Independent Institution

Hanover College has appointed Mr. Vincent Morris as the new Vice President of Business Affairs. Mr. Morris brings a wealth of experience to this position having previously served as the VP for Finance and CFO at Houghton College, and the executive director for higher education practice at Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc. In addition, he has operated Morris Consulting since 2006, an Illinois-based independent firm that advises a wide range of clients on strategy, finance, sustainability, risk management and business operations. Read more here.

The Pittsburgh Theological Seminary has appointed the Rev. Dr. Asa J. Lee as its next president. Dr. Lee currently serves at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., as vice president for campus administration, associate dean for community life, and director of African American studies. He is a graduate of Hampton University (B.A. in music education magna cum laude), Wesley Theological Seminary (M.Div. cum laude), and Virginia Theological Seminary (D.Min. in educational leadership). Dr. Lee will assume his duties as president June 7, 2021.  Read more here.

Ramapo College of New Jersey has appointed Dr. Cindy R. Jebb, Ph.D. as its fifth President. Dr. Jebb, Dean of the Academic Board and Professor of Comparative Politics at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and Brigadier General of the United States Army, will join the College on July 6, 2021.  Dr. Jebb retires from the U.S. Army this summer with the rank of Brigadier General after 39 years of service to the nation. She earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from Duke University, a M.A. in Political Science from Duke, an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, and a B.S. from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Read more here.

Southeastern University has appointed Dr. Meghan Griffin as Provost and Chief Academic Officer. Dr. Griffin currently serves as the associate provost and dean of unrestricted education at Southeastern. She joined Southeastern in 2017 after serving six years at Daytona State College as assistant and associate professor of management, assistant chair and program chair. Her early career included roles as a research associate at the University of Central Florida and director of extension site student services at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Dr. Griffin earned a doctorate in texts and technology from the University of Central Florida, a Master of Business Administration degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University and a Bachelor of Arts in English degree from Rollins College. Griffin also holds a Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing. Read more here.

The Board of Trustees of Misericordia University has appointed Daniel J. Myers, Ph.D., professor and acting chairperson of Sociology at American University in Washington, D.C., as the next president of Misericordia University.  Dr. Myers will begin his presidential term on July 1, 2021. Dr. Myers earned a B.A. in political science, an M.A. in higher education and student affairs from Ohio State University, before completing an M.A. and doctorate in sociology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Read more here.

Blackburn College has named Dr. Steven Lambert as its new Vice President for Inclusive Enrollment. Dr. Lambert joins Blackburn from New Jersey City University (NJCU) where he served as Assistant Director of University Admissions. Prior to NJCU, he served as Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Georgian Court University. Dr. Lambert earned his Ed.D. from Saint Peter’s University with a focus on higher education leadership. He began his duties for Blackburn on February 8, 2021. Read more here.

Cornell University has announced the appointment of Dr. Ian Owens as the next Executive Director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Dr. Owens is currently serving as the Deputy Director for the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History having previously held positions as the Director at the Natural History Museum in London and as a professor at Imperial College London. Retiring Director, Dr. John Fitzpatrick, stated, "“It means a lot to me personally that I can hand off the baton to Ian and have 100% confidence. He’s a genuine bird person and has done very significant research both in evolutionary ecology and in global-scale conservation. We’re getting a real star here.” Dr. Owens will take the helm of the 106-year-old institution on July , 2021. He will also hold an appointment as professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). Read more here.

The Board of Trustees and the Christian Brothers are delighted to announce Richard Plumb’s appointment as the 30th president of Saint Mary’s College of California. Plumb will begin his term on July 1, 2021. After a thorough national search, Plumb was selected because of his broad experience in strategic planning, curriculum development, financial management, fundraising, capital planning, and other critical skills necessary to leverage Saint Mary’s College’s distinguished history and write the next chapter for this remarkable institution. Plumb is a highly respected administrator, esteemed faculty member, and student-oriented leader. Learn more.

President Miles Davis has announced the appointment of Joseph Hunter, currently serving as the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Development at Vanderbilt University to be the next Vice President. Prior to Vanderbilt, Hunter served in various fundraising capacities at Wichita State University, Western Washington University, the University of Oregon, and the University of Wyoming. Hunter holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Dayton and two master's degrees from Virginia Tech. Read more here.

Point Park University has announced the appointment of Dr. Michael Soto as its new Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. Dr. Soto currently serving as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs: Student Academic Issues and Retention and a Professor of English at Trinity University in San Antonio. Dr. Soto has been with Trinity University in positions of increasing responsibility since 1999. Building on his commitment to diversity in higher education, he served as the co-chair of the Retention and Graduation Task Force and director of the McNair Scholars Program where he supported students traditionally locked out of higher education on their path to advanced study. Dr. Soto holds a Ph.D. in English & American Literature & Language from Harvard University and a B.A. in Modern Thought & Literature/Humanities from Stanford University. Read More.