GALLO TURNS DENTISTRY DREAMS TO HIGHER EDUCATION
A New Jersey native, Theresa Gallo serves as the associate dean of students, but her road to Lynn was certainly abnormal for her particular field.
Originally, Gallo sought to enter dentistry, studying pre-dental at Fairleigh Dickinson University. However, she realized she wanted to pursue student affairs during her time as a graduate student. She enjoyed interactions with students and had an affinity for planning and executing programs.
Gallo, following the advice of her supervisor, obtained her doctorate degree at Saint John’s University before she came to Lynn in 2012 while finishing her degree online. Like many others, she chose Lynn because of the beautiful campus and the diverse student population.
“I’ve always been impressed by the way Theresa can navigate through difficult situations while still looking out for her team,” said Jaclyn Buttacavoli, assistant director for the Center for Student Involvement. “She has given me tools to learn how to stay strong with my beliefs when faced with challenges.”
In her new position as associate dean, Gallo oversees the Women’s Center, the Office of Housing and Residence Life and the Center for Student Involvement. Her favorite part of the job is that each day she faces a new project, keeping her work life interesting.
“I have enough areas where I am not just doing Greek Life, and I’m not just handling housing,” said Gallo. “That’s exciting for me. We can do cool things that affect the student experience.”
One of Gallo’s most-loved aspects of her position is bringing together the Lynn community. She wrote her dissertation about bringing communities together, and she has stayed true to this idea across campus.
“The most rewarding events I have been a part of are the fest weeks,” said Gallo. “Fall, winter and spring fests are great ways to unite the community by programming numerous different activities at once.”
Supervising multiple departments is often challenging, even for those with Gallo’s level of experience. To continue this success, she places high significance on ensuring a capable, sturdy team that she supervises.
“As a team, we make sure that everything we are doing affects students in a positive way,” said Gallo.
In her new role at Lynn, she has the opportunity to stay involved with several areas around campus.
“I get to impact the student experience in more ways than just student activities,” said Gallo. “I can make sure they are in a safe environment and ensure they are well represented and advocated for.”
While her road to Lynn was not the most traditional, surrounding herself with quality individuals has helped her to grow immensely at Lynn. Although Gallo may not be realizing her dreams as a dentist, her career in higher education has been far more rewarding thus far.
