Sam Houston State University has appointed Dr. Emily A. Roper as the Dean of the College of Health Sciences. Dr. Roper has served as Interim Dean of the College since August 2021. A professor of Kinesiology, Dr. Roper brings over 16 years of experience to the role, having previously served as chair of the Department of Kinesiology, assistant dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and associate dean for the college. Dr. Roper holds a Ph.D. in Sport and Exercise Psychology/Cultural Studies from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, an MS in Community Health/Sport and Exercise Psychology from the University of Toronto, and a BA in Psychology from Kent State University. Read more here.
Western Colorado University has announced the appointment of Mr. William Bradley (Brad) Baca as their 14th President. Mr. Baca is currently the Executive Vice President and COO at Western and previously served as the university's interim president in 2013. He is a Colorado native and a first-generation college student of Hispanic descent. He holds a B.A. in Government from Dartmouth College and an M.A. from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and has served in various leadership roles in Colorado for nearly 20 years now. Read more here.
Grand View University has appointed Dr. Rachelle Keck as its 14th President. Dr. Keck is currently the President of Briar Cliff University, a position she has held since 2018. An Iowa native, she is a graduate of Wartburg College, earned her juris doctorate from the University of Iowa and her Ph.D. in education from Drake University. Prior to joining Briar Cliff, she served as the Director of Planned Giving for the University of Iowa Foundation, and then the Executive Director for Philanthropy and Alumni Relations at Indian Hills Community College. Read more here.
Ms. Miranda Powers has been named Bethel University’s new Vice President of Student Experience. Since coming to Bethel in 2004, Ms. Powers has provided strong leadership to impact students’ academic, social, and spiritual development in significant ways. She earned her BA in Human Development from Seattle Pacific University and her MA in Counseling Psychology from Bethel University. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor. Ms. Powers will begin her new role on April 1, 2022. Read more here.
The University of The Bahamas (UB) has announced the appointment of Dr. Erik Rolland, an academic with 30 years of experience, as the next president of UB. The appointment takes effect on 1st August 2022. He currently serves as Dean of the College of Business Administration, interim Dean of the College of the Extended University, Chief International Officer and the Provost’s Associate for Strategic Transformation at California Polytechnic and State University. Read more here.
Augsburg University has announced that Dr. Paula O’Loughlin will become the university’s new provost and senior vice president of academic and student affairs effective July 1, 2022. Dr. O’Loughlin has served as provost and dean of the faculty at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, since 2016. Prior to Coe College, she served in leadership positions at Gustavus Adolphus College and the University of Minnesota–Morris. Dr. O’Loughlin earned her PhD in political science from the University of Minnesota and her bachelor’s degree in government from Smith College in Northampton, MA. Read more here.
Bethel University has announced the appointment of Mr. Paul McGinnis as the new Vice President of Marketing and Enrollment. Most recently the vice president of marketing and sales at VOMO, a software company in Plano, Texas, Mr. McGinnis has more than 25 years of leadership experience in industries as diverse as finance, higher education, and technology. He will begin his new role on April 1. Read more here.
Rockhurst University has appointed Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., to become the 15th president of Rockhurst University, effective July 1, 2022. Dr. Cassady will make history as the first female and first lay president of Rockhurst, a Catholic, Jesuit university. Dr. Cassady earned her Ph.D. in exercise science from the University of Iowa. She comes to Rockhurst from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, where she serves as vice president for strategic initiatives and dean of the College of Health and Human Services. Read more here.