Dr. Sean Lane has been appointed as the new Senior Vice President and Provost at Farmingdale State College. Dr. Lane will begin his new role June 16th, 2025. Dr. Lane joins FSC from the University of Alabama in Huntsville where he served as dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences since 2018. As dean, he revamped the college's recruitment, retention, and graduation efforts, led strategic planning, helped develop numerous new degree programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels, created new research support programs, engaged deeply with industry, and led significant fundraising activities. He also served concurrently as interim dean of the Honors College and acting associate provost for International Services, Academic Integrity, and dean of the Graduate School. Dr. Lane previously served as associate dean of The Graduate School at Louisiana State University, where he was also on the faculty and served as director of research in the Department of Psychology. Read more.
Mr. Qadim Ghani has been appointed as the new Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at The College of New Jersey. Mr. Ghani will begin his new role on June 16, 2025. Mr. Ghani currently serves as Vice President of Finance at Montgomery County Community College (PA). He is the principal advisor to the President and Board of Trustees on the fiscal health of the organization. His experience in higher education has included comprehensive oversight of financial operations, including managing a ~$300M balance sheet. He has extensive experience in managing critical areas such as human resources, enterprise risk management, facilities and grant administration. Prior to his time at Montgomery County Community College, Mr. Ghani served as the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Associate Dean at Rutgers Law School, and the Director of Finance at Villanova School of Engineering, and in several positions at Drexel. In these various roles he has managed teams in budget planning and analysis, HR, grant development and administration, procurement/disbursements, payroll, accounting, facilities and events, contract management and compliance, administrative support, and general business services. Mr. Ghani holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Criminal Justice and a double minor in English and Political Science. He also holds a Master of Science in Human Resource Development with a concentration in Business Administration. He is currently completing an Executive MBA with a specialization in Applied Investment Management. Read more.
Ms. Sukhie Bal has been appointed as the new Senior Director of Development, Lam Family College of Business at San Francisco State University. She began her duties on April 28. Ms. Bal comes to SFSU from the Sequoia Hospital Foundation, where she served as the Director of Development for two years. Prior to Sequoia, Ms. Bal served for 3 years as the Senior Director of Development at the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California. Ms. Bal holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of California-Santa Cruz, an M.A. in Education Administration from California State University Northridge, and an M.S. in Supply Chain Management from the University of Southern California.
Dr. Joyce C. Ester has been appointed as the new President at Governors State University effective July 1, 2025. Dr. Ester is an accomplished educational leader with extensive experience in higher education administration, currently serving as President of Normandale Community College in Minnesota since 2014. Under her leadership, the college has successfully reaffirmed its accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission and has seen significant growth in enrollment, particularly among students of color. Dr. Ester has spearheaded strategic initiatives that enhance student success, equity, and employee development, while also establishing a robust Advancement Division that has increased grant revenue and secured substantial philanthropic support. Her previous roles include President of Kennedy King College, one of seven schools that comprise City Colleges of Chicago, and Associate Vice President for Student Services at Bakersfield College, where she implemented innovative programs and improved student services. Dr. Ester holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a B.S. in Sociology from Northern Illinois University. Read more.
Ms. Melissa Wilf has been appointed as the new Executive Director of Budget at Bowie State University. She will begin on May 28, 2025. Ms. Wilf is an experienced professional with a history of working in budgeting, finance, management in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. As Budget Director for the US Department of Energy since 2022, she is highly skilled in financial management, federal budgeting, government resource management, legislative and policy analysis and recommendations, and cross-sector leadership development. Prior experience includes administration and budget roles within the Department of Justice; the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She holds a Masters degree in Public Policy and Management (MSPPM) from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor's degree in Communications (BA) from the University of Maryland.
Dr. Brian Brown has been appointed as the new Dean, School of Business at Virginia Commonwealth University. His appointment is effective April 25, 2025. Dr. Brown, a professor in the school’s Department of Marketing, has served as interim dean since January 2024. He joined VCU as an assistant professor in 2011, rising to the ranks of associate professor in 2013 and professor in 2019. Earlier, he served as an assistant professor for five years at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he earned an award for outstanding teaching. Before joining the academy, Dr. Brown spent more than 15 years in the private sector in marketing, management, and consulting. Specifically, his background includes several years at The Coca-Cola Company, including a role as brand manager of Coca-Cola Classic. Dr. Brown earned his Ph.D. from Georgia State University, his MBA from Duke University, and his BA from the University of Virginia. Read more.
Dr. John C. Volin has been appointed as the new president at Gustavus Adolphus College, effective August 15, 2025. Currently, Dr. Volin serves as Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at the University of Maine, where his portfolio includes oversight of more than 1,000 faculty and staff and a budget of over $250 million. Prior, Dr. Volin served as head of the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, and then as Vice Provost of Academic Affairs, at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Volin is recognized as a national leader in using evidence-based practices to support holistic student wellbeing. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Coalition for Transformational Education and is co-founder and senior advisor of LearningWell magazine. Dr. Volin holds a BS in botany and biology and an MS in agronomy from the South Dakota State University, and a PhD in forestry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Read more.
Dr. Christopher Fiorentino has been appointed as the new Chancellor at Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Dr. Fiorentino is the current interim chancellor at PASSHE and former president of West Chester University. Dr. Fiorentino’s career at PASSHE spans 42 years. He began as an assistant professor of economics at West Chester University in 1983, the year the State System was established. Dr. Fiorentino held many positions at the university, including department chair, dean, vice president and president. He retired from West Chester University in June 2024 and returned to serve as interim chancellor in October 2024. Dr. Fiorentino earned his baccalaureate, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in economics from Temple University. He and his wife, Sue, reside in Chester County. Read more.