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A Suffolk woman who served as a dean at Norfolk State University is one of the six new members named to the Centenary University Board of Trustees, the governing body of the university.

An educator with more than 40 years of experience, Denise Littleton, Ed.D., of Suffolk, is the retired dean of the School of Education at Norfolk State University. In that role, she successfully led the school through the national accreditation process and was also a professor in the Department of Early Childhood/Elementary and Special Education, the news release stated.

During her distinguished career in education, Littleton also served as a teacher, reading clinician and research associate in the U.S. Department of Education’s Department of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. In addition, she was a member of the Fulbright Group Projects Abroad in Zimbabwe and a fellow with the National Institute for Education Leadership.

Littleton earned a bachelor of arts in psychology and education from Carnegie Mellon University, a master of education in middle school education from the University of Pittsburgh, and a teacher and reading education doctorate from George Washington University.

A Centenary University news release said the trustees represent leaders in the fields of finance, higher education, and marketing, among others. They will each serve four-year terms.

In announcing the appointments, board Chair Rochelle Makela-Goodman, a 1997 graduate of Centenary, lauded the new trustees for their willingness to step up at a pivotal moment in the University’s history.

“Centenary University is in the midst of an expansion into a number of educational sectors, including healthcare, that will be critical to the economy moving forward,” Makela-Goodman said. “I am grateful that we can rely on these professionals to help guide the next era in the University’s history.”

Joining Littleton on the board of trustees are Carol Allen, Worcester, Pennsylvania; Cathleen Compoli, Califon, New Jersey; Gary L. Lamply, South Orange, New Jersey; Felix “Phil” Linfante, Ph.D., Hackettstown, New Jersey; and Timothy L. Smith, Mount Arlington, New Jersey and Siesta Key, Florida;

Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary University’s academic program integrates a solid liberal arts foundation with a strong career orientation. This mix provides an educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the increasingly global and interdependent world. The University’s main campus is located in Hackettstown, New Jersey, with its equestrian facility in Washington Township.