President/Chancellors

Dr. David Cook has been appointed as the new President at Iowa State University. Dr. Cook has led North Dakota State University since 2022. His accomplishments include the launch of a data-driven strategic plan that reversed 10 years of declining enrollment and revenues and invested in student advising and mentoring programs that increased retention of first-year students by 3% and graduation rates by 12%. During his tenure, NDSU’s research funding and expenditures increased to historic levels and Dr. Cook helped launch fundraising efforts for initiatives to build leaders in artificial intelligence and drive solutions for modern agriculture. Prior to North Dakota State, Dr. Cook served as vice chancellor for public affairs and economic development at the University of Kansas. He also held several leadership roles at the University of Kansas Medical Center. As a faculty researcher, Dr. Cook was a principal or co-principal investigator on grants totaling nearly $11 million in external funding. He has published nearly 70 articles, book chapters, and abstracts, and has taught more than 25 courses in subjects including: health policy and management; diffusion, adoption and implementation of innovation; business and organizational communication; and strategic marketing. Dr. Cook earned a bachelor's degree in political science and speech communication from Iowa State University. He earned his master’s and doctoral degrees, both in organizational communication, from the University of Kansas. Read more.

Dr. Brad Mortensen has been appointed as the new president of Utah State University. As noted in the press release, "Dr. Mortensen has served as president of Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, since 2019, where he has led WSU to multiple recognitions for outstanding return on investment for graduates, established the Miller Advanced Research and Solutions (MARS) Center in partnership with the Utah Legislature, the U.S. Air Force and the aerospace and defense industry, and overseen the establishment of new graduate education programs including the Doctor of Nursing Practice." A Utah State University (USU) Alumnus, Dr. Mortensen received his Bachelor's Degree from USU in Political Science, a Master's degree in Public Administration from Syracuse University and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah. Dr. Mortensen will begin his responsibilities with USU on November 10, 2025. Read more.

Mr. Brent White has been appointed as the new President at Golden Gate University. Mr. White will officially assume his new role on November 1, 2025. Mr. White currently serves as Chief Global Officer at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, where he directs all aspects of global engagement for the campus, and as Professor of Law at the William S. Richardson School of Law. Prior to joining the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Mr. White served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Golden Gate University, leading the creation of new programs and international partnerships that significantly expanded the university's student body and its global impact. Mr. White earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from New York University School of Law, and his A.B., magna cum laude, in Public Policy from Duke University. His legal scholarship has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, and 60 Minutes. Read more.

Dr. Marielena DeSanctis has been appointed as the new Chancellor at Colorado Community College System. Dr. DeSanctis will officially assume her new role on October 1, 2025. Dr. DeSanctis currently serves as President of the Community College of Denver (CCD), where she has championed student success, expanded workforce-driven innovation, and strengthened strategic partnerships across the Denver metro region. Prior to joining CCD, Dr. DeSanctis served as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Broward College, a nationally recognized Hispanic-Serving Institution in Florida. Dr. DeSanctis is the first Latina to lead the Colorado Community College System.  With more than 26 years of cross-sector leadership spanning K–12 education, higher education, and workforce development, Dr. DeSanctis brings a unique and comprehensive perspective that aligns closely with CCCS’s 2030 Strategic Plan. She holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University, a Master of Math Education from Nova Southeastern University, and a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. Read more.

Mr. Timothy Minor has been appointed as the new Vice Chancellor for Advancement and President and CEO at the University System of Maryland Foundation. Mr. Minor will also serve as the Vice President for Advancement of the University System of Maryland. He will begin his duties on September 22nd. A nationally recognized and results-driven higher education leader, Mr. Minor brings over 30 years of strategic experience in advancement, fundraising, and industry and government partnerships. In his most recent position as Vice Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, Mr. Minor secured transformational private support across higher education, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors, leading initiatives generating more than $1 billion annually. Previously, Mr. Minor served as the Chief Development Officer and Senior Vice President for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Prior, he was the Vice President for University Advancement for the University of North Carolina System, where he served as the Chief Advancement Officer for the UNC multi-campus university composed of all 16 of North Carolina's public universities, as well as the NC School of Science and Mathematics. Earlier, he served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement for North Carolina A & T State University and held several fundraising roles at UNC Chapel Hill. He started his advancement career at Emory University. Mr. Minor holds a B.A. in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Public Affairs in nonprofit management from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Read more.

