EDUCATION

Loyola University of Chicago: BA Degree

Eastern Illinois University: MA Degree

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale: Ph.D.

 

UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR

Dr. Alessio is Professor Emeritus in Sociology.  During his career he initiated, developed, and co-developed a number of university programs to enhance diversity and social justice.  In addition to his teaching and research responsibilities, Dr. Alessio served as the Director of Sociology at two universities and served in numerous leadership positions as a faculty member, such as: 

1. University Faculty Union President

2. University faculty Union Chief Grievance Officer

3. State Faculty Union Board Member

4. State Faculty Union Treasurer and Executive Committee Member

5. State Faculty Union Liaison to the Minnesota Educational Association

6. Chaired many University Faculty Committees

 

UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATOR

Dr. Alessio served as the academic dean of the undergraduate college at Marywood University from 2000 – 2003.  This position involved supervising 19 departments & department chairs, 120 fulltime faculty members, and about 250 part-time faculty members.  While at Marywood, among other accomplishments, he:

1. led a major curriculum transformation project that created a greatly revised core curriculum for the University;

2. played a significant role in the restructuring of the University;

3. initiated and executed a new systematic quantitative methodology for determining merit pay;

4. served on and chaired numerous college and university-wide committees;

5. Led a movement away from using real animals in anatomy lab to using a virtual electronic lab 

 

From 2006 through 2011 Dr. Alessio served as the Dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Minnesota State University, Mankato.  He supervised 11 departments and department chairs, 130 fulltime faculty members and about 100 part-time faculty members.  During this service, among other accomplishments, he:

1.   initiated and developed a college diversity program;

2.   developed and executed a systematic method for distributing discretionary funds; 

3.   promoted and helped develop a Native American Studies 4 year degree Program;

4.   helped lead and facilitate a doctoral program in Psychology;

5.   led an increase in summer school revenues;

6.   led an increase in scholarship productivity;

7.   led and assisted the transition away from using live rats in labs;

8.   planned and oversaw the expansion of the college’s physical space;

9.   led the development and execution of a study abroad program;

10. led and executed a systematic data-based process for reducing the college budget by 2 million   

      dollars in response to the 2008 financial crisis;

11. served on and chaired numerous college and university-wide committees

 

AUTHOR/PUBLISHED WORKS

In addition to presenting professional conference papers throughout The United States and Canada, Dr. Alessio has published in some of the most prestigious journals in his field, including:

1.  Journal of Marriage and the Family

2. The Social Psychology Quarterly

3.  Journal of Applied Sociology

4.  Social Forces

5.  American Sociological Review

6.  Journal of Psychology

7.  International Review of Modern Sociology

 

Dr. Alessio has also co-authored a monograph titled, Education for Global Citizenship and Social Responsibility, with Dr. Julie Andrzejewski, and is the author of three books, and an Italian Translation (translated by Alice Di Certo):

1. Social Problems and Inequality:  Social Responsibility Through Progressive Sociology (Originally with Ashgate and now under the Routledge label - 2011)

2. The Intentional Dean: A Guide to the Academic Deanship (Routledge - 2017)

3. With Tears and Laughter: An Immigrant Voyage (KDP Press (Amazon)), and Barnes & Noble Press – 2020) 

4. Tra Lacrime E Risate: La vita di un emigrato italiano (Casa Editrice Kimerik - 2023)

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE & INTERESTS

Political and Social Commentary

Historical Fiction

Educational Administration (focus on the academic dean)

Social Problems (focus on Sociological analysis and solutions)

Social Research Methods

 

PERSONAL INTERESTS

Writing, Biking, Gardening, Cooking, Spending Time With His Wife, 4 Children & 6 Grandchildren

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