Lafayette College has successfully appointed Dr. Laura McGrane as its next Provost. Dr. McGrane will join Lafayette College on July 1st. Since 2021, Dr. McGrane has served as the Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives at Haverford College. In this role, she led successful college-wide strategic planning and multidisciplinary initiatives, while also overseeing a number of institutional grants and enrollment studies. Since 2002, she has been a faculty member in Haverford’s English department, serving as chair of the department from 2015-18. Her teaching and scholarship explore print culture, digital media, and the history of the book. Her work in liberal arts as both disciplinary and interdisciplinary practice explores alliances between a rich arts & sciences curriculum, experiential opportunities, and hands-on learning. From 2014-21, Dr. McGrane served as the founding director of Haverford’s Visual Culture Arts and Media, a creative hub for students, faculty, staff, and the wider Haverford community. From 2012-15, she served as the Koshland Director of Haverford’s Hurford Center for the Arts & Humanities. Dr. McGrane gained additional administrative experience working in the Office of the President at William & Mary as a Fellow of the American Council on Education throughout the 2021-22 academic year. While at William & Mary, she focused on inclusive and shared college governance, fellowships, and university-wide strategic planning. Dr. McGrane earned her B.A. in English and American literature from the College of Saint Benedict, as well as a B.A. in English language and literature and the M.S. in comparative/international education from the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. She earned her Ph.D. in English and American literature from Stanford University. Read more.
The University of San Diego has successfully appointed Dr. Darren Kew as the next Dean of the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies. Dr. Kew holds a Ph.D. from Tufts University and brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and international relations. He is a professor and former Chair of the Department of Conflict Resolution, Human Security, and Global Governance, and Executive Director of the Center for Peace, Democracy, and Development at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Additionally, Dr. Kew has advised democracy and peace initiatives to the United Nations, USAID, US State Department, and several NGOs, including the Carter Center and the Nobel Peace Prize-nominated Interfaith Mediation Centre in Kaduna, Nigeria. Read more.
Seton Hall University has successfully appointed Monsignor Joseph Reilly, S.T.L, Ph.D as the University's 22nd president. Over half of Monsignor Reilly's life has been spent on the South Orange campus of Seton Hall. First as a Prep and college student, later coming back in 2002 as a University administrator, then as Rector/Dean of Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, and now as Vice Provost for Academics and Catholic Identity. He believes his long tenure at Seton Hall has given him a unique appreciation for the University and the potential that lies within. Monsignor Reilly has earned many awards and appointments over the years. He was named a Missionary of Mercy by His Holiness, Pope Francis. The Missionaries of Mercy are priests from around the world who are to be living signs of the Father's welcome to all those in search of His forgiveness. Reilly was also selected as an honoree among the 2015 Irish Education 100. Sponsored by the Irish Voice, the honor was conferred by the Irish Consul General in Manhattan, NYC, on December 9, 2015. Reilly holds a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Georgian University and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from Pontificio Instituto Teresianum in Rome. He also holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration from Fordham University in New York. Read more.
The University of Minnesota Duluth has successfully appointed Dr. Charles Nies as their next Chancellor effective July 1, 2024. Dr. Nies comes to UMD with over 25 years of experience in higher education. He currently serves as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of California, Merced. Dr. Nies joined UC Merced in 2006 as its first Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students, a role in which he oversaw the development and growth of student life programs on campus. Prior to his work at UC Merced, he served as the Assistant Dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies at Miami University in Ohio. Dr. Nies holds a PhD in Education Administration and Leadership and an MA in Counseling Psychology from Washington State University. Read more.
The University of Pittsburgh has successfully appointed Mr. Phil Bakken as their new Secretary of the Board of Trustees effective June 28, 2024. Mr. Bakken served as the chief of staff to the president and corporation secretary to the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska System. As secretary, Mr. Bakken will advise and facilitate the work of the board in exercising its duties of oversight of University affairs and promotion of its charitable, scientific and educational purposes. At the University of Nebraska System, Mr. Bakken held roles of increasing responsibility including president of the University Technology Development Corporation, interim assistant vice president for budget, special assistant to the president and industry relations coordinator. The industry relations coordinator role earned him the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Invaluable Service at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Mr. Bakken has a bachelor’s degree in economics and a Master of Business Administration, both from Nebraska Wesleyan University, which recognized him with a Young Alumni Achievement Award in 2022. Read more.
