Dr. Regina Lawrence has been appointed as the new Edwin L. Artzt Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon. Dr. Lawrence has been serving as interim dean since August 2025, and most recently held the roles of Associate Dean of SOJC Portland and Director of the Agora Journalism Center. Since joining the SOJC in 2015, she has been a member of the SOJC executive leadership team, served as co-chair of the SOJC Graduate Affairs Committee, and has been an active leader on the UO Portland campus, including chairing the campus-wide Academic Collaborative. Dr. Lawrence is a nationally recognized expert on political communication, gender and politics, local news ecosystems, community-centered journalism, and the role of media in democracy. She currently serves as Editor in Chief of the journal Political Communication and as Co-editor of the Communication, Society & Politics book series at Cambridge University Press. Her scholarship includes numerous books, peer-reviewed studies, and public-facing reports. In 2024, Dr. Lawrence received the Public Engagement Award from the Journalism Studies Division of the International Communication Association, which recognizes a scholar who has successfully engaged with publics and organizations outside of academia in ways that meaningfully impact both scholarship and journalistic practice. In 2025, she received the Murray Edelman Lifetime Distinguished Career Award from the American Political Science Association, recognizing a lifetime contribution to the study of political communication. Dr. Lawrence received her Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Metropolitan State College in Denver, her Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Colorado at Denver, and her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Washington. Read more.
Dr. Derek McLean has been appointed as the new Dean of the S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Utah State University. He will begin his new role on July 1, 2026. Dr. McLean joins Utah State from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he has served as dean of the Agricultural Research Division since 2023. Dr. McLean previously served as a senior science adviser in the Office of AIDS Research at the National Institutes of Health, where he worked to ensure that research funding aligns to the priority areas established by the National Institutes of Health. Prior to NIH, Dr. McLean was the senior director of collaborative research for Phibro Animal Health Corporation. He also served for 10 years as a faculty member in the animal sciences department at Washington State University. Dr. McLean holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematical sciences and a Master of Science in animal physiology from Clemson University and a doctorate in animal sciences from Oregon State University.
John Paul “Jay” Dowd III, Ph.D., has been appointed as the new president at Wofford College. His tenure begins July 1, 2026. Dr. Dowd currently serves as president and chief executive officer of The Citadel Foundation, a position he’s held since 2013. Previously, Dr. Dowd served as vice president for development and executive director at the Francis Marion University Education Foundation, where he was a member of the senior staff and the college’s chief fundraiser. He also has served as vice president for advancement at Columbia College, assistant vice chancellor for university advancement at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and vice president for institutional advancement at Methodist College. In each community, he was a leader and collaborator, discovering a passion for service and building and sustaining relationships based on transparency, communication and respect. He is a graduate of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where he earned a B.A. in history. He holds an M.Ed., with a focus on student personnel services, and a Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of South Carolina. He has more than 30 years of experience in higher education strategy, fundraising, institutional advancement and executive leadership. Read more.
Dr. Betsy Becker has been appointed as the new Dean of Health Sciences at the University of South Dakota. Since 2020, Dr. Becker has served as the chair of the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences in the College of Allied Health Professions at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). In addition, she practiced physical therapy for 14 years across Nebraska and Arizona, with a specialized interest in women’s health. Dr. Becker will begin her duties with USD in July 2026. Dr. Becker holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of South Dakota and recevied her Ph.D.and Master's degree in Physical Therapy from UNMC. Read more.
Dr. David Tolentino has been appointed as the new Dean of Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine at Campbell University. Dr. Tolentino, currently serving as the Interim Dean, has been selected for the permanent appointment. As noted in the press release, "Dr. Tolentino emerged from the process as the candidate of first choice, earning the nod for “his demonstrated leadership in growing clinical education programs, developing new affiliate partnerships and contributing to medical training across the region” since joining the school as associate dean for clinical affairs in 2016." Dr. Tolentino is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in chemistry. He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2002 and completed his internal medicine residency at St. John Medical Center in Westlake, Ohio. Read more.
Dr. Alan Sazama has been appointed as the new Inaugural Chair of Emergency Medicine at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine (SSOM). Dr. Sazama, currently serving as the assistant dean of medical education at SSOM, will begin his duties in this new role on May 22, 2026. As noted in the press release, "Dr. Sazama is an award-winning and successful educator in emergency medicine with Avera Medical Group and has practiced bedside emergency medicine at Avera Health since 2017. A 2014 graduate of the Sanford School of Medicine, Sazama completed his emergency medicine residency at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was named vice chair of the Avera Health Division of Emergency Medicine in 2024." Read more.
Mr. Tony Gherardini has been appointed as the new Vice President / Chief Human Resources Officer at the University of Colorado System effective April 13, 2026. Mr. Gherardini most recently served as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration (DPA), where he led a 500-person agency with a $450 million budget and administered the statewide personnel system supporting more than 30,000 employees. Prior to his role at DPA, Mr. Gherardini served as Chief Operations Officer for the Colorado Office of Behavioral Health, overseeing administrative, financial, and operational functions, including supervision of the CEOs of Colorado's two behavioral health institutes. He also served as Director of State Operations and Cabinet Affairs in the Governor's Office, where he implemented and oversaw the performance management system for Colorado's entire executive branch and provided direction to 18 appointed cabinet members. Mr. Gherardini earned his Master of Public Administration from CU Denver and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Colorado State University. Read more.
Mr. John McKiernan has been appointed as the new Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Holy Cross College effective May 1, 2026. Mr. McKiernan is a distinguished leader in higher education with extensive experience in administrative roles at Catholic institutions. Currently serving as Chief of Staff and most recently as Interim Chief Financial Officer at Wilmington College, he brings expertise in academic affairs, accreditation, strategic planning, and institutional governance. His previous roles include Assistant Vice President at Loyola University Maryland, where he managed board operations and strategic planning, and Director of Academic Counseling at Yale Law School. Mr. McKiernan holds a Juris Doctor and a BA in Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame, an MBA from the University of Scranton, and a postgraduate diploma in theology from the University of Oxford. Read more.
Dr. Jeremy Pickard has been appointed as the new President at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College. His first day will be July 1, 2026. Dr. Pickard has worked for Eastern Iowa Community Colleges for the past 25 years and most recently served as the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs. He also served as Dean of Agriculture, Business, and Professional Services and Associate Director for the Advanced Technology Environmental & Energy Center. Dr. Pickard holds a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with an emphasis in Community College Leadership from Iowa State University, and earned a Masters in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the same institution. He has a B.A. in Secondary Business Education from Northwestern College. Read more.