing said of her journey. “But it was also a willingness to say yes to opportunities and to not shy away despite fears, concerns or a personal need to gain confidence in my ability to take on new roles.”
One of her initial goals was to restructure the college into five schools with a leadership council of five associate deans to oversee each school and Ruskin campus while supporting the dean and college operations.
The restructuring is helping Gannon develop strategic academic programming, promote even greater program collaboration, and support faculty, staff and students.
Ewing’s core goals now involve making Ruskin’s new academic building fully operational, achieving enrollment targets at both campuses, and developing strategic community and clinical partners.
Ewing said she is proud of her role in students’ lives. While she’s not taught since becoming dean, she engages with students through campus events, research conferences and participating in three Alternative Break Service Trips.
For Ewing, what characterizes successful students is that they walk away from Gannon with a quality education, prepared to transform the lives of others.
"The purpose statement of the university rings so true to me. My hope is that we develop students who recognize their ability to impact and transform the people around them,” Ewing said. “I feel as though Gannon does an exceptional job developing competent, kind, selfless and innovative professionals who are committed to lifelong learning, social responsibility, and a passionate pursuit of their goals."