Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) has announced the appointment of two new deans. James Bretz, Ph.D., has taken over the role of Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and Gloria Oikelome, Ed.D. is the new Dean of Health Sciences. Both appointments were made at the conclusion of national searches.

Dr. Bretz joined MCCC in 2009 as an Instructor of Microbiology, and he was promoted to Assistant Professor in 2013. Dr. Bretz has served in the Interim Dean role since January 2017, taking on large-scale projects such as the Science Center renovation and Math reform.

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As Dean, Dr. Bretz will continue to head the College’s STEM division, leading curriculum development, student success initiatives, faculty development and community partnerships. Dr. Bretz earned a B.S. degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Penn State University and a Ph.D. in Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics from the University of Maryland.

Dr. Gloria Oikelome comes to MCCC from Reading Area Community College where she served as Associate Dean of the STEM Division. She earned a B.S. degree in Biology from Bethel University and a M.S. degree in Cell & Molecular Biology/Science Education from Long Island University. She also earned a Post-graduate Certificate in Program & Institutional Assessment and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration, both from Immaculata University.

Dr. Oikelome brings more than 15 years of higher education teaching experience to the Health Sciences Division, including online teaching in biology, microbiology, nutrition and biomedicine. She has a strong background in assessment, accreditation and evaluation, having served in academic leadership roles at institutions such as Lincoln University and the University of York (Hull York Medical School) in the United Kingdom.

About Montgomery County Community College
For more than 50 years, Montgomery County Community College has grown with the community to meet the evolving educational needs of Montgomery County. The College’s comprehensive curriculum includes more than 100 associate degree and certificate programs, as well as customized workforce training and certifications. Students enjoy the flexibility of learning at the College’s thriving campuses in Blue Bell and Pottstown, at the Culinary Arts Institute in Lansdale, and online through a robust Virtual Campus.

As an Achieving the Dream Leader College, the institution is positioned at the vanguard of national efforts to increase completion, improve learning outcomes, and remove barriers to access for students. The College also is recognized regionally and nationally for its sustainability leadership, work with military veterans, community service and service learning opportunities, and use of classroom technology. For more information, visit http://www.mc3.edu.

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