Daemen’s liberal arts core fosters lifelong learners

“All of our students have a general education curriculum that they complete, which has a number of different competencies related to critical thinking and writing skills,” says Dr. Lisa Rafalson, founding dean of the College of Health, Human Sciences and Business.

Daemen University’s mission is to prepare creative, ethically minded leaders for a diverse and interconnected world. This takes place by integrating the intellectual strength acquired through the liberal arts with the preparation gained for professional excellence to make meaningful contributions to society. The university continues investing in that mission through new initiatives.

This fall, Daemen introduced four new academic programs: Health, Wellness, and Fitness Management, B.S.; Marketing, B.S.; Strategic Communications, B.A.; and Studio Arts, B.F.A.

“These degrees came to us based on student demand and also align closely with the faculty expertise on campus,” explains Dr. Rafalson.

Strong writing, a key component of a liberal arts curriculum, is also a cornerstone of strategic communications, notes Dr. Heather Stassen, founding dean for the College of Arts, Sciences and Education.

“It’s one of the skills employers are consistently looking for,” she says. “Communications professionals have really become a one-stop shop. You have to do a little bit of everything; it's not just planning, it's not just theoretical.”

Though students take the same core classes, they’re able to customize that knowledge and utilize whatever aspects of it are most useful for their career trajectory, explains Dr. Stassen. That could be anything from political communication to health communication or graphic design and marketing.

“They'll all have a strong foundation in writing, reading and understanding audiences,” she says. Then they'll extrapolate that to their area of specialization.”

In the Scott Bieler College of Health Professions, 2025 graduates of Daemen’s Physician Assistant (PA) program had a perfect first-time pass rate on the national certifying examination, far exceeding the national average. Dr. Greg Ford, the college’s founding dean, says that’s just one indication of the strength of a Daemen education.

“Medicine changes overnight,” says Dr. Ford. “We prepare students to be lifelong learners. Our faculty still practice in their fields, bringing real-world cases into the classroom and making learning meaningful.”

And even in the sciences, a liberal arts foundation is paramount to student success.

“Critical thinking and close reading of high-level research prepares health professionals to evaluate and interpret medical literature going forward,” Dr. Ford says.

Dr. Rafalson sees special value in Daemen’s experiential opportunities for students, including internships, field placements, service learning and study abroad programs.

“It gives them exposure to diverse ideas, opinions and settings, as well as the opportunity to test the skills that they've already learned in a safe environment,” she says.

Faculty also work across departments and disciplines to support students, says Dr. Stassen.

“Every day, students are at the forefront of engagement,” she says. “It's really a wonderful place to work, because we know what matters and care for who each student really is.”