Independent Institution

University of Portland (UP) has appointed its 21st president, Dr. Robert Kelly, most recently Vice President, Special Assistant, and Clinical Professor at Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland. He becomes the first lay president and African American to lead UP in its 121-year history. Dr. Kelly has had an accomplished career in higher education, much of which at Catholic and other faith-based institutions. He holds a PhD in Philosophy, Education Policy, Planning and Administration from the University of Maryland; a master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from the University of Vermont; and a bachelor’s degree in Arts and Political Science from Loyola University Maryland. Dr. Kelly served as Vice President for Student Development and adjunct professor of Education at Seattle University; Chief of Staff to the President of Union College; Associate Dean of Students, and Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Vermont; and Assistant Director of Residential Life at Colgate University.  Read more here.

Pratt Institute has announced the appointment of Dr. Donna Heiland as their new provost, effective April 18, 2022. Dr. Heiland has been serving as interim provost and prior to that post, served as Pratt’s vice provost for academic affairs. Dr. Heiland has served on the Board of the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP), as vice president of the Teagle Foundation and as director of fellowship programs at the American Council of Learned Societies. She was for many years a tenured faculty member at Vassar College. Dr. Heiland received her Ph.D. in English from Yale University.  Read more here.

Gonzaga University has appointed Dr. Sacha E. Kopp as its new Provost. Dr. Kopp currently serves as the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). Previously, Dr. Kopp served in a number of administrative and faculty positions at Syracuse University, the University of Texas at Austin, and the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He holds a bachelor’s, master’s, and a doctorate from the University of Chicago, and his research has been conducted at particle accelerator facilities nationally and internationally. Read More here.

Eastern University's search for a Dean of Business and Leadership has concluded with the appointment of Dr. Christa Lee-Chuvala, Assistant Professor of Business and Leadership, as Interim Dean. Dr. Lee-Chuvala joined the Eastern community in 2017 and has since demonstrated strengths in all aspects of academic operations, from executive leadership to classroom instruction to distinguished administrative service.  Dr. Lee-Chuvala received an MUP from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University and a Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Studies from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

Trinity College has announced the appointment of Mr. Matthew S. Hyde as the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid. Currently serving as Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Dean of Admissions for Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, Mr. Hyde brings a depth of admissions, financial aid and enrollment management experience to his new role. His prior experience includes leadership positions at Tufts University, Milton Academy and the Northfield Mount Hermon School. Mr. Hyde holds an Ed.M. in Higher Education from Harvard University and an A.B. in History and Environmental Studies from Bowdoin College. Read more here.

The Christian Brothers Conference (CBC) has announced the appointment of Mr. Tom Southard, J.D. as its first Executive Director. The CBC is the office for the Lasallian Region of North America (RELAN) in the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (De La Salle Christian Brothers). Mr. Southard currently serves as chief operating officer at the Conference of Major Superiors of Men. Mr. Southard is working toward his doctorate and holds a Juris Doctor from Villanova University, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Baltimore, a Master’s in philanthropic studies from Indiana University and a Bachelor’s in community studies and civic engagement from the University of Baltimore.  Read more here.

Central College has announced the appointment of Ms. Karen Tumlinson, MA as Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer of the college. She will begin duties in Pella, Iowa by the end of May. Ms. Tumlinson is currently the Division Director of Finance and Operations for the University of North Texas at Denton. She previously served as Vice President of Finance and Operations/CFO at Kansas Wesleyan University and as Assistant Vice President, Finance and Administration at the University of Arizona. She also had roles at the University of Kansas, Oklahoma State University and University of Nebraska. Ms. Tumlinson earned her B.A. in business from Doane University and M.S. in business and advanced data analytics from the University of North Texas. Read more here.

Calvin University has announced the appointment of Dr. Wiebe Boer as the institution’s 11th president. Since 2017, Dr. Boer has served as the inaugural CEO of Shell-All On, a $200 million Nigerian off-grid energy impact investing and market accelerator company. In recent years, Dr. Boer co-created and executed the $500k All On Covid-19 Solar Relief Fund to provide solar power to isolation and testing centers. Previously, Dr. Boer led the Public Sector and Social Sector Practices for Boston Consulting Group Nigeria as an expert on power, financial services, consumer goods, agriculture and Nigerian/African markets.  Dr. Wiebe earned his Doctorate and MA degrees from Yale University, and his BA from Calvin College. Dr. Boer will begin his duties as university president this summer and will be officially inaugurated in fall 2022. Read more here.

Grand View University has appointed Dr. Rachelle Keck as its 14th President. Dr. Keck is currently the President of Briar Cliff University, a position she has held since 2018.  An Iowa native, she is a graduate of Wartburg College, earned her juris doctorate from the University of Iowa and her Ph.D. in education from Drake University. Prior to joining Briar Cliff, she served as the Director of Planned Giving for the University of Iowa Foundation, and then the Executive Director for Philanthropy and Alumni Relations at Indian Hills Community College. Read more here.

Ms. Miranda Powers has been named Bethel University’s new Vice President of Student Experience. Since coming to Bethel in 2004, Ms. Powers has provided strong leadership to impact students’ academic, social, and spiritual development in significant ways.  She earned her BA in Human Development from Seattle Pacific University and her MA in Counseling Psychology from Bethel University. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor. Ms. Powers will begin her new role on April 1, 2022. Read more here.