Leadership Appointments

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Leadership Appointments

Stockton University
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Michael A. Palladino
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Stockton University has successfully appointed Dr. Michael A. Palladino as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs effective May 6, 2024. Dr. Palladino currently serves as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Bloomfield College of Montclair State University and brings over 30 years of leadership and academic experience to his new role. He holds a Ph.D. in Anatomy and Cell Biology from the University of Virginia and a BS in Biology from Trenton State College, now The College of New Jersey. Read more.

Dec 17, 2023
Simpson College
Vice President for Business and Finance
Mr. Bret Mills
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Simpson College has successfully appointed Mr. Bret Mills as Vice President for Business and Finance. Mr. Mills currently serves as President of Conlin Properties Inc. in Des Moines, IA. As President, Mills oversaw the accounting, finance, and development activities for the company’s property management and real estate development consisting of 5000 units (affordable and market rate multifamily units and homeownership associations (HOAs)). Mills also worked with state and local officials, syndicators, lenders, auditors, attorneys, appraisers, and professionals in the building trades in the execution of applications and documentation for the equity and debt required to build, rehabilitate, or refinance multifamily properties. Prior to his work at Conlin Properties, Mills served as Director for the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED). He was appointed by Governor Culver to lead the state's economic development efforts by building relationships and partnering with state agencies, local governments, industry associations, economic development organizations, businesses, and community stakeholders to promote collaboration and investment in Iowa. Mills oversaw the IDED budget, ensuring strategic use of resources, and the allocation of state and federal grants and incentives. Mr. Mills holds a Bachelor of General Studies in Communications, Journalism, and Business from the University of Iowa as well as a BS in Accounting and an MBA from Drake University. Mills is a Certified Public Accountant, a Housing Credit Compliance Professional, as well as a Housing Finance Development Professional. Read more.

Dec 12, 2023
Columbia Theological Seminary
Vice President for Business and Administration/CFO
Mr. Robert Hay Jr.
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Columbia Theological Seminary has successfully appointed Robert Hay Jr. as Vice President for Business and Administration/CFO, effective January 8, 2024. Mr. Hay has a deep background as a non-profit executive with a fundraising, development, investment, financial, and operational background. He comes to Columbia after 12 years as Senior Ministry Relations Officer with the Presbyterian Foundation of the Presbyterian Church. Prior to that, Mr. Hay served as Chief Administrative Officer for Hi-Hope Service Center and Chief Financial/Chief Operating Officer for Care and Counseling Center of Georgia. Mr. Hay holds a MPA from Georgia State University and a BS in Management Information Systems from Auburn University. Read more.

Dec 12, 2023
Purdue University Northwest
Chancellor
Dr. Chris Holford
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Purdue University Northwest has successfully appointed Dr. Chris Holford as Chancellor. Dr. Holford currently serves as Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at Purdue University Northwest. Holford is also a Professor of Biology at Purdue University North Central. Prior to serving as Provost, Holford served as the Founding Dean of the College of Engineering and Sciences at PNW as well. Dr. Holford holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Augustana College and a Master of Science in Zoology from Southern Illinois University. Holford also earned his PhD. In Biology from Illinois State University. Read more

Dec 11, 2023
SUNY Erie Community College
President
Dr. Adiam Tsegai
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SUNY Erie Community College has successfully appointed Dr. Adiam Tsegai as President effective December 5, 2023. Prior to her appointment, she has served as the college’s Officer-in-Charge since 2022.  An alumna of SUNY Erie, she joined SUNY Erie as the Dean of Engineering and Technologies in 2018 and was appointed in mid-2021 as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, after serving as the college’s Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs of Health Sciences, Engineering and Technologies. Read more.

Dec 6, 2023
National Association of System Heads (NASH)
President
Dr. Jason Lane
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Dr. Jason Lane has been appointed as the first President of the National Association of System Heads (NASH). Dr. Lane is an accomplished leader, widely-read author, and award-winning scholar with more than ten books on higher education. He has a long history with NASH, having developed its System Leadership Academy, directed the Systems Center, and co-led Taking Student Success to Scale (TS3). As a Senior Fellow, he helped guide NASH through the pandemic and launch the Big Rethink, a year-long strategic planning process to guide the future of NASH. He currently serves as Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Society at Miami University. Dr. Lane has also served as Vice Provost & Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for The State University of New York system (SUNY). Dr. Lane will begin in his new role on January 2nd, 2024. Read more here.
Nov 17, 2023
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission
Executive Director
Dr. Steven Gentile
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The Tennessee Higher Education Commission has appointed Dr. Steven Gentile as the agency's new Executive Director. Dr. Gentile has held numerous roles at THEC, ranging from Assistant Director of Fiscal Policy to the Chief Policy and Strategy Officer. He was most recently appointed Interim Executive Director in September 2023. Before joining THEC, Dr. Gentile served as the Assistant Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at his alma mater, Davidson College, in North Carolina. He received his Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Policy and M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Vanderbilt University, and his B.A. in Economics from Davidson College. He is an alumnus of Leadership Tennessee NEXT, Nashville Emerging Leaders, and the Tennessee Higher Education Innovation and Leadership Fellows program. Read more here.

Nov 17, 2023
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Assistant Chancellor for Strategic Programs and Partnerships
Ms. Luanne Mayorga
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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has successfully appointed Ms. Luanne Mayorga as the Assistant Chancellor for Strategic Programs and Partnerships. Ms. Mayorga is currently the Director of Employee Development at McHenry County College and has previous experience as Chief Engagement Officer at Anderson Humane, and Executive Director in the Division of Outreach, Engagement, and Regional Development at Northern Illinois University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Dominican University, an M.B.A. in Marketing at Benedictine University, and an Ed.D. in Adult and Higher Education at Northern Illinois University. 

Nov 15, 2023
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Assistant Vice Provost for Strategic Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Administration
Ms. Angela M. Miller
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University of Wisconsin-Madison has successfully appointed Ms. Angela M. Miller as Assistant Vice Provost for Strategic Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Administration. She started her new role on October 9, 2023. Ms. Miller currently serves as the Assistant Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, a role she has held since 2018. She also serves as the Chief of Staff in a dual appointment with the Chancellor. Previously, she was the Director of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, the College Scholar Advisor for the PEOPLE Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Research Assistant and Office Coordinator for the Minority Student Achievement Network at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ms. Miller is a Juris Doctor Candidate at Mitchell Hamline School of Law with a Certificate in Native American Law and Sovereignty. She holds a Master of Science in Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Read more.

Oct 25, 2023