Bertolino, 48, who holds a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration and Organizational Leadership from Teachers College and Columbia University, is the fourth alumnus in two months to be named to high-profile education positions. Earlier this month; Laura Spiro (EdD 1989) was appointed director of the Wallace Foundation’s education division, and Mildred Garcia (EdD 1987) was made president of California State University, Fullerton. In January, Joel S. Bloom (EdD 1978) became president of New Jersey Institute of Technology after serving two months as its interim president.

Lyndon State is a small, four-year public college with 1,400 students in Northeastern Vermont. Its mission is to serve students of modest income who are the first in their families to pursue higher education. Bertolino said in a letter to the Lyndon State search committee that working with first-generation college students from modest-income and immigrant families in New York City has been among his professional focuses. He lists as a “particular passion” the “pedagogy of service learning,” the subject of his dissertation at Teachers College.

At Queens College, Bertolino has supervised 22 departments including Admissions, Career Services and International Student Services, and is responsible for the “recruitment, hiring, training and professional development of” about 600 staff members, according to his resume. He has had oversight of budgets totaling more than $20 million and guided the financing and building of a second residential hall for the college, a new dining facility and a new recreation center. Under Bertolino’s leadership, a new Veteran’s Services Office and a Health and Wellness Center were created.

“The 22 departments that Joe has led have greatly benefitted from his inspired and caring guidance,” James Muyskens, president of Queens College, says in a news release from the college.

“As president,” Bertolino said in a written statement, “I will be committed to ensuring that LSC is no longer New England’s best kept secret, but instead a nationally recognized and respected college with strong partnerships and institutional pride.”

Teachers College is not Bertolino’s only connection to Columbia. Before joining the staff of Queens College, where he was also the executive assistant to the president and an associate professor and chairman of the Department of Student Personnel, Bertolino held various staff positions at Barnard College, Columbia University, including Dean for Community Development. He has held similar positions at the State University of New York’s College at Westbury and at East Stroudsburg University, Pennsylvania.

In 1999 and 2000, Bertolino was an instructor in a Higher Education/ Student Affairs seminar at Teachers College. In 1998 he served on a team at Teachers College which conducted research on multiculturalism, multicultural worldview and issues of privilege. He has authored many articles for professional publications and received numerous awards, including: the Frank O’Hara Distinguished Alumni Award in Education from the University of Scranton, where he was awarded a bachelor of science degree in psychology and sociology in 1986; Outstanding Administrator, Columbia University Greek System;  and Administrator of the Year at Barnard. He was named the YMCA Volunteer of the Year in 2000.

Bertolino was born and raised in New Jersey, where he earned a master’s degree in social work direct practice from Rutgers University in 1990.

Published Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012