Neumann has appointed Dr. Denise Citarelli Jones, a veteran administrator who spent 14 years with the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, to lead its Doctor of Education (EdD) program.

Jones worked as K-12 director of education for Wallingford-Swarthmore for 11 years (2011-2022) after serving for three years as a middle school assistant principal with the school district.

During her time there, she was also an adjunct professor at Cabrini University, Villanova University, West Chester University, and Neumann. She helped develop the Superintendent Letter of Eligibility program at West Chester and Neumann, and she created courses for the Executive EdD program at Cabrini.

When she retired from Pennsylvania public education in 2022, she didn’t slow down. She stayed in the classroom at local colleges, and during the 2022 fall semester, juggled teaching nine courses at four universities while working as an educational consultant and travel agent.

Jones started her career in education as a high school English teacher, spending 12 years in the classroom at Upper Darby High School with shorter stints at Haverford High School and West Chester East.

Stepping into the leadership role for Neumann’s Doctor of Education program connects directly with her love of K-12 education. “I’m fresh out of the field, so I understand what the crisis issues are in K-12 and want to make sure that our program is the answer to those questions,” she says.

Jones points out that there are many ways for students to get information in the digital age. “We have to help them learn how to process that knowledge.”

Jones holds an EdD in Educational Policy, Planning and Leadership from the College of William and Mary; certification in K-12 Administration and Supervision of Curriculum and Instruction from St. Joseph’s University; an MA in English and Publishing from Rosemont College; and a BA in English Education from the University of Delaware.

Neumann’s EdD in Educational Leadership is designed for current and emerging leaders in both traditional and nontraditional education environments. The degree program, which can be completed in four years, prepares professionals to lead educational organizations and equips them to address challenges that educational leaders face in a variety of settings.

The curriculum includes courses on ethical issues in education, instructional supervision, fiscal management, strategic planning, and research methods.