Michael Frasciello has been with Syracuse University since 2000, when he joined University College (now the College of Professional Studies) to launch the Syracuse University Technology-enhanced Instructional Solutions business unit. Over his next 13 years with the college, Mike served as Director of Information and Learning Systems, and as Assistant Dean of Online Learning, where he provided university-wide leadership in support of Syracuse University undergraduate and graduate online and continuing education initiatives.
In 2016, Mike was appointed Interim Dean of University College and served as Dean from 2017-2026, remissioning and transforming the College of Professional Studies into a full degree-granting academic unit and a nationally recognized provider of market- sensitive professional and continuing education. During his tenure as Dean, Mike designed and built the university’s infrastructure for online and non-credit instructional quality, shared services, and governance frameworks.
As a first-generation college graduate completing all of his degrees while working full-time, Mike is passionate about improving and expanding access to Syracuse University. He aggressively supports the people, programs, and policies that make a college education possible for anyone wishing to transform their lives with a Syracuse University educational experience.
Prior to joining the University, Mike served for 10 years on active duty in the United States Air Force, receiving, among other awards and recognitions, the Air Force Commendation Medal (one oak leaf cluster), the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal (two oak leaf clusters), and the National Defense Service Medal for his service in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
Mike’s teaching portfolio includes professional skills development, leadership, business communication, organizational development, technical communication, and creative and design thinking, bridging professional practice with the human-centered approaches that define contemporary education. His research focuses on professional, continuing, and online education, and he has designed and taught innovative technology-mediated courses at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, with a particular emphasis on the applied, interdisciplinary, and workforce-oriented competencies that frame professional studies education, including rhetoric and professional communication, digital literacy, ethical decision-making, and the integration of design thinking with real-world professional practice.
Mike earned a doctorate of philosophy in composition and cultural rhetoric from the College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University, a master of professional communication from Westminster College, a bachelor of science in political science and government from the University of Maryland University College, and an associate of applied science from the Community College of the Air Force.