President/Chancellors

The Cuyahoga Community College Board of Trustees has announced the appointment of Dr. Michael A. Baston as Tri-C's fifth President. Dr. Baston currently serves as President of Rockland Community College, where he has led numerous initiatives to spur growth and increase educational pathways. Among many other professional honors and activities, Dr. Baston is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges Board of Directors, chairing its Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Iona College, a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, and an Ed.D. in Executive Leadership from St. John Fisher College. Read more here.

University of Portland (UP) has appointed its 21st president, Dr. Robert Kelly, most recently Vice President, Special Assistant, and Clinical Professor at Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland. He becomes the first lay president and African American to lead UP in its 121-year history. Dr. Kelly has had an accomplished career in higher education, much of which at Catholic and other faith-based institutions. He holds a PhD in Philosophy, Education Policy, Planning and Administration from the University of Maryland; a master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from the University of Vermont; and a bachelor’s degree in Arts and Political Science from Loyola University Maryland. Dr. Kelly served as Vice President for Student Development and adjunct professor of Education at Seattle University; Chief of Staff to the President of Union College; Associate Dean of Students, and Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Vermont; and Assistant Director of Residential Life at Colgate University.  Read more here.

The Kansas Board of Regents has selected Dr. Daniel Shipp as the 10th President of Pittsburg State University. Dr. Shipp currently serves as Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Associate to the Chancellor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Previous positions include Vice Chancellor for Student Success at the University of Nebraska Omaha and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at the University of Nebraska Omaha. He earned his B.A. in Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, his M.A. in Education from the University of Nebraska Omaha, and his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Administration from the University of the Pacific. Read more here.

The Christian Brothers Conference (CBC) has announced the appointment of Mr. Tom Southard, J.D. as its first Executive Director. The CBC is the office for the Lasallian Region of North America (RELAN) in the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (De La Salle Christian Brothers). Mr. Southard currently serves as chief operating officer at the Conference of Major Superiors of Men. Mr. Southard is working toward his doctorate and holds a Juris Doctor from Villanova University, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Baltimore, a Master’s in philanthropic studies from Indiana University and a Bachelor’s in community studies and civic engagement from the University of Baltimore.  Read more here.

North Dakota State College of Science has appointed Dr. Rod Flanigan as their 10th President. Dr. Flanigan is currently the Dean of Business and Technology at Cochise College in Arizona. He received his Ph.D. in Engineering and Technology Education from Utah State University, an M.B.A. from the University of Utah, and a B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering Technology from Brigham Young University. Dr. Flanigan will begin his work at NDSCS by July 1, 2022. Read more here.

Calvin University has announced the appointment of Dr. Wiebe Boer as the institution’s 11th president. Since 2017, Dr. Boer has served as the inaugural CEO of Shell-All On, a $200 million Nigerian off-grid energy impact investing and market accelerator company. In recent years, Dr. Boer co-created and executed the $500k All On Covid-19 Solar Relief Fund to provide solar power to isolation and testing centers. Previously, Dr. Boer led the Public Sector and Social Sector Practices for Boston Consulting Group Nigeria as an expert on power, financial services, consumer goods, agriculture and Nigerian/African markets.  Dr. Wiebe earned his Doctorate and MA degrees from Yale University, and his BA from Calvin College. Dr. Boer will begin his duties as university president this summer and will be officially inaugurated in fall 2022. Read more here.

Western Colorado University has announced the appointment of Mr. William Bradley (Brad) Baca as their 14th President.  Mr. Baca is currently the Executive Vice President and COO at Western and previously served as the university's interim president in 2013. He is a Colorado native and a first-generation college student of Hispanic descent. He holds a B.A. in Government from Dartmouth College and an M.A. from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and has served in various leadership roles in Colorado for nearly 20 years now. Read more here.

Grand View University has appointed Dr. Rachelle Keck as its 14th President. Dr. Keck is currently the President of Briar Cliff University, a position she has held since 2018.  An Iowa native, she is a graduate of Wartburg College, earned her juris doctorate from the University of Iowa and her Ph.D. in education from Drake University. Prior to joining Briar Cliff, she served as the Director of Planned Giving for the University of Iowa Foundation, and then the Executive Director for Philanthropy and Alumni Relations at Indian Hills Community College. Read more here.

The University of The Bahamas (UB) has announced the appointment of Dr. Erik Rolland, an academic with 30 years of experience, as the next president of UB. The appointment takes effect on 1st August 2022. He currently serves as Dean of the College of Business Administration, interim Dean of the College of the Extended University, Chief International Officer and the Provost’s Associate for Strategic Transformation at California Polytechnic and State University. Read more here.

Rockhurst University has appointed Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., to become the 15th president of Rockhurst University, effective July 1, 2022. Dr. Cassady will make history as the first female and first lay president of Rockhurst, a Catholic, Jesuit university. Dr. Cassady earned her Ph.D. in exercise science from the University of Iowa. She comes to Rockhurst from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, where she serves as vice president for strategic initiatives and dean of the College of Health and Human Services. Read more here.