Goodwin University is sad to share news of the tragic passing of our colleague Craig Drezek, Superintendent of Goodwin University Magnet Schools and Dean of Early College Programs and Educational Partnerships on June 3 as a result of his battle with COVID-19.
“It’s impossible to accurately convey the incredible impact Craig made,” said Goodwin president Mark Scheinberg. “His larger-than-life presence was offset by his true commitment to creating new educational opportunities for students — especially those operating at a disadvantage. He was endlessly resourceful, disarmingly down to earth, and embodied all that is right about the Goodwin spirit.”
Goodwin University’s board president, Dr. Maria Ellis, shared this thought: “Craig understood that learners come to us at many levels of ability. For some, that may mean earning a master’s degree. For others, it may mean receiving a certificate or being accepted for an internship, but everyone deserves a shot at their dream. He worked hard to make that a reality.”
Craig worked tirelessly to align the University and the magnet schools, philosophically and academically. He was an innovator, always looking for ways to find new learning pathways for the youngest members of our campus to the oldest. Among the programs under his care were Accessing College Now, enabling high school students to take online college courses during the pandemic; CTP THINK College, providing academic enrichment and career preparation to transitioning special needs students to develop independent living and self-advocacy skills and integrated work experiences that lead to employment; Early College Advanced Manufacturing Program (ECAMP), creating access for local high school district students to Goodwin’s manufacturing training programs; Goodwin Kid Care, providing on-site child care for Goodwin students; and Riverside Magnet School, Connecticut River Academy, and its recent middle school expansion.
Craig’s official obituary can be found at https://www.spinelliricciutifh.com/obituary/craig-drezek.
Contributions to the Craig Drezek Memorial Fund to support the education of his five children can be made at
https://fundly.com/m2/craig-drezek-children-education-and-memorial-fund.
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.