JCC Appoints Associate Vice President of STEM and Health Professions Dr. Scott D. Schaeffer, D.C.
Jefferson Community College (JCC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Scott D. Schaeffer, D.C. to the position of Associate Vice President for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Health Professions. He fills the role of retired Associate Vice President of STEM and Health Professions Linda Dittrich whose farewell was in April 2021. Dr. Schaeffer began his appointment at Jefferson on August 9, 2021.
Dr. Schaeffer hails from Rising Sun, Maryland, where he taught biology at Harford Community College (HCC) for the past 14 years and was responsible for developing anatomy and physiology learning modules for HCC’s non-credit, distance learning Histotechnology Certificate Program. On campus, he was a member of the Medical Assisting Advisory Board, Open Education Resources Committee (Professional Learning Community liaison), Strategic Planning Committee, MSCHE Self-Study Committee and many other committees. Demonstrating community spirit off campus, he volunteered for Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps, Project Homeless Connect through the United Way, Make a Wish Foundation, and as a mentor at Aberdeen High School Science and Math Academy, among other initiatives.
College president, Dr. Ty A. Stone states, “We have found a great faculty leader in Dr. Schaeffer. Along with his in-depth understanding of community colleges, he brings to Jefferson an outstanding record of campus-wide collaboration and a wealth of experience in assessment, accreditation, student retention and shared governance. We look forward to working with Scott.”
Dr. Schaeffer is a commissioner for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), and a peer reviewer, a position he has held since 2013. He chairs the MSCHE Committee on Applicant and Candidate Institutions and alternating the role of vice chair of the MSCHE Committee on Evaluation Reports. In the past, he vice chaired the MSCHE Substantive Change Committee and currently serves on the MSCHE Committee on Membership. MSCHE, an institution accreditor, is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Prior to joining the higher education field, Dr. Schaeffer provided chiropractic care to patients of all ages for 11 years and served as a HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) control officer.
Dr. Schaeffer holds a doctor of chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic, Iowa.
