Farmingdale State College (FSC) Senior Vice President and Provost Laura Joseph, EdD, today announced the appointment of Sarah T. Gross, PhD, as the new dean of the Santmann School of Health Sciences, effective August 19, 2024. 

Gross first joined FSC’s faculty in 2006 as an assistant professor of biology. She quickly moved into a leadership role as curriculum director of FSC’s bioscience program. Gross clearly demonstrated her commitment and passion for student success, achieving tenure in 2013 and the rank of full professor in 2022. 

Since 2017, Gross has served as chair of FSC’s Biology Department, which has grown to support 75 faculty and staff under her expert guidance. She was instrumental in advancing FSC’s bioscience program and submitting a Letter of Intent to the State University of New York (SUNY) for the Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs master’s program. In addition, Gross has worked to maintain high quality general education courses that specifically support FSC’s health science programs and has overseen the College’s pre-health post-baccalaureate certificate program. 

“Sarah has proven to be a strong academic leader who has been instrumental in the advancement of the Biology Department in terms of curriculum development and research," said Joseph. "Her advocacy for faculty and contributions to the campus through her years of service are unmatched. I am delighted to have Sarah join the campuses academic leadership team as dean of the Santmann School of Health Sciences and look forward to working with her in this new capacity.”

Gross succeeds Denny Ryman, EdD, who has served as dean of the Santmann School of Health Sciences since 2014. Prior to his appointment, Ryman served seven years as the dean of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Ryman authored a book on medical technology and clinical laboratory science and more than 20 articles on the health sciences.  

A brilliant researcher, Gross is focused on the replication cycle of herpesviruses, specifically on understanding the interactions involved in the process of envelopment. Additionally, she collaborated with Stony Brook University to study the effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on herpesvirus infection. She has several publications and presentations to her credit and continues to seek out grant opportunities to support her work. 

A passionate and committed member of the FSC community, Gross has been deeply involved in service at all levels, including chairing the Farmingdale Executive Committee (FEC) since 2022. She also chaired the College-Wide Curriculum Committee (CWCC) from 2011 to 2015 and received the prestigious Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2017. 

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