Dr. Cristina Bailey becomes the first Director of Health, Education, and Human Services
Recently, Dr. Cristina Bailey was appointed the inaugural Director of Health, Education, and Human Services, a new department in the HFC School of Health and Human Services (HHS).
“I’m excited for this new position because it gives me the opportunity to work closely with students and faculty in many HHS programs,” said Bailey. “I see so many possibilities in this new position. In the rapidly evolving fields of health and education, it is challenging to keep an updated curriculum that will serve students and our community now and in the future.”
One of her primary duties in her new position includes working with HHS faculty to create new courses and programs. Bailey will report to HHS Dean Dr. Cyndi Scheuer.
“Dr. Bailey is an incredible asset to HFC, and we are so glad to have her as a part of the HHS team,” said Scheuer. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in healthcare, curriculum development, and leadership. HHS is looking forward to the new directions we can grow with Dr. Bailey as part of the team.”
Bailey is looking forward to working with Scheuer.
“I’m really excited to be working with Cyndi because she’s such a visionary leader. Many of the plans she has for the HHS appeal to my knowledge and experience,” said Bailey. “The possibilities for innovation at the College are endless. Our faculty and staff are steadfastly dedicated to student success.”
Director of Academic Services since 2019
Bailey joined HFC in 2019 as the Director of Academic Services, reporting to HFC Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Michael Nealon. She has also taught anatomy, physiology, and exercise physiology classes at HFC. And she has often taught non-credit yoga classes in the community.
“I will continue teaching because I enjoy it so much,” said Bailey. “For the time being, in addition to my new job, I will continue to perform some of the duties in my current job until the transition is complete.”
Nealon spoke about her accomplishments.
“It has been both a pleasure and a privilege working with Dr. Cristina Bailey,” he said. “I sensed, even from the day I met Cristina for her final interview, that her unique combination of expertise and experience in academic administration, coupled with her authentic commitments to teaching excellence and student success, would greatly enhance and advance HFC’s ongoing efforts to improve both the learning experience and environment for its diverse student body.”
Nealon continued: “From placing free Chromebooks in the hands of students during the pandemic when so very few of us were even on campus to ushering in new software solutions for ensuring consistency in publishing course syllabi and working tirelessly to increase the adoption of Open Educational Resources (OERs) saving students more than $1 million in recent academic years – Dr. Bailey never fails to show up, asking how she can be of service! We are thrilled that Cristina is taking on a new leadership position within the HHS team and very much appreciate her collaboration throughout the transition in Academic Services.”
The core: a relationship with students
Born in Argentina, Bailey – who speaks fluent English and Spanish and conversational French and German – immigrated to the United States in the late 1990s and lives in Canton. She is the mother of three adult children.
Bailey earned her bachelor’s degree in premed and biology from the National University of the Northeast (Universidad Nacional de Nordeste or UNNE) in Argentina. She subsequently earned her M.D. at UNNE and completed her residency in general surgery and oncology at Vidal Hospital in Argentina. Bailey was a practicing physician for more than 10 years.
After her arrival in the U.S., Bailey earned a master’s degree in exercise physiology from Eastern Michigan University. She earned a Certificate of Teaching in Higher Education from the Harvard University Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning. Bailey earned an Advanced Yoga Certificate (RYT-500) in Yoga in Healthcare from Corewell Health and is a certified yoga instructor through the American Yoga Academy. She is also a registered clinical physiologist.
Although she loved practicing medicine, Bailey also loved teaching at the college level. She taught at EMU and Baker College in Allen Park. She became a full-time faculty member at Baker in 2011. Eventually, she became the Director of Academics at Baker before coming to HFC.
“I keep teaching because I believe that as an administrator, I have to maintain my relationship with students, understand the changes in the student body, how they learn, and how to assist them better,” said Bailey. “In addition, teaching keeps my own knowledge updated with frequent professional development in the areas I am fortunate to be assigned.”