Ms. Natalie Rice has been appointed as the new Chief Human Resources Officer at Slippery Rock University. She will begin work on November 2, 2026. Ms. Rice currently serves as Vice President of Human Resources at Point Park University and brings 26 years of executive-level human resources experience spanning benefits, payroll, performance management, employee relations, recruitment, and safety and wellness. At SRU, she will lead Compensation and Benefits, Talent Management and Development, Labor Relations, Payroll, Compliance, and Campus Climate and Culture. As an executive leader, she will be a member of the President's Cabinet and the Administrative Council. Ms.Rice earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Pittsburgh, her MBA from Robert Morris University, and her Ed.D. in Leadership and Administration from Point Park University.
Dr. Valentina Salotti has been appointed as the new Dean of the Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. She will assume this role on January 1, 2027. Dr. Salotti comes to USU from Iowa State University, where she has held a number of positions within the Ivy College of Business since 2009, including Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs (2019-2020) and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (2021-2025). She currently serves as the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Richard A. Carlson Professor (2025-present). Dr. Salotti has strong academic and leadership experience within the context of a land-grant research university, along with a deep commitment to students, collaborative leadership, and connecting higher education with industry and the community. Dr. Salotti earned a B.A. in Economics, an M.A. in Banking and Finance, and a Ph.D. in Finance, all from the University of Bologna, Italy. Read more.
Mr. Darrell Farewell has been appointed as the new Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer at Salem Academy and College. Mr. Farewell was formerly the director of capital planning at Wake Forest University, where he led the planning for the university’s multi-year capital budget and works with campus partners to align capital requests with institutional priorities. Mr. Farewell also served as executive director of finance and administration for Wake Forest University's School of Business. He oversaw financial and administrative planning across the school’s Winston-Salem and Charlotte campuses. Mr. Farewell has more than 20 years of experience in higher education, financial services, risk management and organizational operations. Before joining Wake Forest, he held leadership positions with USAA, BB&T and PNC Financial Services Group, where his work included internal audit, credit risk management, and strengthening financial reporting and organizational controls. Mr. Farewell earned an MBA in corporate finance from Waynesburg University and a bachelor’s degree in history from the College of Charleston. Read more.
Mr. Paul McNamara has been appointed as the new Senior Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at San Francisco State University. He will begin his duties with San Francisco State on September 21. Mr. McNamara has an extensive background in advancement. He previously served in various roles at San Jose State University, including as a Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer from 2009 to 2019. He joins SFSU from California State University, Northridge, where he currently serves as the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations.
Dr. R. Duncan Pelly has been appointed as the new Dean, College of Business & Industry at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith effective August 10, 2026. Dr. Pelly is an academic leader with deep international experience in accreditation, entrepreneurship, corporate partnerships, and regional economic development. He comes to UAFS from Fisk University, where he served as Co-Dean of the School of Natural Sciences, Business, and Mathematics, Cal Turner Endowed Chair of Business Administration, and tenured professor. His leadership has included work supporting faculty research, institutional advancement and administration, student affairs, budgeting, hiring, enrollment, and student retention. Prior positions include leadership roles at McMurry University and California State University, Los Angeles. Dr. Pelly holds a Ph.D. from EM Lyon Business School in France and a BA in International Relations, French, and German from the University of Pennsylvania. Read more.
Dr. Silke Spiesshoefer has been appointed as the new Department Head of Engineering in the College of Business and Industry at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith. Dr. Spiesshoefer will officially begin her new role on August 10, 2026. Dr. Spiesshoefer most recently served as CFO, COO, and Contracting Director at Ozark Integrated Circuits, Inc. in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where she advanced from Director of Product Development into executive leadership over the course of seven years. Dr. Spiesshoefer is an active leader in the engineering profession, most recently serving on the IEEE Region 5 Awards Committee, the IEEE USA Awards & Recognition Committee, and the IEEE MGA Awards & Recognition Committee. She has previously served as Chair of the IEEE Ozark Section and in multiple leadership roles within IEEE Region 5. She is also an active member of ASEE, AIChE, IEEE HKN, and IEEE WIE. Dr. Spiesshoefer earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, her Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, and her Doctor of Philosophy in Microelectronics-Photonics, all from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from Webster University in St. Louis.
Dr. Jennifer Bonds-Raacke has been appointed as the new President and CEO at the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR). Dr. Bonds-Raacke currently serves as Vice President of Academic Affairs for the Board. Prior to her work at KBOR, she served as President of Saint Martin's University. Previous leadership roles include Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at St. Norbert College and Dean of the Graduate School and Office of Scholarship and Sponsored Projects at Fort Hays State University. Dr. Bonds-Raacke earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in Experimental Psychology from Kansas State University and her B.A. in Psychology from Christian Brothers University. Read more.
Dr. Leanne Frost has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer/Dean at Great Falls College Montana State University. Dr. Frost has served as Executive Director of Instruction and Student Success at Great Falls College MSU since 2020 and has held various leadership roles with the college since 2011. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Brigham Young University in 1991, a Master of Education and a Master of Reading from Montana State University in 2005, and a Doctorate in Adult and Higher Education from Montana State University in 2017. Dr. Frost will assume her duties at Great Falls College on August 2, 2026. Read more.
Dr. Jon Anderson has been appointed as the new President at Utah Valley University. He will assume his duties at Utah Valley University on August 10, 2026. Since 2024, Dr. Anderson has served as the President of Pennsylvania Western University. Previously, from 2020 to 2024, he was the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Southern Utah University. A Utah native, Dr. Anderson received his B.S. in Sociology from Utah State University, an M.Ed. in Business Education from the University of West Georgia, and his Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Kentucky. Read more.