Meet Mary Ann Westerfield, the brand-new dean of WilmU’s tech college

After walking into the green-screen room at Wilmington University, Mary Ann Westerfield became visibly excited. Then she described how the room will be transformed into a motion capture studio this week.
The studio will use “organic motion, it senses landmarks,” Westerfield said, before apologizing for the technical terminology. “I call them that because I have an anatomy background.”
Westerfield is the brand-new dean of Wilmington University’s College of Technology. She just started a month ago.
Wilmington University already has a strong technology presence — its game development program is a highlight — and Westerfield wants to continue pushing the school forward.

While studying sports medicine as an undergrad, and exercise science as a graduate student, Westerfield started experimenting with bio-feedback. After that introduction to technology, she learned more about computer science. Then she got into STEM education.
Westerfield first fell in love with Wilmington University when she went there to earn her doctorate in higher education. While describing what it felt like to be back, her love of the place was evident. “I’m getting a lump in my throat,” she said.
She said WilmU does everything it can to help the faculty, chairs, and students. “I have not seen that level of support anywhere,” Westerfield said.
As part of that support, the university helps students connect with businesses. Dave Caffo acts as the liaison. In the cooperative education program, students benefit by getting real-world experience, while employers get workers with the latest skills in technology. “We help organizations think outside of the box,” Caffo said.
In turn, the university also takes advantage of talent from local businesses. Since Delaware’s low taxes attract global businesses, there are highly qualified people available to help instruct students. Westerfield said “we often get things from them that are not in textbooks yet.”
The shadow of the University of Delaware looms large, but Westerfield wants to bring more respect to Wilmington University. She is quick to list off the university’s accomplishments, and this is another area where her assertive sports background helps.
Westerfield said she wants to brag, but not gloat.