Public Institution

Oakton College has successfully appointed Ms. Michele Roberts as their new Vice President of Administrative Affairs. Bringing a robust background in higher education finance, Ms. Roberts recently managed a $130 million annual operating fund portfolio as the vice chancellor of Administration and Finance for the Ivy Tech Community College system. Overseeing four campuses, she led the finance, HR, facilities and IT departments. Ms. Roberts holds a bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Iowa, a bachelor's degree in Accounting from Western Governors University, and a Juris Doctorate and an MBA from Indiana University. In her role at Oakton, Ms. Roberts will oversee business and finance functions, encompassing budget services, purchasing, facilities, police, emergency management, risk management, auxiliary services and IT. Additionally, she will offer strategic analysis and counsel for the College's business operations, supporting multi-year planning. Read more.

California State University Monterey Bay has successfully appointed Ms. Tara Hughes as their new Chief Information Officer. Ms. Hughes brings over 10 years of IT experience within the California State University System and since 2021 has served as the Chief Information Officer at California State University Maritime Academy. In addition, as noted in the campus announcement, "She is active within the broader higher education IT community and serves on the Board of Directors for EDUCAUSE and was elected by fellow CIOs to serve on the Executive Council for the CSU CIO Council. She received a National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Virtual Innovation Award in 2021 and a Strategic Initiatives Award for looking at how AI could improve retention in 2019." Ms. Hughes holds a Bachelor of Arts in Counseling from The Master’s University in Santa Clarita and a Master’s in Public Administration from Cal State, San Bernardino. 

Northern Michigan University has successfully appointed Dr. Shawnrece D. Campbell as Assistant Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion. Dr. Campbell joins Northern Michigan University from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, where she served as Dean, College of Liberal Arts and CBE Project Director & Coordinator; Professor of English & Interdisciplinary Studies. Prior to Texas A&M - Corpus Christi, Dr. Campbell has held several leadership positions while at Stetson University, including Director of the Africana Studies Program, founding Director of the Bachelor’s degree completion program in Organizational Leadership, and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. At Stetson, Dr. Campbell was appointed to serve on the University’s Inclusive Hiring Task Force and the University’s Equity and Inclusion Group. She also established the Stetson University American Association of University Women (AAUW) Branch and presided as its inaugural president. Her teaching specialties include writing as a healing art, food as medicine, and women’s economic empowerment. Her co-authored book, “Toni Morrison’s Secret Drive: A Reader-Response Study of the Fiction and Its Rhetoric,” analyzes how the Nobel Prize-winning author inspires readers to recognize and question their preconceptions and to participate in dismantling racism and sexism. Dr. Campbell received a Ph.D. in English from Kent State University, an M.B.A. from Stetson University, an M.A. from Youngstown State University, and a B.A. from John Carroll University. Read more.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

The California State University System has successfully appointed Dr. Mandara Savage as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE) effective Monday, October 2, 2023. Dr. Savage will work with the CSU’s 23 universities to advance a shared vision and strategic plan for PaCE to deliver creative, diverse and high-quality, fully online and hybrid programs. He will serve as a key leadership partner with the CSU’s Commission on Continuing and Professional Education (CPaCE) and external workforce development groups, and ensure greater integration of PaCE programs in advancing the CSU’s student success and equity goals. Dr. Savage holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology, Electronics, from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; a master’s degree in Technical Education, Manufacturing Engineering Technology from Memphis State University; and a Ph.D. in Industrial Education and Technology from Iowa State University. Named a Provost Faculty Fellow among other honors, he is a prolific author and presenter, has served on numerous university committees and has mentored several graduate students.