Caroline Fitzpatrick

Dr. Caroline Fitzpatrick holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary English & Speech Education, a Master of Arts in Communication Studies, a Master of Science in Educational Technology, and a Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Linguistics. She is also certified in grantwriting and a variety of distance education technologies.

Fitzpatrick began at Alvernia as the first Coordinator of the Schuylkill Center in Pottsville and as a part-time instructor. Later, she became a full-time faculty member of the Communications & English department where she facilitated curricular initiatives that included new and revised courses, special topic studies, new program tracks, service-learning projects, and new media integration. Fitzpatrick has taught at every level of higher education: bachelor, master, and doctoral courses. Her teaching and research have been recognized with a number of awards including Alvernia's Christian R. & Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence (2008), as well as Who's Who in America (2009), Sr. Mary Donatilla Legacy Award for Outstanding Faculty Service (2007), Who's Who Among Women in Education (2006 & 2007), an IUP Doctoral Fellowship for Academic Excellence (2003), an Innovative Teaching Grant for Technology Integration (2001), Who's Who Among America's Best Teachers (2000), and the St. Bernardine Award for Excellence in Teaching (2000).  

As a scholar, Fitzpatrick presents and publishes both nationally and internationally, traveling throughout the United States, Europe, & Asia. Her specialties include qualitative research methods, cultural studies, sustainability, and new media technology. She serves on the Executive Board of the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society and the Executive Committee for the Angelica Creek Environmental Center & Park. She also works in the community as a grant writer and as a qualitative research consultant for interviewing, focus group, oral history and ethnographic projects. Recently, she was appointed the Convention Chair of the 2010 International English Honor Society's Conference, Storytellers, to be held in St. Louis, Missouri.

In addition to her teaching and scholarship, Fitzpatrick has served Alvernia University in administrative positions as the Director of Instructional Standards; Director of the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies for Community Leadership; and most recently she accepted the position as the first Director for the Office of Distance Education, where she is developing and launching many new opportunities for students in web-based instruction and international studies.

During her personal time, Fitzpatrick values time with her family, friends, and pets, travels extensively, writes creative nonfiction, and collects classic/foreign films and indie music. A perpetual student, last year she began experimenting with digital photography and taking guitar lessons for the first time.