Independent Institution

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.

Dr. Jason Lane has been appointed as the first President of the National Association of System Heads (NASH). Dr. Lane is an accomplished leader, widely-read author, and award-winning scholar with more than ten books on higher education. He has a long history with NASH, having developed its System Leadership Academy, directed the Systems Center, and co-led Taking Student Success to Scale (TS3). As a Senior Fellow, he helped guide NASH through the pandemic and launch the Big Rethink, a year-long strategic planning process to guide the future of NASH. He currently serves as Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Society at Miami University. Dr. Lane has also served as Vice Provost & Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for The State University of New York system (SUNY). Dr. Lane will begin in his new role on January 2nd, 2024. Read more here.

Delaware Valley University has successfully appointed Mr. James Cooper as the Vice President for Finance and Administration effective 11/15/23. Mr. Cooper brings more than 25 years of experience in higher education finance, budgeting, capital expense planning and execution, facilities, information technology, risk management, auxiliary enterprise operations, public safety, community partnerships and risk management. He currently serves as Vice President of Finance and Administration at Cabrini University with responsibility for the key financial and business functions within the University. These include financial operations and planning, facilities management, human resources, endowment and investment management, enterprise risk management, as well as the operations of information technology and services, food services, bookstore, public safety, groundskeeping, and facilities. Prior positions include serving as Vice President of Finance and Administration at Virginia Wesleyan University and positions in finance at Arcadia University, Ursinus University and LaSalle University. Before entering finance in higher education, he worked in the accounting and healthcare industries. He holds an MBA in Finance from La Salle University and a BBA in Accounting from Temple University. Read more.

Pitzer College has successfully appointed Mr. Nathaniel Wyrick as the new Assistant Vice President of Admissions. Mr. Wyrick joins the Pitzer team after serving the past 5 years at Warren Wilson College as the Director of Admissions and has previous experience in Admissions at Tufts University and the Pacific Northwest College of Art. He began his duties on campus on September 29, 2023.

Field Museum has successfully appointed Dr. Erin Hagen as Senior Director of the Keller Science Action Center. She will lead the Field Museum's Keller Science Action Center, the conservation arm of the Museum, on international conservation efforts across the Andes/Amazon region of South America, as well as projects in the greater Chicago area. Dr. Hagen was most recently the Director of Science at River Partners, a California-based non-profit focused on conservation. Prior to that she was the Commissioner of the Alameda County Public Health Commission. She holds a Doctorate from the University of Connecticut. 

Ursinus College has successfully appointed Dr. Gundolf Graml as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College effective February 1, 2024. Dr. Graml currently serves as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean for Curriculum and Strategic Initiatives at Agnes Scott College. He brings over 15 years of liberal arts teaching and administrative experience that includes global learning, curriculum development, and faculty professional development to his new role at Ursinus College. While at Agnes Scott, he led the SUMMIT global learning, inclusive leadership, and digital literacy program - an innovative general education curriculum and co-curriculum that integrates the academic and experiential components of liberal arts learning and prepares students for purposeful growth and professional success. Read more.

Bridgewater College has successfully appointed Ms. Meg Riner as Vice President for Institutional Advancement effective October 1, 2023. Ms. Riner has been in the development and fundraising profession for 21 years, first beginning as a Grants Specialist for James Madison University. She then served as the Senior Development Officer of the three foundations of Bon Secours Hampton Roads Health System before joining Bridgewater College in 2014 as a Development Officer. She then was promoted to Senior Director of Development at Bridgewater and most recently served as Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement. She has consistently advanced in the field, succeeding in securing millions in philanthropic contributions for higher education, nonprofit, and healthcare organizations. Ms. Riner holds a Bachelor of Arts from James Madison University and a fundraising and development certificate from the University of Richmond. Read more.

Pitzer College has successfully appointed Mr. Michael Tocydlowski as the new Director of Financial Aid. Mr. Tocydlowski brings an extensive background in Enrollment Management and Financial Aid to Pitzer, having most recently served as the Director of Financial Aid at Charles R. Drew University, with previous experience at the Cleveland Institute of Art and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. Mr. Tocydlowski began his work in higher education as an Admissions Representative following his graduation from Goldey-Beacom College where he received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration.

 

Benedict College has appointed Dr. Sharron Taylor Burnett a the new Vice President of Finance and Operations. Dr. Burnett comes to Benedict College from Edward Waters University, where she served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.  As noted in the press release, Benedict College President and CEO, Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis said, “I welcome Dr. Burnett who has an impressive record in higher education. She has served in the role of an Executive Vice President at both Lane College and Tuskegee University where she also dually served as the university’s Chief Financial Officer. I am confident that her passion for education and her ability to provide leadership, vision and direction will enhance the transformative vision we have for the College.” Dr. Burnett is a native of Tennessee and earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Lane College.  She also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Tennessee at Martin and a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Memphis. She is scheduled to begin her duties on campus on September 25, 2023. Read more.