President/Chancellors

The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education has named Dr. Bernell Hirning as the next president of Williston State College. Dr. Hirning most recently served as Associate Regional Dean and Regional Associate Vice President for National University, the second largest private, non-profit university in California. He started as a lead campus administrator for the Redding Campus in Northern California. After successfully growing that campus, he relocated to Central California to lead campuses in Fresno, Bakersfield, and Porterville. With successful growth at those locations, he was promoted to Regional Associate Vice President, overseeing operations for ten regional campuses across a 44-county area in central and northern California, through onsite and online instruction. Dr. Hirning was born, raised, and educated in North Dakota. He holds a Ph.D. from Capella University, a Master's and Bachelor’s degree from Minot State University, and an Associate degree from Williston State College (formerly UND-Williston).  Read more here.

The Pittsburgh Theological Seminary has appointed the Rev. Dr. Asa J. Lee as its next president. Dr. Lee currently serves at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., as vice president for campus administration, associate dean for community life, and director of African American studies. He is a graduate of Hampton University (B.A. in music education magna cum laude), Wesley Theological Seminary (M.Div. cum laude), and Virginia Theological Seminary (D.Min. in educational leadership). Dr. Lee will assume his duties as president June 7, 2021.  Read more here.

Ramapo College of New Jersey has appointed Dr. Cindy R. Jebb, Ph.D. as its fifth President. Dr. Jebb, Dean of the Academic Board and Professor of Comparative Politics at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and Brigadier General of the United States Army, will join the College on July 6, 2021.  Dr. Jebb retires from the U.S. Army this summer with the rank of Brigadier General after 39 years of service to the nation. She earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from Duke University, a M.A. in Political Science from Duke, an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, and a B.S. from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Read more here.

The Board of Trustees of Misericordia University has appointed Daniel J. Myers, Ph.D., professor and acting chairperson of Sociology at American University in Washington, D.C., as the next president of Misericordia University.  Dr. Myers will begin his presidential term on July 1, 2021. Dr. Myers earned a B.A. in political science, an M.A. in higher education and student affairs from Ohio State University, before completing an M.A. and doctorate in sociology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Read more here.

The Board of Regents of the New York State Education Department has appointed Dr. Betty A. Rosa as permanent Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York. Dr. Rosa has served as Interim Commissioner since August 2020. A nationally recognized education leader, Dr. Rosa will be the first Latina woman to serve in the position. She has more than thirty years of instructional and administrative experience, with expertise in inclusive education, cooperative teaching models, student achievement, and policy implementation. She received Ed.D. and M.Ed. degrees in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from Harvard University. Read more here.

The Board of Trustees and the Christian Brothers are delighted to announce Richard Plumb’s appointment as the 30th president of Saint Mary’s College of California. Plumb will begin his term on July 1, 2021. After a thorough national search, Plumb was selected because of his broad experience in strategic planning, curriculum development, financial management, fundraising, capital planning, and other critical skills necessary to leverage Saint Mary’s College’s distinguished history and write the next chapter for this remarkable institution. Plumb is a highly respected administrator, esteemed faculty member, and student-oriented leader. Learn more.

Dr. Kathleen Plinske, executive vice president, provost and campus president of the Osceola, Lake Nona and Poinciana Campuses at Valencia College in Orlando, Florida, has been selected as the new president of Valencia College. The new president will begin her new role in the spring of 2021.  Dr. Plinske earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Physics with highest distinction from Indiana University, a Master of Arts in Spanish from Roosevelt University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida, and a Doctorate in Educational Technology from Pepperdine University. Read more here.

LeMoyne-Owen College has selected Vernell A. Bennett-Fairs, Ed.D. as the 13th president of the college. Dr. Bennett-Fairs has over 25 years of experience in higher education, most recently serving as vice-president of Student Affairs at Delta State University in Mississippi. She also served in a similar role at HBCU, Kentucky State University. Dr. Bennett-Fairs brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in higher education settings and we feel confident that she will continue the transformation already underway at LeMoyne-Owen College. Dr. Bennett-Fairs will take over from Dr. Carol Johnson Dean on January 5, 2021. Read More.

Ms. Madeline Pumariega has been selected to become the fifth president of Miami Dade College. She is expected to assume office in early January, 2021. A Miami Dade College alum herself, Pumariega was appointed as the first female president of the college.

Dr. Timothy Moore has been selected to become the fourth president of Indian River State College. Dr. Moore is currently the Chief Science Officer at MagPlasma and Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer at Probaxstra Inc. Moore, a military veteran, has a 35-year career in higher education, federal, commercial, military and start-up sectors. His roles in higher education include service as Vice President for Research at Florida A&M University, the largest of the public Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Research Program Development/Assistant Professor at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Auburn, Alabama; Director of Federal Research Program Development at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine; and Director of Federal Research Program Development at the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center at Kansas State University. Dr. Moore holds a Ph.D. in Kinesiology from Auburn University, an MLS in Biology/Microbiology from North Carolina State University, and a B.S. in Biology from Wofford College. Read more here.