Following a nationwide search, Evelyn Bilias Lolis M'02, PhD, has been named dean of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ’s School of Education and Human Development (SEHD), effective January 1, 2025.
Evelyn Bilias Lolis M'02, PhD, Appointed Dean of School of Education and Human Development
Dr. Bilias Lolis holds a PhD in educational psychology from the University of Connecticut, with a research emphasis on positive psychological interventions, resilience science, and connectedness. She was also educated in the Jesuit tradition, earning a master’s degree in school psychology from Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Fordham University. She continues to maintain a professional licensure in school psychology and serves as a consultant to districts and corporations nationally and internationally, offering seminars on psychological well-being, organizational reform, and compassionate parenting.
Dr. Bilias Lolis joined the Department of Psychological & Educational Consultation at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ in 2010, earning tenure in 2018; she most recently served as SEHD's interim dean. Prior to her time at Fairfield, Dr. Bilias Lolis worked as a school psychologist in Stamford Public Schools, ultimately becoming district chair of school psychological services in 2008.
At Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ, Dr. Bilias Lolis served as certification officer, assessment coordinator, chair of the SEHD faculty, and associate dean. In 2015, she was named the Alpha Sigma Nu Graduate Teacher of the Year. While serving as interim dean, she partnered with the SEHD faculty to articulate a forward-thinking mission statement, recruited and hired new talented faculty members, and developed a set of strategic initiatives to guide SEHD to a successful future. Some of those initiatives have already proven successful, with the school experiencing growth in enrollment, national program recognition, and the development of intentional partnerships that have secured the school’s position within the University and expanded SEHD’s reach in the community.
During the fall 2024 semester, Dr. Bilias Lolis spearheaded SEHD’s Dean’s Dialogue Series, hosting a panel discussion on “Combating the Loneliness Epidemic: Science. Connection. Healing,” an event that brought together more than 200 participants — including administrators, community mental health workers, spiritual and wellness advisors, and students from across the region — to unpack the implications of loneliness and disconnection in the K-12 and higher education landscape.
“This series reflects SEHD’s unwavering commitment to serving our communities by building meaningful connections and creating spaces where critical societal issues can be examined through multiple perspectives and the pursuit of truth,” Dr. Lolis said. "Through dialogue, collaboration, and interdisciplinary expertise, we aim to foster understanding, compassion, and solutions that truly connect and uplift our shared humanity.”
Dr. Bilias Lolis looks forward to continuing to elevate by showcasing the expertise of its distinguished faculty and the accomplishments of its talented alumni. With a vision to firmly establish SEHD's prominence in the higher education landscape, she places great value on the school’s commitment to the Catholic intellectual tradition, formative education, and human-centric focus for tackling complex issues of the modern world.
