Sellersville Resident Teri Ceraso Recently Appointed as
Director of Learning Support Programs
at La Salle University

Sellersville resident Teri Ceraso has recently been appointed Director of Learning Support Programs at La Salle University, a newly-created position “This position evolved in an effort to consolidate the academic support that La Salle has to offer its students,” said Ceraso.

These programs consist of the Sheekey Writing Center; the ADP and AEP programs, two programs that help students succeed; academic support for student athletes;, Freshmen Advising, and Tutoring Services. Many of these programs were created to assist  freshmen in particular.

As Director, Ceraso’s role is to help coordinate the efforts of each program, develop new initiatives, troubleshoot, and assure that each has the resources it needs to meet student needs.

“I was drawn to La Salle because I respect the University as a whole. I liked the size, the location of it within the city, and I can identify with La Salle’s mission,” she said.  “I was interested in taking on my new position because learning support is at the heart of what an institution of higher education does, and here at La Salle, the Learning Support programs embrace the University’s mission so well,” said Ceraso. “Not only is there room for new ideas and growth, but there is a great team of people already in place. Overall, I felt a connection with the people here at La Salle and I always enjoy a challenge.” 

Ceraso said she plans to realign the writing, tutoring and freshmen advising functions, and she hopes to develop programs for students who are academically at-risk and might need additional support to achieve their potential.
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In addition, she’d like to enhance communication about the Learning Support programs in general, and partner with other areas of the University such as community development, the library, and counseling centers. “Over time, I’d like to see us reach out more to adults students and I hope to find a space like the writing center that will become a tutoring or success center where we facilitate workshops and provide quiet accessible space for the tutors and their students to work in,” said Ceraso.

Cersaso has been at La Salle for two years and was formerly Assistant Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences.  She also has worked at Temple University, Lehigh University, Moravian College, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and was the Executive Director of the Upper Bucks County Chamber of Commerce.

According to Ceraso, “Learning Support Programs fall under the auspices of the Provost’s Office and a distinct department was created as a result of a study done in 2000. The University assembled an instructional task force which consisted of a variety of faculty and staff. They researched the support programs at other similar institutions and determined that the support programs at LaSalle would be more affective if they were centralized.”

-- Theresa Sherlock