FDU Appoints New Dean for School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
June 13, 2022 — Fairleigh Dickinson University has appointed Anastasia Rivkin, Pharm.D., Ed.D., as the dean of the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, effective July 1. Dr. Rivkin had been serving as the interim dean.
Anastasia Rivkin, Pharm.D. and Ed.D.
“Anastasia’s leadership and expertise provide tremendous strength for the future of FDU’s health initiatives in pharmacy and beyond,” said Michael J. Avaltroni, University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Please join me in congratulating her, and I know you will support her well in this important role.”
Anastasia joined FDU as assistant dean for faculty of the School of Pharmacy — as it was then called — as it welcomed its inaugural class in 2012. Since then, she has been instrumental in the development of the Doctor of Pharmacy program curriculum, assessment, and accreditation efforts. Curricular oversight and ongoing monitoring of health care industry trends, as well as evaluation of student performance has resulted in several quality improvement initiatives under her leadership. These include supporting development and implementation of the enriched curriculum for the Doctor of Pharmacy program, launch of new experiential teaching and assessment approach, and recommendations for improving graduates’ national board exam performance. These interventions and quality improvement initiatives are demonstrating positive results for the programs and for the University. Consequently, during her role as interim dean, the school and Doctor of Pharmacy program received highly positive and encouraging feedback from its accreditation visit, with all 25 accreditation standards cited as compliant. She also collaborated with the team at the school to help establish new programs in public health, physician assistant studies, occupational therapy, and social work.
Before being named interim dean, Anastasia served as executive associate dean and assistant dean for faculty for the school. Prior to joining FDU, she led the pharmacy practice department at Long Island University’s Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. She is a registered pharmacist in New York and New Jersey, a board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist, and an immunizing pharmacist. She is actively engaged in pharmacy practice and education organizations on national and local levels: she is an active member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), where she is a delegate, and a member of the organization’s journal editorial board. She is also a member of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), as well as the New Jersey Pharmacists Association (NJPhA) and the New Jersey Society of Health-System Pharmacist (NJSHP), where she serves on a leadership group.
Anastasia earned her BS in pharmaceutical sciences and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from North Dakota State University; she completed her residency at Yale New Haven Health in Connecticut; 18 years after finishing her residency she was recognized with a John J. Zugich distinguished alumni award from Yale New Haven Health for her achievements in pharmacy education. She also holds a Doctor of Education in higher education degree from FDU’s Peter Sammartino School of Education.
The author of more than 50 peer-reviewed textbook chapters, publications and presentations that appear in high-impact pharmacy journals, medical journals and textbooks, her areas of expertise include pharmacy education, critical care, and gastrointestinal and liver diseases.