After more than 40 years of distinguished service and countless accomplishments, Arcadia University’s Dean of the College of Health Sciences Dr. Rebecca Craik is stepping down from her deanship on August 15 and then retiring from the University at the end of December 2023.

From University Provost Dr. Jeff Rutenbeck’s announcement:

It’s a tall order to summarize Dean Craik’s impact on Arcadia University or to capture the breadth of her accomplishments. Foremost, she has played a crucial role in building what is now one of the top-ranked Physical Therapy programs in the nation, and she has played a crucial role in elevating the College of Health Sciences to the position of prominence it holds today. Beck has been a thought leader in the PT department, in the University, in the profession of physical therapy, and beyond. She has contributed at every level of the organization, serving on Promotion & Tenure, Faculty Council, liaising with the Board of Trustees’ Finance and Academic Affairs committees, chairing Middle States Accreditation drafting groups, and much more.

Beck joined Arcadia in 1983 as a tenure-track assistant professor with a specialization in neuroscience and electrophysiology. She served as department Chair for 20 years (1993-2014) and then as Dean of the College of Health Sciences since 2014. In all of her leadership roles, she has been steadfastly dedicated to building a high-functioning, collaborative, student-centered, research-oriented culture that combines the depth of academic study with the rigors of cutting-edge professional practice.

During her tenure as Chair of the department and as Dean of the College, Beck has been involved in a wide range of transformational efforts, including:

– The Dan Aaron Stay Fit Exercise Program, which has provided exercise classes for more than 300 patients with Parkinson disease and multiple sclerosis over the past 20 years.
– The transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program, which produced its first graduating class in 2002 and has since produced approximately 1700 graduates who come from the US and from more than 25 countries.
– A collaborative partnership with Good Shepherd Penn Partners to house an out-patient rehabilitation clinic on the campus of Arcadia.
– The Physical Therapy Pro Bono Clinic, which is student-run and provides no-cost physical therapy to underinsured or uninsured community members.
– Bringing to campus the first Grant Development Specialist at Arcadia in 2002, which has evolved into today’s Office of Sponsored Research. Leading the charge for developing the practice track as an alternative to the non-tenure track role for full-time faculty.
– Countless interprofessional collaborations, including spearheading efforts for interprofessional education among departments in the College of Health Sciences.

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Photo courtesy of Arcadia University