Dr. Michelle Nelson has been appointed as the new Director of the DeWitt School of Nursing at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA). Dr. Nelson will officially begin her new role on September 1, 2025. Dr. Nelson currently serves as the Interim Director of the DeWitt School of Nursing at SFA as well as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Tyler School of Nursing. Since she has served as the Interim Director of the DeWitt School of Nursing since late October 2024, she is confident in her ability to see strengths and opportunities in the DeWitt School of Nursing and advance SFA’s vision for nursing excellence. Dr. Nelson holds a bachelor of science in nursing from Montana State University and a master of science in nursing education from Clarkson College in Nebraska. She also holds a Ph.D. in nursing from Texas Women's University. With nearly 30 years of experience in nursing and over 15 years as an educator in multiple institutions, Dr. Nelson brings a demonstrated passion for serving the profession and helping to shape the next generation of nursing professionals.
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. Michelle Solensky has been appointed as the new Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Undergraduate Faculty at the University of Jamestown. She began her role on July 7. Dr. Solensky most recently served as Chair of the Department of Natural Science at the University of Johnstown from 2024 to 2025 and was Director of the Honors Program from 2017 to 2024. Solensky has been a member of the University’s biology faculty for 16 years, earning promotion to professor in 2014. She previously served as an assistant professor at the College of Wooster in Ohio from 2004 to 2009. Dr. Solensky holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and earned a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota. Read more.
Dr. Reginald Ellis has been appointed as the new Dean of Graduate Education at Clark Atlanta University. Dr. Ellis will begin his new role as Dean on July 1, 2025. Dr. Ellis currently serves as the Provost Professor of Community Outreach, Engagement and Research at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida. As Provost Professor, Ellis serves as the liaison to connect university researchers with community partners and also partner with external stakeholders on mutually beneficial research projects. One of Dr. Ellis' major accomplishments while at Florida A&M was establishing the FAMU Research Hub Working Group to develop Research-Practice Partnerships (RPP) Grants. Dr. Ellis holds a Bachelor of Science in African American Studies and a Master of Applied Social Sciences from Florida A&M University. Dr. Ellis earned his Ph.D. in United States History Since 1875 in 2011 from The University of Memphis.
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.
Ms. Jennifer Mariacher has been appointed as the new Chief Financial Officer at Lycoming College effective July 1, 2025. A seasoned financial executive, Ms. Mariacher brings more than 20 years of experience to Lycoming College in financial management and analysis, strategic planning, budget preparation, purchasing, accounts payable, payroll, student accounts and financial aid, facilities contracts and services, technology, system implementation, and training, along with staff supervision and development. Currently serving as the Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer at Central Penn College, she oversees critical departments including Facilities and Information Technology, ensuring compliance and operational excellence. Her previous roles include Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Vice President for Finance, where she successfully led financial audits, developed multi-year financial strategies, and implemented innovative accounting systems that enhanced operational efficiency. Ms. Mariacher holds an MBA from Elizabethtown College and a B.S. in Business Administration, Accounting from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Read more.
Dr. Kris Winter has been appointed as the new Senior Vice President for Undergraduate Affairs at Utah State University. She will begin her new role on August 11, 2025. Dr. Winter has worked in higher education for over 20 years. She currently serves as Associate Vice President for Student Life at the University of Oregon (UO). She joined the University of Oregon in 2016 and has served in several roles at UO including Interim Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students. During her time at the UO, Kris has led countless efforts and programs to support the success, health, safety, and well-being of students. Kris has been engaged in supporting students at every juncture of their UO experience, from first enrollment through graduation. She has also shown commitment to improving employee experience by creating a transparent and affirming work culture. After receiving an undergraduate degree with honors in Educational Studies from the UO in 1998, Kris earned a M.Ed. in College Student Services Administration from Oregon State University in 2001, and her Ed.D. at Portland State University in Educational Leadership in 2022. Her dissertation analyzed the impacts of non-traditional admissions criteria on the admittance and retention of academically at-risk student populations. Kris has a passion for working with underrepresented student communities, crisis response, advocating for college student basic needs support, and removing systemic barriers that impede student success. Dr. Winter has also served as the co-chair of the university threat assessment team, as well as being an active member of the Incident Management Team and Demonstration & Protest Response Team. Kris is a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), the National Orientation Directors Association (NODA), and the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP). Her previous professional experience includes student affairs work at Oregon State University for 13 years and Western Washington University for 2 years. Read more.