Dr. Jim Burkee has been appointed as the new President at Saint Leo University. Dr. Burkee will officially begin his new role on September 1, 2025. Dr. Burkee currently serves as the 15th President and Chief Executive Officer of Avila University, a Catholic university founded and supported by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSI), in Kansas City, MO. As President, Dr. Burkee achieved three-fold expansion of the institution in two and a half years, from just over 1,100 students to more than 3,100 (January 2025). He also developed major partnerships with organizations in the US and abroad to drive expansion in domestic undergraduate, graduate, online, and international programs. Under Burkee's leadership, over $34 million in fundraising commitments were made in three short years. Prior to Avila, Dr. Burkee served as the Vice President for Enterprise Programs and Dean of the School of Professional and Graduate Studies at College of Mount Saint Vincent in Bronx, New York. He also served as the Executive Vice President/Executive Dean of Concordia College New York in Bronxville. Dr. Burkee holds two bachelor's degrees from Concordia University in Wisconsin, as well as a doctoral and master's degree from Northwestern University in Illinois. Dr. Burkee feels strongly that his experience working in and leading mission-aligned institutions, building high-impact partnerships, and fostering communities of belonging is uniquely suited to Saint Leo needs right now and he is energized by the opportunity to walk this path forward with the Saint Leo family. Read more.

Dr. Kimberlee Messina has been appointed as the new Chancellor at City College of San Francisco. Dr. Messina will begin her new role on July 1, 2025. Dr. Messina currently serves as President of Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC) in Spokane, Washington. SFCC is a comprehensive community college in the Community Colleges of Spokane District with an annual headcount of 7,220 students, 151 full-time faculty, 115 part-time faculty, 15 administrators, and an annual general fund budget of $26 million. As President, Dr. Messina provides strategic leadership for the college’s vision and mission. She also provides oversight of the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of the educational and fiscal programs of the college to achieve the goals defined by the Board of Trustees. Dr. Messina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Arts in Spanish from California State University, Sacramento. She also holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from University of California, Davis. Read more.

Rosemary Costigan, Ph.D., R.N. has been appointed as the new President at Community College of Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education has announced the appointment of who has been serving as the Interim President since May 2023. Dr. Costigan is a distinguished higher education leader with over 25 years of experience in teaching, community college administration, and academic leadership, dedicated to fostering student success and institutional growth. Prior to her appointment as interim president, Dr. Costigan, a nurse by education and training, worked in Rhode Island’s postsecondary education ecosystem for decades at the nursing schools of CCRI and University of Rhode Island. She has progressively advanced from associate professor of nursing, to nursing department chairperson, to interim assistant dean of nursing, and as vice president of academic affairs. In addition to her postsecondary education experiences, she was a full-time nurse for 21 years at Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island. Dr. Costigan holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Nursing from Community College of Rhode Island, a B.S. in Nursing from Rhode Island College, and an A.S. in Nursing from Community College of Rhode Island. Read more.

Dr. Paul Burkhardt has been appointed as the new President of Naropa University. His first day will be August 1, 2025. Dr. Burkhardt most recently served as the Provost and Chief Academic Officer at The University of Olivet. Prior to that, he was the Executive Vice President & Provost, Chief Academic Officer, and Chief Operating Officer at Prescott College. Dr. Burkhardt has dedicated himself to servant leadership at intentional and mission-driven universities.Dr. Burkhardt holds a PhD with honors in Comparative Cultural & Literary Studies from the University of Arizona. He also earned an MA in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory and a BA from the same institution. Read more.

Mr. Val Martinez Garcia has been appointed as the new superintendent/president at College of the Desert. Mr. Martinez Garcia has served as the acting superintendent/president of College of the Desert (COD) since December of 2024. Since February of 2023, Mr. Martinez Garcia has served in two other roles at COD including vice president of student services and vice president of instruction. Prior to his time at COD, Mr. Martinez Garcia was the vice president of student services at West Hills College Lemoore in Lemoore, California. Mr. Martinez Garcia holds a bachelor's degree in sociology and a master's in school counseling from University of La Verne where he is also pursuing his doctorate degree in organizational leadership. Read more.