Fosters collaboration and teamwork.
Joanne Ardovini, Ph.D., is a professor in Human Services and Education at Audrey Cohen College, now part of the Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY), where she has served in various leadership roles including Dean of the Audrey Cohen School for Human Services, Education, Public Affairs and Administration, and Community Health Education since 2020, Interim Dean from 2018 to 2019, and Program Director for Human Services and the Common Curriculum since 2015. She joined MCNY as a professor in 2004. Ardovini earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from Western Michigan University in 1997, focusing on Criminology, Gender Studies, Race and Ethnic Relations, and Social Psychology. She holds an M.A. in Communications and Criminology from State University College at Brockport in 1993 and a B.S. in Criminal Justice and Communications from Marist College in 1991. She completed a Post-Doctorate in Education and Leadership at the Institute for Leadership Transformation in 1997-1998. Prior to MCNY, Ardovini was Assistant Professor of Sociology and Director of Graduate Studies at Sam Houston State University from 1998 to 2004, where she developed the first Victimology Program and Sociology of Sports Program in the United States. She has also held adjunct positions at institutions including SUNY New Paltz, Dutchess Community College, New York University, Marist College, and Western Michigan University.
Ardovini's research specializations include feminist epistemology, synergistic leadership theory, social justice pedagogy, curriculum innovation, victimization, media portrayals of crime, and inequalities in education. Key publications feature her book, "It's Cold and Lonely at the Middle: Discrimination against Female Graduate Teaching Assistants" (University Press of America, 2003), and refereed journal articles such as "Teaching Social Justice: A Proposal to Innovate the Liberal Arts Core" (Theory in Action, 2009), "Feminist Epistemology: The Foundation of Feminist Research and its Distinction from Traditional Research" (Advancing Women in Leadership, 2002), "Innovating the Liberal Arts Core" (Academic Exchange Quarterly, 2007), and "Consciousness-Raising: A Tool for Feminist Praxis in Research and Granting Voice" (Theory in Action, 2014). She has authored book chapters on topics including psychodynamic theory, victims in underdeveloped countries, and feminist pedagogy. Ardovini has received awards such as the City & State Above & Beyond Award for Outstanding Women in Education (2018), multiple American Biographical Institute Women of the Year awards (2006-2017), Distinguished Paper Award from the Southwestern Social Science Association (2001), and PEW Scholar Teaching Award (1997). Her contributions extend to workshops on challenges for marginalized academics and curriculum development promoting social justice.
