As Jefferson College’s new president, Dena McCaffrey faces a monumental challenge – trying to plan for the opening of the new school year in the midst of a global pandemic.
“First and foremost, I would say, definitely, the fall classes are our main concern – the health and safety of our students and employees,” she said.
Jefferson College officials recently announced plans to open the 2020-2021 school year on Aug. 17 with in-person classes.
McCaffrey said those plans are tentative, though, depending on the health and governmental directives in place to stem the spread of COVID-19, which could have an effect on any public gatherings.
“I believe, with our board and faculty and staff working together, we will be able to face the challenges,” she said.
McCaffrey, 50, took over the job July 1, the day after Ray Cummiskey retired from the position.
She is the college’s first female president and its eighth president overall. Her first-year salary in the position is $170,000.
McCaffrey, who was named the president-elect in February 2019, said college funding is another top concern for her and other college administrators.
“Another goal is just to work to ensure we remain a financially secure institution and that we continually work to fulfill our mission,” McCaffrey said. “We just completed our strategic plan for the next five years and it’s my intention to reach the goals outlined in the plan.
“Our focus and strategic priorities include student success, instructional excellence, operational excellence, and community engagement.”
She and her husband, Pete, moved to Arnold from St. Louis County after she was named the president-elect, since residency in the county is a requirement of the position. The McCaffreys have three children.
McCaffrey has worked for the college for 13 years, previously as the school’s dean of Career and Technical Education.
Before coming to Jefferson College, McCaffrey worked for the Jewish Community Center in St. Louis County as senior director of sales and marketing; for St. Louis University as associate director of the master of business administration and graduate programs; as a marketing manager at the St. Louis Science Center; and as a supervisor at the Maritz Marketing Research Call Center.
She earned a doctorate in higher education administration, as well as an MBA and a certificate of Women’s Leadership from St. Louis University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration in marketing and communications from Fontbonne University.
She said her years at Jefferson College meant she was able to spend the past year or so working, under Cummiskey’s guidance, to make the transition to the college president job instead of having to learn the lay of the land.
“I’ve been with the college since 2007 and have been part of the administration since 2012,” McCaffrey said. “So, I have a good overview of the college and what is needed.”