Director Christina Dugan, Ph.D.
Director Christina Dugan, Ph.D.
Updated: March 2025
Years on the WYASD Board of Directors:
- Brand new - seated in February 2025!
What is your occupation?
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Retired after 28+ years of service in the Army. Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering.
What makes West York awesome from your perspective as a School Director and a District resident, and what would you like the community to know about West York?
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Bulldog pride stems from the quality of graduates, students’ connection with faculty, staff, and coaches, and strong community support. West York’s motto, Every Student Every Day, focuses daily on each student’s success in the classroom, on the field, and through various clubs and activities. West York continually strives to provide each student opportunities to gain experience and learn. On the fields of friendly strife, West York athletes are learning teamwork, leadership, perseverance, and developing their character as young adults. This student-athlete approach necessitates balancing academics with athletic competition, teaching our students time management, discipline, and a strong work ethic.
What is the most important issue before the Board right now?
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Keeping the staff, faculty, and students safe. According to Statista, last year there were eighty-three shootings on school property, including K-12 schools, colleges, and universities, in the United States. West York is fostering a safe environment by implementing access controls, ensuring thorough background checks, and providing resource officers.
Where do you see the District in 5 years, and how do you see your role on the Board as an integral part of the future?
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In five years, I see technology reinventing the classroom. To prepare our students for the ever-changing technological advances, I see the district embracing immersive technologies such as virtual reality, gamification, and artificial intelligence. These technologies will enhance classroom experience. Faculty will have large quantities of data on students’ performance which can reveal which concepts are more challenging for the students. In addition, personalized learning will create course content aligned with student’s interest and skill levels. Another benefit will be adapting lessons to multilingual learners. As a board member, I can assist in curriculum adoption and ensure students and teachers have the resources they need for the ever-changing technological landscape.
What people might be surprised to know about you?
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I am a proud West York Bulldog, Class of 1996. I am a Class of 2000 West Point graduate and received my master’s and PhD in Nuclear Science from the Air Force Institute of Technology. In Afghanistan as a member of 10th Mountain Division, I commanded 200 soldiers. Additionally, I have taught as Assistant Professor of Physics at the US Air Force Academy and continue to teach as an Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering, directed a nuclear focused research center, and served as a team chief of a Nuclear Disablement Team.
What is one piece of advice you would share with our high school seniors?
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Life is a journey. Some days will be easy, and some days will be hard. It is your resilience, through the challenging times, which builds your character, making you a much stronger person. Nelson Mandela said it best, “Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”
What would you do even if you didn’t get paid to do it?
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Mentoring. I enjoy helping others achieve their goals. I have taught English as a second language, tutored underprivileged students in math, helped an enlisted Army Soldier commission in the Navy, and guided high school students desiring to attend the military academies.
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