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Faculty
Cesarina Thompson, Ph.D., RN, ANEF, FASAHP
Interim Dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Health and Science Joined USJ:MSN, University of Connecticut
BSN, University of Bridgeport
Cesarina Thompson is Interim Dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Health & Science and joined the University of Saint Joseph in 2025. She was previously Dean of the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions at the University of Hartford and Dean of the School of Health Sciences at American International College in Springfield, MA. Dr. Thompson began her professional career as a registered nurse and practiced in acute care settings prior to pursuing a career in higher education.
Dr. Thompson has over three decades of experience serving in faculty and leadership roles in institutions of higher education. She began her academic career at Southern Connecticut State University where she became a tenured professor and served in a number of leadership roles including department chair and interim associate dean. Her teaching experience includes teaching in undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, including doctoral programs in nursing education and serving as theses and dissertation advisor.
In her previous leadership roles, she has led the development and implementation of new programs, increased the number of full-time faculty and students, oversaw successful professional program accreditation reviews, and contributed to the design of academic buildings for the health professions. She has been successful in securing more than $4M in external funding to support student success, launch new programs, and expand existing academic programs.
Dr. Thompson was honored with the Beverly Koerner Outstanding Alumni Award for Education in Nursing by the University of Connecticut School of Nursing in 2023 and recognized as one of the 2023 Top 25 Women in Business by the Hartford Business Journal.
Dr. Thompson holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Bridgeport and earned her master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. She is a Fellow of the National League for Nursing’s Academy of Nursing Education, a Fellow in the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions, and a site visitor/team leader for the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).