PCC welcomes new academic leaders

PUEBLO – Pueblo Community College welcomed two new college leaders June 1.

Quincy Rose-Sewell is PCC’s new vice president of academic support. She will serve as the chief academic officer, responsible for the management of educational curriculum and assigned academic support services throughout the college. 

Dr. Rajashree Pandit will be PCC’s new dean of medical and behavioral health. She will oversee the college’s nursing, surgical technology, psychiatric technician, certified nurse aide, simulation and medical assisting programs. 

“I am extremely excited to announce the addition of two outstanding individuals to the PCC leadership team,” said PCC President Patty Erjavec. “Both Dr. Rose-Sewell and Dr. Pandit bring a caliber of academic and leadership experience that is sure to complement our ability to deliver upon the role and mission of PCC.”

Rose-Sewell is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. She comes to PCC from Baltimore City Community College, where she served as assistant vice president for academic affairs. Prior to that, she was the dean of the College of Education at Harris-Stowe State University in Missouri and held leadership and instructional positions at Grambling State University in Louisiana and Tusculum College in Tennessee.

“With a focus on celebrating diversity, equity and inclusion at PCC, the faculty, staff and leaders are clearly committed to supporting the development of the holistic student who is a lifelong learner and change agent,” Rose-Sewell said. “It is truly an opportunity of a lifetime to bring my passion for student access and success, innovative practices and community partnerships to PCC. I look forward to strengthening our partnerships with community leaders, industry leaders and alumni as well as to collaborating through shared governance to develop new sustainable programs and removing barriers by securing a plethora of student resources to empower success.”

Rose-Sewell earned her Doctorate of Education in innovation and leadership from Wilmington University in Delaware and received her bachelor’s degree in primary education and master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, both from Delaware State University. In 2015, she was one of 50 women worldwide selected to participate in Harvard University’s Women in Education Leadership Program. 

Rose-Sewell is a passionate advocate for domestic violence awareness and prevention and is committed to serving the community through her service with local organizations. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, playing golf and putting together jigsaw puzzles. She and her husband, Rodney Sewell, have nine adult children and 10 grandchildren.

Pandit earned her medical degree from the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research in India and completed residencies in clinical biochemistry and general surgery while in India. She did another two-year residency at the University of Washington, completing rotations in specialties such as cardiothoracic, orthopedic and vascular surgery. She worked as a postdoctoral associate and research analyst at Duke University Medical Center from 2007-2018, conducting extensive research in general surgery and heart transplant surgery.

Pandit most recently served as chair of clinical medicine and associate professor in systems and disease/clinical skills at the Saba University School of Medicine. In addition to managing a department of clinical professors, she taught science and clinical skills classes in anatomy, biochemistry, pathophysiology, immunology and other areas of medicine.

Pandit’s husband is a medical professor and her daughter is a computer and biomedical engineer. She enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, studying medicine and taking part in community events.

“Promoting diversity is something I deeply believe in,” Pandit said. “A quote I like is from Marie Curie: ‘One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.’” 

Founded in 1933, Pueblo Community College is a premier teaching institution focused on providing academic and service excellence, without discrimination, to help its students acquire the 21st-century skills needed to better their lives. An educational and technological leader, PCC fosters economic development and utilizes strong partnerships in the communities it serves through its Pueblo, Fremont and Southwest campuses.