Dr. Evon Washington Walters has been appointed as the new President at Clark State College. Dr. Walters will assume this role on July 1, 2026. Dr. Walters comes to Clark State from 9 years at the Community College of Allegheny, first as President of the Northwest Region (2016-2024) and most recently as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives & Community Engagement (2024-present). He has extensive experience in workforce development, strategic planning, enrollment management, and partnering with business and industry. He is committed to shared governance, servant leadership, expansion and improvement of services using technology, and professional growth for faculty, students, and staff. Dr. Walters earned a B.A. in Health Care Administration, an M.Ed. in Staff Development in Higher Education, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration, all from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Read more.
Dr. Sam Beldona has been appointed as the new Dean of the College of Business at Idaho State University. Dr. Beldona will officially begin his new role on March 1, 2026. Dr. Beldona currently serves as Special Advisor to the VPAA at the Leo J. Meehan School of Business at Stonehill College in Easton, MA. Prior to serving as Special Advisor, Dr. Beldona was a Dean at Stonehill College as well as the University of Scranton and the Dominican University of California. While at Stonehill College, Dr. Beldona collaborated with faculty to lead the Meehan School of Business's strategic planning process, ensured alignment with University and Academic Affairs plans while focusing on program innovation, enrollment growth, and elevating societal impact. He also worked with chairs to develop departmental strategic plans and used labor market analytics to ensure programs grant degrees that are in high demand in regional and national marketplaces. Dr. Beldona holds a bachelor's and two master's degrees, one in Business Administration and one in International Business. He also earned his doctoral degree in Business Administration from Temple University. Read more.
Dr. Martha “Marty” Wygmans has been appointed as the new Vice President for Student Affairs at Stockton University. Dr. Wygmans will begin her duties on January 5, 2026. Dr. Wygmans brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education and a strong record of advancing student success through inclusive leadership, collaborative planning, and a deep commitment to equity. Most recently, she served as Vice President for Student Success and Campus Life for the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, where she led student support initiatives across three campuses. Her work has focused on improving student persistence and graduation rates, with particular attention to supporting underrepresented and at-risk student populations. Throughout her career, she has partnered closely with faculty and academic affairs to strengthen the connection between classroom learning and co-curricular support, ensuring that students receive a coordinated and holistic educational experience. She holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from George Washington University, an MA in Agency Counseling and a BA in Business Administration/Labor Relations from Siena Heights University, and an Associate in Commerce from Alpena Community College.
Dr. Stephen Schultheis has been appointed as the new Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success at Southeast Missouri State University. He will begin his new role on January 14, 2026. Dr. Schultheis has 24 years of experience in higher education with a variety of leadership positions in enrollment management, academic affairs and student affairs. Schultheis was most recently vice president for enrollment management and chief enrollment officer at Middle Georgia State University. He’s also held positions at Clayton State University and Monroe College. Schultheis has a Doctor of Education from St. John Fisher College, a Master of Arts in higher education administration from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Science from Valparaiso University. Read more.
Ms. Shelley Thompson has been appointed as the new Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director of the WCU Foundation at Western Colorado University. She began her duties on September 29. Ms. Thompson brings a deep well of fundraising experience, a passion for access to education, and a desire to live and lead in a rural community. Most recently, she served as Associate Vice President of University Advancement at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where she helped guide a successful $100 million fundraising campaign. Prior to that, she held leadership roles with Outward Bound USA, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, the Colorado Community College System, and the Women’s Foundation of Colorado, among others. Her diverse experience taught her a lot about philanthropy and the mission it serves. Ms. Thompson earned her B.A. in Politics & Government at the University of Puget Sound and her M.A. in Political Science. Read more.
Dr. James Antony has been appointed as the new Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost at the University of San Diego, effective March 1, 2026. Dr. Antony comes to USD following his tenure as Executive Vice President and Provost at George Mason University, the largest and most diverse research university in Virginia. Prior to his role at George Mason, he served as the dean of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs at UC San Diego. Dr. Antony has held notable academic leadership roles at Harvard, Yale and the University of Washington. From 2015 to 2019, he served as the faculty director of the Higher Education Program in the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University and co-directed Harvard’s Management Development Program. As an associate provost at Yale University from 2012 to 2015, he focused on faculty development and the promotion of undergraduate student leadership. His 17-year tenure at the University of Washington was marked by numerous leadership roles, including associate vice provost for graduate education, associate dean for the College of Education and director of two academic programs; he also facilitated the development of new graduate degree and certificate programs across the university, and created and led the Center for Leadership in Athletics, and its associated professional degree programs. Dr. Antony received his BA in psychology, and his MA and PhD in higher education and organizational change, all from UCLA. Read more.
Dr. David Cook has been appointed as the new President at Iowa State University. Dr. Cook has led North Dakota State University since 2022. His accomplishments include the launch of a data-driven strategic plan that reversed 10 years of declining enrollment and revenues and invested in student advising and mentoring programs that increased retention of first-year students by 3% and graduation rates by 12%. During his tenure, NDSU’s research funding and expenditures increased to historic levels and Dr. Cook helped launch fundraising efforts for initiatives to build leaders in artificial intelligence and drive solutions for modern agriculture. Prior to North Dakota State, Dr. Cook served as vice chancellor for public affairs and economic development at the University of Kansas. He also held several leadership roles at the University of Kansas Medical Center. As a faculty researcher, Dr. Cook was a principal or co-principal investigator on grants totaling nearly $11 million in external funding. He has published nearly 70 articles, book chapters, and abstracts, and has taught more than 25 courses in subjects including: health policy and management; diffusion, adoption and implementation of innovation; business and organizational communication; and strategic marketing. Dr. Cook earned a bachelor's degree in political science and speech communication from Iowa State University. He earned his master’s and doctoral degrees, both in organizational communication, from the University of Kansas. Read more.
Dr. Brad Mortensen has been appointed as the new president of Utah State University. As noted in the press release, "Dr. Mortensen has served as president of Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, since 2019, where he has led WSU to multiple recognitions for outstanding return on investment for graduates, established the Miller Advanced Research and Solutions (MARS) Center in partnership with the Utah Legislature, the U.S. Air Force and the aerospace and defense industry, and overseen the establishment of new graduate education programs including the Doctor of Nursing Practice." A Utah State University (USU) Alumnus, Dr. Mortensen received his Bachelor's Degree from USU in Political Science, a Master's degree in Public Administration from Syracuse University and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah. Dr. Mortensen will begin his responsibilities with USU on November 10, 2025. Read more.
Ms. Penny Reardon as the new Vice President for Finance and Treasurer at Bridgewater College, effective December 27, 2025. Ms. Reardon currently serves as the Director of Finance and Budget at Bridgewater, a position she has held since 2017. Prior to her time at Bridgewater, she served as the Executive Dean of Administrative Services and Chief Financial Officer at Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College for 11 years. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of Business Administration, both from Eastern Mennonite University.