Cathie Fallona, PhD

Dr. Fallona became interim Dean of the College of Education in July 2026. She also currently serves as Director and Professor of the Ph.D. in Public Policy with a Concentration in Educational Leadership and Policy. 

Dr. Fallona came to the University of Southern Maine in 2000, earning the rank of full professor in 2015. Throughout her career at the University of Southern Maine, Dr. Fallona has served in several leadership roles including: 

• Associate Dean, College of Management and Human Service
• Director, School of Education and Human Development
• Associate Dean and Director of Teacher Education, College of Education and Human Development
• Director, Center for Education Policy, Applied Research, and Evaluation
• Director of Educator Preparation       
• Director, USM Summer Reading and Writing Workshop
• Department Chair, Departments of Teacher Education & Literacy, Language, and Culture
• Program Coordinator, Teachers for Elementary and Middle Schools Program

In addition, she was honored twice with the USM Faculty Senate Award for Outstanding University and Community Service. 

Prior to joining the USM faculty, Dr. Fallona’s academic positions included serving as an Assistant Professor of Elementary Education at the University of Georgia and as a Lecturer of Educational Studies at the University of Michigan. She also worked as an elementary school teacher in Arizona and Maine.

Dr. Fallona earned a PhD in Education with a major in Teaching and Teacher Education and Masters of Arts in Language, Reading and Culture from the University of Arizona and bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Maine.