University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has successfully appointed Ms. Brianna (Bria) Marcelo as the Assistant Chancellor for Culture, Learning, and Engagement. Ms. Marcelo was the Diversity Resources Coordinator and most recently the Inclusive Education and Strategic Initiatives Director at the University of Iowa. She will oversee Faculty/Staff Assistance & Well-Being Services (FSAWS), Employee Learning & Organizational Effectiveness (ELOE), and design the new Employee Experience functional area. Ms. Marcelo earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Social and Economic Justice from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Arts in Student Affairs Administration from Michigan State University. Ms. Marcelo started her new role on September 25, 2023. Read more.
Benedict College has appointed Dr. Sharron Taylor Burnett a the new Vice President of Finance and Operations. Dr. Burnett comes to Benedict College from Edward Waters University, where she served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. As noted in the press release, Benedict College President and CEO, Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis said, “I welcome Dr. Burnett who has an impressive record in higher education. She has served in the role of an Executive Vice President at both Lane College and Tuskegee University where she also dually served as the university’s Chief Financial Officer. I am confident that her passion for education and her ability to provide leadership, vision and direction will enhance the transformative vision we have for the College.” Dr. Burnett is a native of Tennessee and earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Lane College. She also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Tennessee at Martin and a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Memphis. She is scheduled to begin her duties on campus on September 25, 2023. Read more.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has appointed Ms. Liz Stanislawski as Executive Director of Communications. Ms. Stanislawski most recently served as Public Information Officer, Planning, Community & Economic Development for the City of Madison, Wisconsin. She began her new role on 9/20/23. Ms. Stanislawski is a seasoned communications and public relations professional with over 15 years of experience as a TV news journalist with television news stations located in Nashville, Tennessee, Greenville, South Carolina, Champaign, Illinois and Green Bay, Wisconsin. Ms. Stanislawski holds a Bachelor of Arts in Radio/TV/Film from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Read more.
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences has appointed James Langstraat, MBA, CPA, as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Langstraat brings over 40 years of financial, operational, and administrative experience including over ten years of leadership experience in higher education. Prior to PNWU he served as Vice President for Finance and Administration at Pacific University, where he provided leadership and direction for Finance, Budget, Human Resources, Financial Aid, Capital Projects, Campus Public Safety, Facilities, Technology, HIPPA Compliance, Legal Services, and Emergency Management and Business Continuity. In addition to that experience, Mr. Langstraat brings 15 years of financial leadership experience from his time at the North Clackamas School District, the Waterloo Community School District and the Norwalk Community School District. He was very successful in navigating the often confusing and complex issues of generating substantial bonding funds for the district, included recommending changes to the bond structure resulting in premium funds. Mr. Langstraat also serves as an accreditation reviewer for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) has appointed Mary Papazian, PhD, as executive vice president. Dr. Papazian, a two-time former university president with extensive board experience, will orchestrate AGB’s strategic planning processes to strengthen members’ satisfaction with AGB, engage with media and external stakeholders to advance the association’s thought leadership, and oversee partnerships with grantmakers and subject matter experts to expand reach and impact. Most recently, Dr. Papazian was interim CEO of the Business-Higher Education Forum, a nonprofit membership organization that connects higher education institutions to business talent. Previously, Papazian was the third woman to lead San José State University (SJSU), serving as president from 2016 to 2021. Dr. Papazian earned her PhD, master’s, and bachelor’s degrees from UCLA, focusing on English literature. Read more.
Texas A&M Foundation has appointed John Morris as Senior Vice President for Development effective August 15, 2023. Mr. Morris previously served as Senior Vice President, Advancement for Auburn University and President of the Auburn University Foundation & AU Real Estate Foundation. Prior to joining Auburn, Mr. Morris served as the Senior Vice President for Development for the Kansas State University Foundation. Earlier, Mr. Morris served as Senior Director of Development for the University of Minnesota Foundation and as Associate Vice President for Advancement and, previously, Assistant Director of Athletics at Benedictine University. Mr. Morris received his bachelor’s degree from Winona State University and master’s degree from Illinois State University. Read more.
The California State University has appointed Eric Anderson as the new Executive Director of Real Estate Services. Mr. Anderson comes to California State with an extensive background in advising universities on public-private partnerships and other complex real estate transactions. Since 2016, he has served as the Vice President for U3 Advisors, an organization that works within the higher education sphere implementing transformative real estate and economic strategies and interventions to create vibrant and sustainable campuses and communities that promote economic impact and inclusion. Mr. Anderson will begin his role with CSU on September 11, 2023.
The California State University has appointed Paul Gannoe as the new Associate Vice Chancellor for Capital Planning, Design and Construction (CPDC). Mr. Gannoe currently serves as the Chief of Planning and Design within the CPDC department at the Chancellor’s Office. Prior to his current role, he served as the Associate Vice President for Facilities Services and Capital Planning for Eastern Kentucky University, and Deputy Commissioner for Kentucky’s Department for Facilities and Support Services. Mr. Gannoe will be replacing Vi San Juan who is retiring after 42 years of service to CSU.
Governors State University has appointed Dr. Sonia Dalmia as the new Dean of the College of Business. She will begin at GSU on September 11, 2023. Dr. Dalmia joins GSU from Grand Valley State University where she served as the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, New Initiatives and Outreach, in the Seidman College of Business. Prior to this, she served Grand Valley as Chair of the Department of Economics and Assessment Director for the Seidman College of Business. Dr. Dalmia holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Iowa and has extensive experience in AACSB accreditation and HLC development activities. Read more.