Northern Michigan University has successfully appointed Dr. Shawnrece D. Campbell as Assistant Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion. Dr. Campbell joins Northern Michigan University from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, where she served as Dean, College of Liberal Arts and CBE Project Director & Coordinator; Professor of English & Interdisciplinary Studies. Prior to Texas A&M - Corpus Christi, Dr. Campbell has held several leadership positions while at Stetson University, including Director of the Africana Studies Program, founding Director of the Bachelor’s degree completion program in Organizational Leadership, and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. At Stetson, Dr. Campbell was appointed to serve on the University’s Inclusive Hiring Task Force and the University’s Equity and Inclusion Group. She also established the Stetson University American Association of University Women (AAUW) Branch and presided as its inaugural president. Her teaching specialties include writing as a healing art, food as medicine, and women’s economic empowerment. Her co-authored book, “Toni Morrison’s Secret Drive: A Reader-Response Study of the Fiction and Its Rhetoric,” analyzes how the Nobel Prize-winning author inspires readers to recognize and question their preconceptions and to participate in dismantling racism and sexism. Dr. Campbell received a Ph.D. in English from Kent State University, an M.B.A. from Stetson University, an M.A. from Youngstown State University, and a B.A. from John Carroll University. Read more.
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) has successfully appointed Ms. Brietta Clark as the next Fritz B. Burns Dean of the Loyola Law School. This makes Clark, who is the 19th dean of the law school, the first woman to hold the position and also the first Black dean in the law school’s history. Dean Clark has served as interim dean since July 2023.Since joining the LMU Loyola Law School faculty in 2001, Clark has been instrumental in developing and implementing the law school’s strategic vision. During her tenure, she has served in numerous leadership roles in addition to interim dean, including associate dean for faculty from 2015-20. Clark also served as the co-chair of the LLS Strategic Planning Committee, chairing both the Tenure Review and Tenure-Track Appointments committees, helping to develop equitable practices in recruiting and retaining diverse faculty. A nationally recognized expert in health law and bioethics, Clark is a sought-after speaker for national conversations on health care regulation and reform. Among her many publications, Clark is one of five authors of the ninth edition of “Health Law,” the leading health law casebook in American law schools; she has also served as a peer reviewer for publications such as the American Journal of Law and Medicine, the American Journal of Public Health, and the New England Journal of Medicine. Before joining LLS, Clark practiced in the Los Angeles office of Sidley, Austin, Brown & Wood, specializing in health care transactions and regulatory compliance. Clark earned her B.A. from the University of Chicago and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, where she was a post-graduate research fellow. Read more.
Stockton University has successfully appointed Dr. Michael A. Palladino as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs effective May 6, 2024. Dr. Palladino currently serves as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Bloomfield College of Montclair State University and brings over 30 years of leadership and academic experience to his new role. He holds a Ph.D. in Anatomy and Cell Biology from the University of Virginia and a BS in Biology from Trenton State College, now The College of New Jersey. Read more.
Simpson College has successfully appointed Mr. Bret Mills as Vice President for Business and Finance. Mr. Mills currently serves as President of Conlin Properties Inc. in Des Moines, IA. As President, Mills oversaw the accounting, finance, and development activities for the company’s property management and real estate development consisting of 5000 units (affordable and market rate multifamily units and homeownership associations (HOAs)). Mills also worked with state and local officials, syndicators, lenders, auditors, attorneys, appraisers, and professionals in the building trades in the execution of applications and documentation for the equity and debt required to build, rehabilitate, or refinance multifamily properties. Prior to his work at Conlin Properties, Mills served as Director for the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED). He was appointed by Governor Culver to lead the state's economic development efforts by building relationships and partnering with state agencies, local governments, industry associations, economic development organizations, businesses, and community stakeholders to promote collaboration and investment in Iowa. Mills oversaw the IDED budget, ensuring strategic use of resources, and the allocation of state and federal grants and incentives. Mr. Mills holds a Bachelor of General Studies in Communications, Journalism, and Business from the University of Iowa as well as a BS in Accounting and an MBA from Drake University. Mills is a Certified Public Accountant, a Housing Credit Compliance Professional, as well as a Housing Finance Development Professional. Read more.
Columbia Theological Seminary has successfully appointed Robert Hay Jr. as Vice President for Business and Administration/CFO, effective January 8, 2024. Mr. Hay has a deep background as a non-profit executive with a fundraising, development, investment, financial, and operational background. He comes to Columbia after 12 years as Senior Ministry Relations Officer with the Presbyterian Foundation of the Presbyterian Church. Prior to that, Mr. Hay served as Chief Administrative Officer for Hi-Hope Service Center and Chief Financial/Chief Operating Officer for Care and Counseling Center of Georgia. Mr. Hay holds a MPA from Georgia State University and a BS in Management Information Systems from Auburn University. Read more.
Purdue University Northwest has successfully appointed Dr. Chris Holford as Chancellor. Dr. Holford currently serves as Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at Purdue University Northwest. Holford is also a Professor of Biology at Purdue University North Central. Prior to serving as Provost, Holford served as the Founding Dean of the College of Engineering and Sciences at PNW as well. Dr. Holford holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Augustana College and a Master of Science in Zoology from Southern Illinois University. Holford also earned his PhD. In Biology from Illinois State University. Read more.
SUNY Erie Community College has successfully appointed Dr. Adiam Tsegai as President effective December 5, 2023. Prior to her appointment, she has served as the college’s Officer-in-Charge since 2022. An alumna of SUNY Erie, she joined SUNY Erie as the Dean of Engineering and Technologies in 2018 and was appointed in mid-2021 as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, after serving as the college’s Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs of Health Sciences, Engineering and Technologies. Read more.
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission has appointed Dr. Steven Gentile as the agency's new Executive Director. Dr. Gentile has held numerous roles at THEC, ranging from Assistant Director of Fiscal Policy to the Chief Policy and Strategy Officer. He was most recently appointed Interim Executive Director in September 2023. Before joining THEC, Dr. Gentile served as the Assistant Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at his alma mater, Davidson College, in North Carolina. He received his Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Policy and M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Vanderbilt University, and his B.A. in Economics from Davidson College. He is an alumnus of Leadership Tennessee NEXT, Nashville Emerging Leaders, and the Tennessee Higher Education Innovation and Leadership Fellows program. Read more here.