Colleen Bielitz
With a career spanning three decades, Dr. Colleen Bielitz (AVP Strategic Initiatives and Outreach) is an accomplished academic, administrator, and tech futurist known for transforming institutions through strategic initiatives, creative entrepreneurship, and visionary leadership. Colleen has been a driving force in improving the learning experience for students of all ages, with a primary focus on increasing access to STEM education for underrepresented populations.
Colleen’s journey includes being a founding member of science and technology incubators in Massachusetts and Connecticut, contributing to the launch of the first Yunus Social Business Centre in the United States, and establishing MASSDigI—a state-wide center for entrepreneurship, academic cooperation, and economic development in the digital and video games ecosystem. At Becker College, she successfully raised funds to create the Colleen C. Barrett Center for Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Currently overseeing Strategic Initiatives and Outreach for Southern Connecticut State University, Colleen’s latest initiatives revolve around the Blue Economy, Manufacturing 4.0, XR Technology and AI. Her commitment to inclusivity is evident in her roles as the co-chair of the Education Committee for the international VR/AR Association, XR Community Group co-lead for Educause, leadership team for XR Women and as a member of Women in AI. Colleen sits on the CT NEXT Higher Education Entrepreneurship Advisory Committee and was also recently named the Connecticut state leader for Million Women Mentors.
A sought-after thought leader, Colleen is a frequent guest speaker at conferences such as the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, CT ACE Women’s Network, Worcester Women’s Leadership Conference, STEM Higher Education Council National Leaders Summit, Educause and the Online Learning Consortium. She illuminates possibilities at the nexus between technology and human ingenuity, speaking globally on the future of extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence (AI) as well as women in STEM.
Colleen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from West Chester University, a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Cabrini University, and a Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in Organizational Leadership from Northcentral University. Recently honored with the Stand Up for STEM Mentorship Award from Million Women Mentors, Colleen Bielitz lives her passion daily, creating purposeful, focused change in her institution’s economic and social potential.
Visiting Scholars
Partnering for the Future. The Visiting Professor Program seeks to connect the K-12 classroom with university scholars to promote discovery, research and learning.
Project Blue at SCSU
Engaging the Long Island Sound Blue Economy. We are stewards of our planet pursuing opportunities for knowledge and value creation in a sustainable Blue Economy by connecting researchers, entrepreneurs, the business community and non-governmental and governmental affiliates.
Community Outreach
We are committed to teaching and learning, seeking innovative solutions and fostering leadership for our collective future. We welcome collaboration with organizations and community groups.
IMXR Initiative
Here at the IMXR initiative, students are always at the heart of what we do. That’s why we have expanded our horizons to adopt new technologies that will allow anyone to work across disciplines.
BioPath
The Bioscience Academic and Career Pathway (BioPath) is a partnership between the city of New Haven and Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). BioPath aims to grow interest and participation in bioscience education by providing academic and experiential learning programs that position graduates for the 21st century workforce.