Dr. Colleen Bielitz was named Southern’s interim vice president for institutional advancement in October 2025. She oversees Development, Integrated Communications & Marketing, and Alumni Relations and serves as executive director of the SCSU Foundation. Since 2018, Bielitz has served as associate vice president for strategic initiatives and outreach at Southern, where she has led a variety of transformative efforts in fundraising, workforce development, and global engagement. Her work at Southern includes co-founding Project Blue, launching the IMXR Initiative focused on immersive learning technologies, and leading the Office of Workforce and Lifelong Learning (OWLL), which generated over $350,000 in net revenue last year. She has also expanded the university’s international presence through strategic global partnerships and the launch of the COIL Hub for collaborative online learning.
Before joining Southern, Bielitz held senior leadership roles at Becker College, Cabrini University, and Miller/Cook & Associates, where she led innovation centers, developed academic programs, and helped institutions achieve record enrollment growth. Throughout her career, she has secured more than $16 million in funding through grants, partnerships, and campaigns. She is a frequent speaker on topics including AI, XR, sustainability, and women in STEM, and her multifaceted experience has equipped her with a profound understanding of the diverse challenges and opportunities within the educational landscape.
In 2025 Bielitz was named a finalist for the CT Technology Council’s Women of Innovation Award. This prestigious award recognizes women for their achievements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Bielitz was a finalist in the in the Academic Innovation and Leadership – Post-Secondary category.
In 2023 she received the Stand Up for STEM Mentorship Award from Million Women Mentors in Connecticut. The award was recognizes women who have made significant contributions to the field of STEM and have helped lift up the next generation of STEM professionals. That same year, she was also appointed as the new state leader for Million Women Mentors CT Chapter. In 2024, she moderated the four Pathways to STEM events through the CT Office of Manufacturing, and she participates annually in the STEM GOES RED events, teaching young women about XR technology. She has also taught Women in STEM for Southern’s First-Year Experience program for the past seven years.
Bielitz holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from West Chester University, a Master of Science degree in organizational leadership from Cabrini University, and a Ph.D. in education with a specialization in organizational leadership from Northcentral University.
