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Bill DiMascio
Program : Master of Science in Strategic Leadership
Hometown : Drescher, PA
Undergraduate Degree : B.S. Communications, Temple University
"I'm not one of the more traditional students," says Bill
DiMascio. "I'm probably closer to the end of my career than
the beginning. But my career goals are my goals for living. I want
to feel I've made a difference in my life, whatever I do."
And his recent Master of Science degree in Strategic Leadership
from Neumann College, he feels, will help him make this difference.
As executive director of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, a private,
nonprofit agency established in 1787 for the advocacy for better
prison conditions and fair treatment of prisoners, DiMascio says
the work he does is "like moving mountains." A self-described
generalist, he is energized by the desire to "make things work."
Upon the urging of some friends who are Neumann College faculty
members, he enrolled in the Neumann's Master's Degree in Strategic
Leadership program.
He believes acquiring skills in strategic leadership "makes
you more effective in what you do, whatever that is." DiMascio
wants to use his strategic leadership skills to affect a change
in the way we, as a society, think about prison systems.
Having always been involved with different types of leadership
his entire adult life, DiMascio believes a strategic leadership
degree was "a natural extension" for him. He attended
army infantry officers school, where he learned the key to leadership
is how you relate to the people around you. He believes there are
two types of leaders: those whom people fear and who are obeyed
out of fear; and those who are admired and respected so much that
people are willing to do anything for them. He aspires to be the
second type.
A seasoned professional with more than 25 years of solid career
experiences, DiMascio has many leadership positions under his belt.
He worked for the Associated Press for 12 years, then became executive
editor of the Cleveland Press. Eventually, he joined a Columbus,
OH, consulting firm as a vice president, and subsequently founded
his own firm in Philadelphia. A client who ran a criminal justice
program got him involved with the field which led to his current
position with the Pennsylvania Prison Society.
The return to school has been a good experience for DiMascio, even
better than expected. The accelerated 18-month program with classes
that met one night a week was a real plus for him. He also enjoyed
the small class sizes that often fostered a good interchange of
ideas and experiences among students and faculty.
DiMascio credits Neumann's Strategic Leadership program with "reinvigorating"
his dreams and sense of vision. Having dabbled in teaching journalism
at Ohio State, he would like to advance a latent ambition to teach
part-time at the college level and, perhaps, even develop a course
on critical thinking on criminal justice issues. |
