President/Chancellors

Dr. Stephen Perez has been appointed as the new president of California State University, Chico (Chico State). He will begin his role on July 1, 2023. Dr. Perez has spent most of his 30-year career in higher education with the CSU system, having served in academic and administrative roles at Sacramento State, including professor, department chair, interim dean, vice provost, and provost. In January 2022, Perez was appointed interim president at San José State. Dr. Perez has served as Chico State’s interim provost since January 2023, during which time he has led the university’s enrollment continuum effort and helped close a $20 million budget gap. Dr. Perez received his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California, San Diego and his master’s and doctorate in economics from the University of California, Davis. Read more here.

Foothill-De Anza Community College District has appointed Mr. Lee Lambert, J.D. as its new Chancellor. He will begin his new role on August 1, 2023. Mr. Lambert has more than two decades of experience in community colleges at the senior executive level and has led Pima Community College since 2013. Prior to that post, Mr. Lambert served nearly eight years as the president of Shoreline Community College (WA), helping to restore the college’s financial stability and turning the college into a national leader in offering 100 percent online degrees and certificates in business and health care programs. Mr. Lambert holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from The Evergreen State College and a juris doctor from Seattle University. Read more here.

The West Liberty University Board of Governors has named Dr. Tim Borchers as the university’s 38th president effective July 1, 2023. Dr. Borchers currently serves as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Peru State College and brings over 18 years of higher education administrative experience to the Presidency at West Liberty. Prior to his current position, Borchers served as the Dean of the College of Arts, Media, and Communication at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He holds a Ph.D. and MA in Communication from Wayne State University, and a BA in Speech Communication from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Read more here.

University of Minnesota Morris has appointed Dr. Janet Schrunk Ericksen as Chancellor as of May 15, 2023. Dr. Ericksen has been serving as the acting Chancellor of the Morris campus since July 2021 and brings deep experience and impressive accomplishments across her career and a passion for, UMN Morris and the Morris community. A professor of English, her tenure with UMN Morris spans over 20 years. She previously served as Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Dean, and was responsible for college academic and administrative leadership, including the Education, Humanities, Math and Science, and Social Sciences academic divisions. She holds an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.A. in English and Art History from the University of Kansas. Read more here.

Wilberforce University has appointed Dr. Vann R. Newkirk to serve as its next president. Dr. Newkirk will be the 23rd president of the country's oldest private historically Black university beginning in July, 2023. Dr. Newkirk brings a wealth of experience in higher education, having served in various leadership roles at several institutions. He presently serves as an interim associate vice president at Alabama A & M University in Huntsville, and is a former president of the historic Fisk University in Nashville (TN) where he also served as provost and vice president of academic affairs. Dr. Newkirk holds a B.S. in sociology from Barber-Scotia College, an M.A. in history from Winthrop University, an M.S. from North Carolina Central University, and Ph.D. in history from Howard University. Read more here.

The Florida Institute of Technology has named Dr. John Nicklow as its next President. Dr. Nicklow will join Florida Tech on July 1, 2023. Dr. Nicklow currently serves as President of the University of New Orleans. He joined UNO in 2015 in the role of Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs before being named President in 2016. Prior to his eight years at the University of New Orleans, he served as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Southern Illinois University, as well as earlier administrative appointments including chief enrollment officer and leadership positions in the College of Engineering and Department of Civil Engineering. His research focuses on STEM education and environmental and water resources systems. He is a registered professional engineer, a certified professional hydrologist, a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a diplomate of the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers. Dr. Nicklow earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in civil engineering from Bucknell University (PA) and Ph.D. in civil engineering from Arizona State University. He is a recent recipient of the NCAA Champion of Diversity Award. Read more here.

Dr. Joseph J. Foy has been named the 13th President of Benedictine University, a Catholic, liberal arts institution guided by the Benedictine charism with campuses in Lisle, Illinois and Mesa, Arizona. Dr. Foy's term will begin on July 24, 2023. He is currently Interim President and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dr. Foy served previously as Dean of the Faculty at Marian University, and in various leadership roles with the University of Wisconsin Colleges and with the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha. Foy earned a bachelor’s degree, with honors, in Political Science and International Relations from Carroll College, a master’s degree in Comparative Politics and International Relations, and a Ph.D. in American Government and Comparative Politics from the University of Notre Dame. Read more here. 

Ohio University has announced the appointment of Dr. Lori Stewart Gonzalez as its 23rd President. She will join Ohio University on July 1, 2023. President-elect Gonzalez comes to Ohio University from the University of Louisville, where she currently serves as Executive Vice President and University Provost; additionally, she served as Interim President for more than a year during a presidential transition. Prior to her time in Louisville, Dr. Gonzalez was Vice Chancellor for Academic, Faculty and Student Affairs at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Her long career also includes serving as Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor at Appalachian State University and as Dean of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Kentucky. She holds a B.A. in Speech Pathology and Audiology from the University of Kentucky, an M.A. in Communication Disorders from Eastern Kentucky University, and a Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Florida. Read more here.

Clarkson College has announced the appointment of Dr. Andreia Nebel as its new president. Dr. Nebel first joined Clarkson College in 2003 as an adjunct instructor and then served as the Director of the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program from 2007-2015. In 2015, Nebel was appointed the role as the Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA), and continued to teach in the PTA program, now at the rank of Associate Professor. Dr. Nebel has received multiple awards for her dedication and contributions to higher education and healthcare but is most grateful for the contributions she has made in serving students, the Leadership Council, the College Board of Directors, the faculty/staff, and the surrounding Clarkson community. Dr. Nebel has a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Human Development from Montana State University-Bozeman and two doctorates from Creighton University; one clinical doctorate in Physical Therapy and an educational doctorate (Ed.D.) in Interdisciplinary Leadership. Read more here.

The Portland State University Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Ann Cudd as the 11th President of Portland State University, effective August 1, 2023. Dr. Cudd has been serving as Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh since September 2018.  Prior to her service at Pitt, she served as Dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences at Boston University. Dr. Cudd holds a PhD in Philosophy and MA’s in both Economic and Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh and a BA in Mathematics and Philosophy from Swarthmore College. Read more here.