College Presidents Report August 2024 - Higher Education Publication

Appointments

Walla Walla University Names New President

Dr. Alex Bryan has been selected to serve as President of Walla Walla University. Bryan most recently served as Senior Vice President and Chief Mission Officer at Adventist Health in California. He previously served at Walla Walla University Church as Senior Pastor. He follows Dr. John McVay who retired after leading the university for 18 years.

Russell Sage College Selects 11th President

Russell Sage College has named Dr. Matthew Shaftel to serve as its 11th President. He steps into the position after the retirement of President Christopher Ames. Shaftel previously served as Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Ohio University.

State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota Names President

Florida State Representative Tommy Gregory has been selected to serve as President of State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota. He succeeds Dr. Carol Probstfeld who retired after serving as President for 11 years. Gregory served in the Florida Legislature beginning in 2018.

Husson University Appoints First Female President

Dr. Lynn Coy-Ogan has been selected to serve as President of Husson University. She takes over the role from President Robert Clark who has retired. Coy-Ogan most recently served Husson University as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost for 15 years.

Mount St. Mary’s University Welcomes New President

Dr. Gerard J. Joyce has been selected to serve as the university’s 27th President. He succeeds President Timothy Trainer who retired in June. Weaver comes from DeSales University where he served as Executive Vice President.

West Chester University Names Former Provost as President

Dr. Laurie Bernotsky has been named as President of West Chester University. She takes over the helm from President Christopher Fiorentino who retired after serving since 2017. She most recently served as Interim President of Pennsylvania Western University. Prior to that, she held the position of Executive Vice President and Provost for WCU.

Pennsylvania Western University Selects President

Dr. Jon Anderson has been selected to serve as President of Pennsylvania Western University. He succeeds Interim President Laurie Bernotsky who served since 2023. Anderson most recently served as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Southern Utah University.

Panola College Appoints President

Dr. Jessica Pace has been selected to serve as President of Panola College. She assumed the position after the retirement of President Gregory Powell. Powell served as the President for 24 years. Pace most recently served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement for the college since 2014.

Boston University Welcomes 11th President

Dr. Melissa Gilliam has been chosen to be President of Boston University. She takes the helm from Interim President Kenneth Freeman who served since 2023 after the retirement of President Robert Brown. Gilliam most recently served as Executive Vice President and Provost at Ohio State University.

Franklin Pierce University Names 7th President

Dr. Peter A. Eden has been selected to serve as the President of Franklin Pierce University. He previously served as President of Landmark College. He succeeds President Kim Mooney upon her retirement in June after serving in the position for 8 years.

Landmark College Selects Interim President

Landmark College has named Dr. Jim Dlugos to serve as Interim President. He takes the helm after President Peter Eden resigned to accept the position of President at Franklin Pierce University. Dlugos previously served as President of St. Joseph’s College from 2012-2023.

Milwaukee Area Technical College Inducts Next President

Dr. Anthony Cruz has been selected to serve as President of Milwaukee Area Technical College. He succeeds retiring President Vicki Martin who served as President for 10 years. Cruz most recently served as President of Kendall Campus at Miami Dade College.

Monmouth College Appoints President

Dr. Patricia H. Draves has been selected to serve as President of Monmouth College. She takes over the role from President Clarence Wyatt following his retirement. Wyatt served in the role of President since 2014. Draves most recently served as President of Graceland University.

North Iowa Area Community College Welcomes New President

Dr. Joel Pederson has been selected to serve as President of North Iowa Area Community College. He succeeds President Dr. Steve Schultz. Pederson most recently served as Chief Administrator for Central Rivers Area Education Agency.

President Named at Salt Lake Community College

Dr. Gregory Peterson has been chosen to serve as President of Salt Lake Community College. He succeeds President Deneese Huftalin who served in the role for 10 years. Peterson arrives from Chandler-Gilbert Community College where he served as President since 2018.

Fitchburg State University Selects First Female President

Fitchburg State University has selected Dr. Donna Hodge to serve as President. She succeeds President Richard Lapidus who retired after serving in the role for 9 years. Hodge most recently served as Vice President of Operations and Advancement at Colorado State University Pueblo.

Pueblo Community College Names President

Dr. Chato Hazelbaker has been selected to serve as President of Pueblo Community College. He arrives from Northland Pioneer College where he served as President. Hazelbaker succeeds President Patricia Erjavec who retired in June.

