Brenda Liszka

Brenda Liszka, EdD, serves as the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs, Student Success, and Medical Registrar for the Duquesne University Nasuti College of Osteopathic Medicine. With twenty years of experience in education and fifteen years in STEM and healthcare education, Dr. Liszka has dedicated her professional life to supporting diverse student populations through holistic leadership and strategic planning. Her administrative expertise in Academic Affairs spans student-centered academic advising, student information systems, and high-volume data management.

In her current role, she supports medical student admissions, scholarship management, student onboarding, curriculum scheduling and event planning. Dr. Liszka utilizes an appreciative, strengths-based approach to supporting and empowering students to prioritize social-emotional development, self-care, and a growth mindset. She is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive environment that centers the student experience and cultivates a sense of belonging for underrepresented students in allied health professions.

Dr. Liszka’s professional background includes serving as an Academic Counselor at Robert Morris University, where she managed a bridge program for student persistence, and as an educator within the Anne Arundel County Public School system in Maryland.

She holds a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Teaching from the University of Pittsburgh, an EdD in Educational Leadership and a certificate in Opportunity, Community Building and Engagement from Duquesne University. She has been presented with an Award for Staff Excellence from the Rangos School of Health Sciences, as well as the Mind, Heart and Spirit of Leadership Award from the School of Education at Duquesne University. Her doctoral research, Centering the Medical Student Perspective in a Mixed-Methods Evaluation of the Holistic Admissions Process at a Mission-Driven Institution, reflects her ongoing commitment to improvement inquiry and systemic equity in higher education.