President/Chancellors

Dr. Chris Mallett has been appointed as the new President of Weber State University. He is slated to begin his duties on August 1. Dr. Mallett currently serves as chief administrative officer at Northeastern University’s Roux Institute. He previously spent nearly 14 years at Western Governors University as part of the institution’s founding team. Dr. Mallett earned his undergraduate degrees — associate and bachelor’s — from Weber State University, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Utah, and a doctorate in education from Pepperdine University. Read more.

Dr. Veronique V. Tran has been appointed as the new President and CEO at Gateway Technical College effective July 1, 2026. Dr. Tran comes to Gateway from Dallas College, where she served as the institution’s Founding Vice Provost for the School of Manufacturing & Industrial Technology. She is recognized for building high-impact academic, career, and technical education programs; strengthening student success outcomes; and aligning education systems with workforce demand and regional economic priorities. Her leadership is grounded in a student-centered approach and a commitment to collaborative innovation—bringing together faculty, staff, industry, and community partners to design programs and systems that expand opportunity, strengthen career pathways, and deliver results aligned with evolving workforce and regional needs. Dr. Tran earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston, and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the University of Texas at Arlington. Read more.

Dr. Denise Jones Gregory has been appointed as the new President at Jackson State University, following an eight-month national search. Dr. Gregory will officially begin her new role on May 1, 2026. Dr. Gregory most recently served as Interim President of Jackson State University, a role she has held since May 2025. In this capacity, she served as the Institutional Executive Officer, providing executive leadership to ensure operational effectiveness, strategic alignment, and advancement of the university's mission and long-term priorities. Prior to serving as Interim President, Dr. Gregory served as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Jackson State, where she provided strategic oversight for all academic units — including six colleges, graduate studies, institutional research, and the university library — and managed a $56.5 million budget comprising 46% of the university's total operating budget. Dr. Gregory earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Magna Cum Laude, from Jackson State University and her Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Read more.

Dr. Leamor Kahanov has been appointed as the new President at Notre Dame de Namur University. She will assume the presidency on July 1. A nationally recognized higher education leader with more than two decades of executive academic experience, Dr. Kahanov joins NDNU at a defining moment, one marked by institutional revitalization, strategic transformation, and a renewed commitment to preparing students for the workforce of the future. Dr. Kahanov currently serves as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Alvernia University, where she oversees academic strategy, enrollment integration, and institutional planning. Throughout her career, she has led initiatives that strengthen academic quality, expand access, and drive sustainable growth. Her leadership is distinguished by a focus on innovation and workforce alignment, including the development of new academic programs, expansion of online and hybrid learning, and the creation of partnerships with corporate, government, and nonprofit organizations. These efforts have generated significant support for student success initiatives and expanded pathways for learners seeking career advancement. Dr. Kahanov holds an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of San Francisco, an M.S. in Exercise and Sports Sciences from the University of Arizona, and a B.S. in Exercise Science and Athletic Training from Indiana University. Read more.

Dr. Jeremiah Shinn has been appointed as the new President at the University of Montana. He will assume the presidency on July 1. Dr. Shinn currently serves as Interim President of Boise State University, where he has led initiatives to enhance student engagement, strengthen campus partnerships, and expand access to educational opportunities. Prior to serving as Interim President, he was Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Boise State. He also previously served as Vice President for Student Affairs at Louisiana State University. Dr. Shinn earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University, a Master of Arts in Higher Education from the University of Michigan, and a B.S. in Natural Science from Arkansas Tech University. Read more.

Dr. Bishane Whitmore has been appointed as the new president at Community College of Denver. In his current role as Deputy Commander, Dr. Whitmore serves as Chief Operating Executive for a large, geographically distributed organization, providing strategic leadership for a 6,000-acre installation with $3.8 billion in program value, a $151 million annual operating budget, and $1.7 billion in physical infrastructure assets. He leads and integrates operations for more than 4,100 personnel across six global locations, aligning mission execution, personnel strategy, infrastructure planning, and fiscal oversight. Dr. Whitmore also collaborates with federal and state legislators, industry leaders, government agencies, and higher education to strengthen workforce pipelines, advance applied research, and support innovation initiatives. In addition, he spearheads enterprise-wide efforts to strengthen organizational culture, fostering an environment of trust, belonging, and mission effectiveness across a highly diverse workforce. Dr. Whitmore holds a Doctor of Philosophy and a Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy, along with master’s degrees in Military Art and Science, Organizational Leadership, and Business Management. Read more.

John Paul “Jay” Dowd III, Ph.D., has been appointed as the new president at Wofford College. His tenure begins July 1, 2026. Dr. Dowd currently serves as president and chief executive officer of The Citadel Foundation, a position he’s held since 2013. Previously, Dr. Dowd served as vice president for development and executive director at the Francis Marion University Education Foundation, where he was a member of the senior staff and the college’s chief fundraiser. He also has served as vice president for advancement at Columbia College, assistant vice chancellor for university advancement at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and vice president for institutional advancement at Methodist College. In each community, he was a leader and collaborator, discovering a passion for service and building and sustaining relationships based on transparency, communication and respect. He is a graduate of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where he earned a B.A. in history. He holds an M.Ed., with a focus on student personnel services, and a Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of South Carolina. He has more than 30 years of experience in higher education strategy, fundraising, institutional advancement and executive leadership. Read more.

Dr. Jeremy Pickard has been appointed as the new President at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College. His first day will be July 1, 2026. Dr. Pickard has worked for Eastern Iowa Community Colleges for the past 25 years and most recently served as the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs. He also served as Dean of Agriculture, Business, and Professional Services and Associate Director for the Advanced Technology Environmental & Energy Center. Dr. Pickard holds a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with an emphasis in Community College Leadership from Iowa State University, and earned a Masters in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the same institution. He has a B.A. in Secondary Business Education from Northwestern College. Read more.
 

Dr. Christopher Sindt has been appointed as the new President at Lewis University. Since joining Lewis University in 2018, Dr. Sindt has served with extraordinary distinction as provost, overseeing Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management, Student Life, Athletics, and Campus Safety. He has played a central role in advancing the university’s strategic plan, strengthening student success, expanding academic innovation, and leading key initiatives that position Lewis for continued growth and impact. Under his leadership, Lewis achieved a successful 10-year reaccreditation term from the Higher Learning Commission, launched multiple new academic programs, expanded international partnerships, and supported major institutional milestones, including the merger with St. Augustine College and the growth of sponsored research and fundraising efforts. Dr. Sindt earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his master’s and doctoral degrees in English from the University of California, Davis. Read more.

Dr. Teresa Rich has been appointed as the new President at Yakima Valley College. Dr. Rich, a long-time YVC administrator, has served as interim president since August 2024 and will officially begin her presidency on January 16, 2026. Dr. Rich brings more than two decades of experience in higher education accounting and administrative services, including 24 years at YVC, 18 of those as vice president for administrative services. Her leadership has been instrumental in expanding student opportunities, strengthening academic programs, and reinforcing YVC’s role as a cornerstone of the region. Dr. Rich holds a bachelor's degree in Accounting and a master's degree in Professional Accountancy. She also earned her doctoral degree in Education (Community College Leadership) from Central Washington University. Read more.