Chatham University’s Eastside campus, home to the College of Health Sciences, has experienced its fair share of changes this academic year: a dean search, construction of the new Health and Human Performance Center and the sale of the Eastside building to Carnegie Mellon University. With a decade-long lease at Eastside ahead, the future of the College of Health Sciences remains a top priority.
Dr. Jason Edsall was named the new dean of the College of Health Sciences last month following Former Dean Salvador Bondoc’s departure in December 2025.
Edsall began at Chatham in 2017 as the director of exercise science, creating the Master of Science in Athletic Training program from the ground up and teaching within that program as an associate professor.
He has helped to create a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness and minors in nutrition, exercise science and health and wellness. Since Edsall started in 2017, the department of exercise science has grown from 17 students to over 100.
Dr. Melissa Bednarek, who served as the interim dean of the College of Health Sciences, says that Edsall’s experience makes him the right fit for the role.
“Edsall has knowledge that will help him lead all of the programs within the College of Health Sciences. With the knowledge, skills and network that [Edsall] has, he is well positioned to be flexible and adaptable to change that is inherent within higher education,” Bednarek said.
Students are looking forward to seeing where this new leadership takes the College of Health Sciences.
“I hope to see expansion of resources and classes, and a growing program that expands to have a huge variety of majors, professors and classes. I have no doubt we will see an expansion with [Edsall] taking charge,” said Kaitlyn Valentic, a sophomore exercise science student.
Edsall has a bachelor’s degree in athletic taining from Slippery Rock University, a master’s degree in education from Salisbury University and a doctorate in athletic training from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. He has worked in the field as an athletic trainer, high school teacher and professor. Before transitioning to Chatham, he worked as the program director of athletic training at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
He is equipped to utilize his experience from his past roles in interprofessional collaboration with students, faculty and healthcare practitioners. He is looking forward to the opportunity to collaborate with other schools within Chatham like the merged Falk School of Sustainability & Environment and the School of Business & Enterprise.
“I think it’s really important to get students on all three campuses to have some interactions and find ways to do it purposefully,” Edsall said.
Edsall is excited to see how the renovations at Eastside can not only improve the College of Health Sciences but bridge the gaps between the three colleges.
“It gives us the opportunity to do something new and different and better. I’m excited about it because the potential is limitless. We have a blank slate to create something totally new,” Edsall said.
His top priority is to promote interaction between students across disciplines and create outlets for real-world interactions in the Pittsburgh community. This is especially important for those looking to go into healthcare.
“A whole Chatham is really what’s going to drive us forward and help us survive and move on to our future. So, if we can do that together, it’s going to be great,” Edsall said.
