Delaware Valley University to Honor Dr. Maria Gallo for Her Positive Impact on the University

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Credit: Delaware Valley University. Dr. Maria Gallo, DelVal’s 13th president has accepted a new position.
Credit: Delaware Valley University. Dr. Maria Gallo, DelVal’s 13th president has accepted a new position.

President Gallo will be moving on at the end of the semester to accept a position as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Delaware Valley University President Dr. Maria Gallo has accepted a new position as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. After the close of the academic year, Dr. Benjamin Rusiloski, DelVal's current vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty, will serve as interim president while the University conducts a presidential search. Dr. Gallo will be honored at the University's upcoming Commencement ceremonies on May 15 and May 16.

"On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we want to express our gratitude to President Gallo for her many efforts on behalf of our DelVal students, faculty, staff and alumni," said Majid Alsayegh, chair of the University's Board of Trustees. "We are extremely grateful for her dedicated service and success over the past five years, particularly in the face of challenging circumstances during the pandemic. Thanks to her leadership, we are well-positioned for continued progress. We look forward to formally recognizing Dr. Gallo at the graduation ceremonies."

Under Dr. Gallo's five years of leadership, DelVal created a comprehensive strategic plan and a new vision: "to be the leader in experiential education, empowering all learners to transform the world." A testament to that vision occurred when the University's experiential learning program, Experience360, was honored with the 2019 Outstanding Experiential Education Program Award by the National Society for Experiential Education (NSEE). During her tenure, freshman fall-to-fall retention rates significantly rose and the career outcomes rate became the highest in the history of DelVal at 94.4 percent.

Dr. Gallo has helped the University thoughtfully expand its graduate program offerings to include health science degrees that will be transformational. She has made access and equity university-wide priorities. Dr. Gallo established the President's Commission on Diversity and Inclusion and the Division of Campus Life and Inclusive Excellence. She also served on numerous community, state, and national boards raising the profile of the University.