Colorado College Appoints Interim President

Dr. Manya Whitaker has been selected to serve as Interim President of Colorado College. She was appointed following President L. Song Richardson’s resignation announcement . Before being appointed as Interim President, Whitaker served as Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff for the college.

Washington and Jefferson College Appoints 14th President

Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls has been chosen to be President of Washington and Jefferson College. She replaces President John Knapp following his retirement. Walls previously served as President of William Jewell College.

William Jewell College Names Alumna as Interim President

Ms. Susan Chambers has been selected to serve as Interim President. Chambers is a graduate of William Jewell and served three terms on the college’s Board of Trustees. She succeeds President Elizabeth MacLeon Walls who resigned to accept the presidency at Washington and Jefferson College.

La Roche University Selects President

La Roche University has named Dr. Christina Clark to serve as President. She steps into the position after the death of President Sister Candace Introcaso. Dr. Howard Ishiyama served as Interim President between the death of Introcaso and Clark’s arrival. Clark previously served as Provost at Marywood University.

University of Minnesota Welcomes 18th President

Dr. Rebecca Cunningham has been selected to serve as President of the University of Minnesota. Cunningham succeeds Interim President Jeff Ettinger. She previously served as Vice President for Research and Innovation at the University of Michigan.

Columbia College Chicago Names Interim President

Mr. Jerry Tarrer has been selected to serve as Interim President of Columbia College Chicago. He follows Dr. Kwang-Wu Kim who resigned after leading the university since 2013. Tarrer will continue to serve as Senior Vice President for Business Affairs and CFO for the college.

Mitchell Hamline School of Law Selects First Black President and Dean

Mitchell Hamline School of Law has named Ms. Camille Davidson JD to serve as President and Dean. She previously served as Dean of Southern Illinois University School of Law. Davidson succeeds Interim President Jim Hilbert who has served since President and Dean Anthony Niedwieck stepped down in 2023.

Bryan College of Health Sciences Names President

Dr. Kelsi Anderson has been selected to serve as President of Bryan College of Health Sciences. She succeeds Dr. Rich Lloyd who will continue to serve in his other role as President of Hastings College. Anderson previously served as Provost for the college since 2018.

Hartford University Appoints 7th President

Dr. Lawrence P. Ward has been selected to serve as President of Hartford University. He takes over the role from Interim President Stephen Mulready who has served in the role since the retirement of President Gary Woodward. Ward most recently served as Vice President Student Success and Dean of Campus Life at Babson College.

Bethel University Welcomes New President

Dr. Perry Moulds has been selected to serve as the university’s President. He succeeds Interim President Robert Watkins who has led the university since the retirement of President Walter Butler who retired in December. Moulds comes from Belmont University where he served as Senior Assistant to the President for Philanthropic Affairs and had previously served as Vice President of Advancement.

Missouri State University Names 12th President

Dr. Richard ‘Biff’ Williams has been named as President of Missouri State University. He takes over the helm from President Clifton Smart who retired after serving in the role for 13 years. Williams most recently served as President of Utah Tech University (formerly Dixie State University.

Rogers State University Appoints Interim President

Dr. Mark Rasor has been selected to serve as Interim President of Rogers State University. He moves into the position following the retirement of President Lary Rice who served in the role for 16 years. Rasor most recently served as Vice President for Administration and Finance for the university.

University of Wisconsin La Crosse Selects President

Dr. James Beeby has been selected to serve as President of University of Wisconsin La Crosse. He replaces Interim President Betsy Morgan who served since 2023. Beeby most recently served as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Keene State College.

St. Catherine University Appoints First African-American President

Dr. Marcheta P. Edwards has been selected to serve as President of St. Catherine University. She assumed the position after the retirement of President Becky Roloff. Edwards most recently served as Chancellor of Bloomfield College at Montclair State University.

Union Adventist University Welcomes 30th President

Dr. Yamileth Bazan has been chosen to be President of Union Adventist University. She takes the helm from retiring President Vinita Sauder. Bazan most recently served as Associate Dean for Student Affairs at Loma Linda School of Medicine.

American University Names 16th President

Mr. Jonathan Alger, JD has been selected to serve as the President of American University. He previously served as President of James Madison University for 12 years. He succeeds President Sylvia Burwell. Burwell stepped down after serving in the position for 7 years.

James Madison University Selects Interim President

James Madison University has named Mr. Charlie King to serve as Interim President. He takes the helm after President Jonathan Alger resigned to accept the position of President at American University. King previously served as Senior Vice President of Administration and Finance for the university.