Bowie State University has successfully appointed Ms. Sabrina Ram as their new Vice President for Marketing and Communications effective July 8, 2024. Ms.Ram has managed communications and marketing efforts for major organizations such as AT&T, Walden University, Drexel University Online, 2U, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Arcadia University. She’s also led communications and marketing efforts for a variety of clients, including the University of Southern California, New York University, Northwestern University, the University of Liverpool, Villanova University, Simmons College, and the School District of Philadelphia. Working in-house and in agency settings, Ms. Ram has cultivated strong relationships with digital influencers and media across international, national, niche, and local markets. In these roles, she has also built or refreshed brand identities, shaped narratives and reputations, created integrated and transparent internal communications strategies, and focused on developing and amplifying diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Ms. Ram has a bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communications and Public Relations from Drexel University and a master’s degree in Public Relations & Corporate Communications from Georgetown University. She has also completed two executive leadership programs at Cornell University.
Bowie State University has successfully appointed Mr. Manish Kumar as their new Vice President for Administration and Finance effective April 1, 2024. Mr. Kumar comes to Bowie State from Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) where he served as Vice President for Finance and Administration for nearly five years. There he provided strategic direction and leadership for campus financial and administrative services. Prior to his work at NEIU, Mr. Kumar was the Chief Financial Officer for the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Along with his role as the CFO for the UNC-A&S Foundations, he managed funds totaling more than $1.6 billion. He also oversaw all financial and budgetary matters, including operations and compliance along with the support of new program development through forecasts, budgets and accreditation compliance. Mr. Kumar served as the CFO and Head of HR and Administration at Rutgers Business School. From 2011 to 2015, he served as Director of Strategic Initiatives for the College of Art and Architecture at the University of Idaho. He has significant private sector experience where he has worked with fortune 20 companies such as American Express, AAA insurance and State Street Global Advisors in various leadership capacities. Mr. Kumar holds an MBA from Northeastern University (Boston) He is working toward a Ph.D. in Supply Chain Management at the University of Greenwich (London, U.K.) and currently holds an ABD status.
Waubonsee Community College has successfully appointed Dr. Toya Webb as their new Chief of Staff and Vice President of Strategy, effective April 1, 2024. Dr. Webb has spent the past 12 years working in various capacities at Elgin Community College, ultimately advancing to the role of Chief Marketing, Communications, and Government Relations Officer in 2022. Dr. Webb also has experience as an adjunct faculty member, is a Peer Reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission, and sits on the Board of Directors for the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations. Dr. Webb holds an AA from Jefferson Community College, a BA in Journalism and Sociology from the University of Hawaii-Manoa, an MS in Integrated Marketing Communications from Roosevelt University and an Ed.D. in Higher Education and Organizational Change from Benedictine University. Read more.
Wheaton College (MA) has successfully appointed Dr. Sean Schofield as their new Assistant Vice President for Life and Career Design. Dr. Schofield currently serves as the Executive Director of Career Services at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. As the Executive Director, Schofield provided strategic leadership and oversight for a centralized college-wide career services division. Schofield also leveraged data to understand and develop a methodology to individualize career interventions (Muhlenberg Action Plan) which has been developed and successfully launched to all first-year Muhlenberg students. Prior to his work at Muhlenberg College, Schofield served as the Associate Director of Graduate Career Advising at William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Schofield served on the Associate Dean's workplace culture team, leading efforts to improve staff morale and engagement. He also advanced diversity and inclusion initiatives and practices through surveys and one-on-one staff check-ins and delivered 30+ workshops to graduate and business students. Dr. Schofield holds a Bachelor of Arts in Family and Child Studies and a Masters of Arts in Counseling (Student Affairs & Higher Education) from Montclair State University. He also holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Policy, Planning and Leadership, from William and Mary. Read more.