Caroline Kobek Pezzarossi

About Caroline Kobek Pezzarossi

I lead with clarity, strategy, and a practical commitment to making complex systems work better for the people inside them. I’m at my best in high-stakes environments where the work is complicated, the expectations are real, and “we’ve always done it this way” is no longer a viable plan.My background spans curriculum leadership, strategic planning, online education expansion, and organizational effectiveness. I specialize in stabilizing what’s wobbly, fixing what’s broken, and scaling what works, with a consistent focus on equity, accountability, and culture change. I’m known for navigating messy situations without losing the thread and for asking the questions others may avoid.I currently serve as Interim Dean of CORE at Gallaudet University, where I align strategic planning with real operational support and help cross-functional teams build systems that people can actually use. That includes strengthening structures for accreditation, assessment, and institutional effectiveness, as well as supporting the day-to-day work that keeps a university moving forward.Colleagues often describe me as “the person who gets it done,” especially when the stakes are high. I value sharp thinking, candid dialogue, and meaningful impact over performative leadership. I bring a dry wit, a bias toward action, and a deeply student-centered lens to every table I sit at.And if I seem a little intense at first, that’s usually efficiency, not hostility. Underneath it, I’m genuinely warm, deeply loyal to my people, and slightly allergic to unnecessary drama. Outside of work, I read epic fantasy, wear an unreasonable amount of black, and am happily outnumbered at home by a teenager with strong opinions and a spouse who keeps me honest. My work is serious. I rarely take myself too seriously.

Experience

1. Interim Dean, Curriculum, Outreach, Resources, and Effectiveness

   Gallaudet University

   Jul 2025 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Appointed to lead CORE during a critical institutional transition, with a mandate to stabilize, streamline, and strengthen a complex portfolio encompassing curriculum governance, assessment and accreditation, academic compliance, ASL program operations, and strategic outreach.Core responsibilities include: • Overseeing university-wide curriculum operations, including new program development, academic policy, and cross-unit alignment • Leading institutional effectiveness, assessment, and MSCHE accreditation initiatives with a focus on transparency, usability, and impact • Directing ASL-centered programs, including ASLPI, ASL Connect, and ASL curriculum development, with a strong equity and quality lens • Coordinating outreach and faculty development efforts tied to academic success, compliance, and continuous improvement • Managing multimillion-dollar revenue streams and restructured staffing within a recently reorganized academic unitOngoing accomplishments: • Rebuilt CORE’s infrastructure and workflows post-unit dissolution • Introduced accountability systems for assessment and compliance tracking • Piloting new evaluation frameworks for ASL proficiency and online program growth • Serving as a key liaison between faculty, administration, and external accrediting bodiesThis role continues my work as Special Assistant to the Provost and reinforces my reputation as a strategic fixer, someone trusted to lead through ambiguity, implement lasting solutions, and advocate for systems that work.

Education

• Lenoir-Rhyne University

  Bachelor of Arts, Psychology

  1993 — 1997

• Gallaudet University

  Doctor of Philosophy, Clinical Psychology

  2002 — 2008

• University of Arkansas

  Master of Arts, Rehabilitation Counseling for the Deaf

  1999 — 2001

• Gallaudet University

  Master of Arts - MA, Clinical Psychology

  2002 — 2007

Skills

• Mental Health
• American Sign Language
• Program Development
• Child Development
• Community Outreach
• Research
• Clinical Supervision
• Nonprofits
• Psychology
• Adults
• Adolescents
• Program Evaluation
• Mental Health Counseling
• Psychological Assessment
• College Teaching
• Clinical Psychology
• Public Speaking
• Crisis Intervention
• Group Therapy
• Psychotherapy
• Family Therapy
• Fundraising
• Curriculum Development
• Higher Education
• Grant Writing
• University Teaching