May 7, 2025

Melrose Park, PA – 

Gratz College Names Leslie Ginsparg Klein
as New Dean and Chief Academic Officer

Klein will also serve as Associate Professor of Jewish History and Education.

“Gratz faculty, students, and our community are fortunate to gain Dr. Klein’s leadership," says Gratz President Zev Eleff. “Her devotion to high-level and accessible scholarship and expertise in higher education will advance Gratz’s impact.”

Klein served as the Academic Dean of Women's Institute of Torah Seminary and College (WITS). Under her 11-year leadership, WITS grew its enrollment, degree programs, and successfully applied and received regional accreditation from Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Prior to this, Klein was founding director of the Honors Program at Touro College’s Lander College for Women.

Klein has already played an important role in Gratz’s forwarding thinking, serving as Senior Advisor on Academic Affairs since September 2024. In this role, she has brokered partnerships for Gratz’s new Special Education Licensure program and led the Academic Taskforce for the College’s ongoing strategic planning process.

“It is an incredible honor to serve as Dean and Chief Academic Officer of Gratz College. I am deeply excited to work with a talented and passionate community of students, faculty, and staff. Together, we will build on our college’s remarkable legacy and embrace the innovations that will propel Gratz forward.”

Klein’s relationship with Gratz dates to 2013 when she served as an instructor in Gratz’s EdD program. The experience led to a 10-year partnership between Gratz and WITS that has contributed to the growth and prestige of both institutions. The schools are proud to continue their relationship through joint bachelorette-graduate programs.

Under the stewardship of the College’s current Dean, Dr. Honour Moore, Gratz fortified its online learning capacities and designed a forward-looking strategic plan. “Gratz is grateful to Dean Moore for her thoughtful and administrative work to place our College on very solid footing," said Eleff. “Her devotion, in particular, to revamping the doctorate in education program has made it a jewel in our degree offerings.”

Continued Eleff: “Gratz’s degree programs have been very blessed with strong leadership—and will continue this way for many years to come.”