Public Institution

Texas A&M University-Commerce has successfully appointed Dr. Erin Webster Garrett as their next Dean of the Honors College. Dr. Webster Garrett will begin her new role on July 1, 2024. She is currently the associate vice provost at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). At VCU, Webster Garrett led the effort to institutionalize experiential learning as a part of every baccalaureate degree. She is a recognized leader in developing large-scale assessment frameworks designed to ensure student access and opportunity to engage in high-quality experiential learning that connects students' personal, professional, and civic goals. Webster Garrett earned her bachelor's in English with a minor in Spanish from the University of Richmond. She also holds a master's in English from VCU, a doctorate in Literary Studies from the University of Denver, and six professional certifications. Read more.

Texas A&M University-Commerce has successfully appointed Dr. Joseph Romero as their next Dean of the College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts. Dr. Romero will begin his new role on June 1, 2024. Dr. Romero joins the Texas A&M-Commerce after having served as a professor and chair of the Department of Classics, Philosophy, & Religion at the University of Mary Washington (UMW) in Fredericksburg, Virginia. His career in higher education spans more than two decades and includes a year as an American Council on Education Fellow. Romero holds degrees from Mary Washington College (B.A.) and Duke University (Ph.D), and he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Thesaurus Linguae Latinae housed in the Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften in Munich, Germany. Read more.

Mr. Jake Olkkola has been appointed as the new University Director of Athletics, Intramurals, and Recreation of New York University. Mr. Olkkola will begin his new role on June 10, 2024.  A seasoned collegiate athletics professional, Mr. Olkkola comes to Washington Square from Johns Hopkins University where he's served in multiple capacities since 2019.

Ohio University has successfully appointed Dr. Donald Leo as their next Executive Vice President and Provost. Dr. Leo will begin on July 1st. Dr. Leo was the first permanent dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia, where he has served since 2013. Before joining UGA, Dr. Leo served as a professor of mechanical engineering and vice president and executive director of the National Capital Region operations of Virginia Tech. He previously served as associate dean for research and graduate studies at the Virginia Tech College of Engineering. His research focuses on smart materials and he has served as principal investigator on 50 research grants and authored or co-authored more than 200 research publications. Dr. Leo holds a Ph.D. and an M.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Buffalo, and a B.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Read more. 
 

Marshall University has successfully appointed Dr. Henry Collier as the inaugural Executive Director of the Institute for Cyber Security. He will begin his new role on July 15, 2024. Dr. Collier is currently the Director of Technology programs at Norwich University’s College of Graduate and Continuing Studies. Dr. Collier leads and manages the Master of Science in Cybersecurity program, the Master of Science in Information Systems, the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, and the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & Information Systems programs. Before arriving at Norwich University, he was the Program Director for Computer Technology and Cybersecurity & Healthcare IT at River Valley Community College where he rejuvenated the Cisco Networking Academy and managed a National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education grant to develop the Cybersecurity & Healthcare IT program.  Dr. Collier has a Ph.D. in Engineering with a concentration in Security from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, a Master’s Degree in Managing Innovations and Information Technology from Champlain College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology with a concentration in systems analysis and design from Granite State College, and an Associates Degree in Computer Technology from River Valley Community College. Read more.

The Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) has appointed Ms. Bridget Canter as the System's new Vice President of Human Resources. Ms. Canter has been serving as the Acting VPHR at KCTCS since January 2024. She previously served as Vice President of Business Affairs and Human Resources at West Kentucky Community and Technical College. She earned her B.S. in Human Resources at Miami University and her M.B.A. at Georgia Southern University. Read more.

The Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) has appointed Mr. Todd Kilburn as the System's new Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Kilburn currently serves as Chief Financial Officer and Business Administrator for Fourth Baptist Church and Christian School and as Vice President for Institutional Finance at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Plymouth, Minnesota. From 2019 to 2022, he served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Idaho State Board of Education, which oversees K-12, community colleges, public four-year colleges and universities, and career and technical education. He earned his B.A. from Faith Baptist Bible College and his M.B.A. from Plymouth State University. Read more. 

The Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) has appointed Ms. Blair Hess as the System's new Vice President of Communications and Marketing. Since 2019, Ms. Hess has served as the National Director of Communications at the Council of State Governments. Prior to her position at CSG, she served as the Media and Communications Manager for Kentucky State University's Land-Grant Program and College of Agriculture. She earned her B.S. in Agriculture Communications from the University of Kentucky. Read more. 

Stony Brook University has successfully appointed Mr. William Williams as their new Senior Director of Development, College of Engineering & Applied Sciences. Mr. Williams will join on April 15th. Mr. Williams comes to Stony Brook from the Division of Student Affairs at East Carolina University, where he has served as Executive Director of Development since 2018.  Prior to East Carolina University, he served for 6 years at the University of Oregon, first as Associate Director of Development in the School of Journalism & Communication (2012-2013) and then as the Senior Associate Director of Development in the Student Life Division (2013-2018). Mr. Williams earned a master of education degree in administration of higher education at Auburn University and a bachelor of arts in history from Reinhardt University. 

The University of Minnesota Duluth has successfully appointed Dr. Charles Nies as their next Chancellor effective July 1, 2024. Dr. Nies comes to UMD with over 25 years of experience in higher education. He currently serves as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of California, Merced. Dr. Nies joined UC Merced in 2006 as its first Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students, a role in which he oversaw the development and growth of student life programs on campus. Prior to his work at UC Merced, he served as the Assistant Dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies at Miami University in Ohio. Dr. Nies holds a PhD in Education Administration and Leadership and an MA in Counseling Psychology from Washington State University. Read more.