Public Institution

Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) concluded a national search for a Vice President for Academic Affairs with the recruitment of Keith M. Williamson to the position. Williamson brings 17 years of teaching experience in the field of engineering and numerous relationships for innovation and business incubation.

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology selected Mr. Pedro A. Rivera as the institution's 10th President and assumed the role beginning October 1, 2020. Prior to his appointment, Rivera served as Pennsylvania Secretary of Education.

Central Piedmont Community College has appointed Mr. William (Chris) Cathcart as the new Vice President of Student Affairs.  Previously, Chris Cathcart served as the vice chancellor of student success for Ivy Tech Community College Northeast in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  He holds an MBA in strategy and finance from Vanderbilt University, a master’s degree in adult and community education from Ball State University, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Morehouse College. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in community college leadership from Ball State University. Previously, Chris served Kaplan Higher Education as a Vice President of Campus Operations at a few progressing locations within the Kaplan system.

The University of South Dakota has named Dr. Tim Ridgway as its new Vice President of Health Affairs and Dean of the Sanford School of Medicine. He will start his new position on September 1, 2020. Dr. Ridgway previously served as Executive Dean, Dean of Faculty Affairs, and Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine for the USD Sanford School of Medicine, and is currently a staff physician and director of gastrointestinal endoscopy at the Royal C. Johnson Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital in Sioux Falls. Read more here.

The University of Toledo, a public research university in Toledo, Ohio, has appointed Dr. Gregory Postel, M.D., as its Interim President effective June 16, 2020. 

Tacoma Community College has announced the appointment of Karl Smith to the position of Vice President of Student Affairs, effective July 1, 2020. Mr. Smith currently serves as Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services and Director of Admissions at the University of Washington Tacoma, and his past roles include Chief Enrollment Officer, Associate Director for Recruitment and Admissions, and Director of Outreach and Recruitment. Mr. Smith holds a Bachelors of Arts and a Masters from the University of Washington and is currently pursuing an Educational Doctorate in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies from the University of Washington.

Prince George’s Community College has announced the selection of Dr. Falecia D. Williams as the College’s ninth president. Dr. Williams assumed her role prior to the start of the fall semester in August 2020.

Southern Connecticut State University has appointed Dr. Diane Ariza as it’s new Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She will assume her new role in July, 2020.  Dr. Ariza brings more than two decades’ experience of administrative leadership in social justice and a background of teaching and research in ethnic studies. She has served as a board member of the National Association for Chief Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) Conference. Dr. Ariza is currently Vice President for Community and Belonging at Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y.   Dr. Ariza holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Sociology from Western Michigan University (WMU), a Master of Arts in Anthropology from WMU and her Bachelor’s degree from Stetson University in Florida. Read more here.

Dr. Yves Idzerda has been named dean of the Montana State University College of Letters and Science. Dr. Idzerda currently serves as head of the Department of Physics and professor of physics at MSU. He joined MSU as associate professor of physics in 2000. From 2004 to 2009 he served as associate director of the MSU Center for BioInspired Nanomaterials. He was named head of the physics department in 2013.  Dr. Idzerda has received numerous awards, including the Charles and Nora L. Wiley Award for Meritorious Research in 2003, the Deans’ Award for Meritorious Research in the College of Letters and Science in 2004 and the Cox Family Fund for Excellence Award in 2007. He was named a fellow of the American Physical Society in 2008. Dr. Idzerda also worked as a staff scientist and as head of the artificially structured materials non-linear physics section at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. He holds a doctorate in physics from the University of Maryland, a master’s degree in physics from the University of Washington, and bachelor’s degrees in physics and electrical engineering, both from Washington University. Read more here.

The University of Central Florida has appointed Mr. Joseph Trubacz, B.S., M.B.A., as Interim Chief Financial Officer, effective 12/19/2019.