Independent Institution

Fairleigh Dickinson University has appointed Dr. Uchenna Baker as FDU’s Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, effective August 1, 2021. Dr. Baker is currently the Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students at The University of Puget Sound. A New Jersey native, Dr. Baker holds a Ph.D. in educational policy with a focus on urban education, an M.Ed. in counseling psychology, and a B.A. in English and sociology, all from Rutgers University. She is currently completing her MBA at the Louisiana State University Shreveport School of Business. Read more here.

Mr. John Sanders has been appointed as Interim Director of Human Resources at Earlham College.

Springfield College has announced that Dr. Rachel Rubinstein of Florence, MA, has been named dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. She will officially begin her role on July 12, 2021. Most recently, she has been serving as Senior Advisor to the Deputy Commissioner of Academic Affairs and Student Success at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.  Dr. Rubinstein received her BA from Yale University in English and her PhD from Harvard University in English and American literature. Read more here.

The Board of Directors of the Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research has named Dr. Jacqueline Bussie, an award-winning author, speaker, public theologian, and religion professor at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, as its 5th executive director. Dr. Bussie will begin her new role on September 1, 2021. She received her PhD in Theology, Ethics, and Culture from the University of Virginia, where she was the Graduate School Dissertation Year Fellowship Winner in 2001-2 among other distinctions. Dr. Bussie also holds a MA in Religion from Yale University and a BA from Davidson College, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with Honors. Read more here.

Bennett College has appointed Dr. Laura Colson as their new Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Colson is currently serving as the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs for Johnson C. Smith University.  Prior to this position, Dr. Colson served as JCSU’s Dean of the Metropolitan College of Professional Studies. Dr. Colson brings her vast academic and administrative experience at HBCU’s to Bennett’s Senior Leadership team at a time of great transition for the College. She holds an Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction from Gardner-Webb University, a Master of Education in Curriculum & Supervision from The University of North Carolina, Charlotte and a BA in Elementary Education from The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Read more here.

Dr. Robert Pignatello has been appointed Senior Vice President for University Operations at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Dr. Pignatello is currently the Senior Advisor to the Chancellor of the Pennsylvania System of Higher Education for Integration Strategy. Previously, he was the President of Lock Haven University, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Before assuming a presidency, he was Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Operation Officer at Hunter College (CUNY).  He also served in a similar position at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY). He holds a Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Management from Saint Peter’s University, a Master’s of Public Administration from Rutgers University, and a BA in Political Science and Public Administration from Montclair State University. Dr. Pignatello will begin at FDU on June 1, 2021. Read More Here.

Clarkson University has appointed Dr. Alisha Ohl as the Chair of Occupational Therapy.  Dr. Ohl's field of expertise includes Pediatric Assessment and Intervention, Autism and employment, and Psychometrics.  She earned her Ph.D. in Occupational Therapy from New York University and her M.S. and B.S. degrees in Occupational Therapy from Ithaca College, NY. 

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.