Maria Puzziferro, PhD

With more than 25 years of experience in higher education leadership, Dr. Puzziferro is a recognized leader in educational innovation and has served in executive academic roles including president, provost, dean and chief academic officer-level positions in multiple institutions of higher education. Throughout her career, she has led institutional transformation initiatives focused on academic quality, operational effectiveness, and student outcomes. She is widely respected for her ability to build collaborative partnerships, create engaging learning experiences, and develop novel strategies that strengthen organizational performance.

Since joining USAHS in 2017 as Dean of Teaching, Learning and Innovation, Dr. Puzziferro has helped shape the university’s academic strategy and growth. She has provided leadership for teaching and learning effectiveness, instructional design, digital education, learning resources and faculty support. She was appointed Associate Chief Academic Officer in 2023 before becoming Chief Academic Officer in 2026.

Dr. Puzziferro holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Leadership from New York University, a Master’s degree in Government and Politics and a Master’s in Library Science from St. John’s University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Adelphi University. She has contributed extensively to scholarship and practice in online and virtual learning, served as a reviewer for national institutional accreditation, and is Associate Editor of the Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education.