Independent Institution

Ursinus College has successfully appointed Dr. Gundolf Graml as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College effective February 1, 2024. Dr. Graml currently serves as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean for Curriculum and Strategic Initiatives at Agnes Scott College. He brings over 15 years of liberal arts teaching and administrative experience that includes global learning, curriculum development, and faculty professional development to his new role at Ursinus College. While at Agnes Scott, he led the SUMMIT global learning, inclusive leadership, and digital literacy program - an innovative general education curriculum and co-curriculum that integrates the academic and experiential components of liberal arts learning and prepares students for purposeful growth and professional success. Read more.

Bridgewater College has successfully appointed Ms. Meg Riner as Vice President for Institutional Advancement effective October 1, 2023. Ms. Riner has been in the development and fundraising profession for 21 years, first beginning as a Grants Specialist for James Madison University. She then served as the Senior Development Officer of the three foundations of Bon Secours Hampton Roads Health System before joining Bridgewater College in 2014 as a Development Officer. She then was promoted to Senior Director of Development at Bridgewater and most recently served as Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement. She has consistently advanced in the field, succeeding in securing millions in philanthropic contributions for higher education, nonprofit, and healthcare organizations. Ms. Riner holds a Bachelor of Arts from James Madison University and a fundraising and development certificate from the University of Richmond. Read more.

Pitzer College has successfully appointed Mr. Michael Tocydlowski as the new Director of Financial Aid. Mr. Tocydlowski brings an extensive background in Enrollment Management and Financial Aid to Pitzer, having most recently served as the Director of Financial Aid at Charles R. Drew University, with previous experience at the Cleveland Institute of Art and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. Mr. Tocydlowski began his work in higher education as an Admissions Representative following his graduation from Goldey-Beacom College where he received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration.

Benedict College has appointed Dr. Sharron Taylor Burnett a the new Vice President of Finance and Operations. Dr. Burnett comes to Benedict College from Edward Waters University, where she served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.  As noted in the press release, Benedict College President and CEO, Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis said, “I welcome Dr. Burnett who has an impressive record in higher education. She has served in the role of an Executive Vice President at both Lane College and Tuskegee University where she also dually served as the university’s Chief Financial Officer. I am confident that her passion for education and her ability to provide leadership, vision and direction will enhance the transformative vision we have for the College.” Dr. Burnett is a native of Tennessee and earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Lane College.  She also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Tennessee at Martin and a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Memphis. She is scheduled to begin her duties on campus on September 25, 2023. Read more.

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences has appointed James Langstraat, MBA, CPA, as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Langstraat brings over 40 years of financial, operational, and administrative experience including over ten years of leadership experience in higher education. Prior to PNWU he served as Vice President for Finance and Administration at Pacific University, where he provided leadership and direction for Finance, Budget, Human Resources, Financial Aid, Capital Projects, Campus Public Safety, Facilities, Technology, HIPPA Compliance, Legal Services, and Emergency Management and Business Continuity. In addition to that experience, Mr. Langstraat brings 15 years of financial leadership experience from his time at the North Clackamas School District, the Waterloo Community School District and the Norwalk Community School District. He was very successful in navigating the often confusing and complex issues of generating substantial bonding funds for the district, included recommending changes to the bond structure resulting in premium funds. Mr. Langstraat also serves as an accreditation reviewer for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. 

Washington University in St. Louis has appointed Kathy Gaytan as the next Executive Director of Audit and Compliance. She will succeed Gail Peters, who is retiring at the university after 33 years, effective July 1st. Ms. Gaytan has been the Director of Internal Audit for Washington University since joining the University in 2017, and will now report directly to the Chancellor and lead the central compliance and internal audit office. Ms. Gaytan earned bachelor's degrees in humanities and in business administration from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and a master's in business administration from Alliant International University. Read more.

Baylor University has appointed Dr. Joshua Kissee as the Assistant Vice President for Research Technology effective July 3rd. Dr. Kissee joins Baylor ITS after an impressive tenure at Texas A&M University, where he has served in instructional technology, client services, IT project management, technology strategy, health technology, and IT administration since 2009. He served as Chief of Staff to the Vice President for IT and CIO, Assistant CIO and Director of IT for Texas A&M Health, and, most recently, the Assistant Vice President for Research Technologies. He holds degrees in Management Information Systems, Adult Education, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration. His accomplishments at Texas A&M include spearheading groundbreaking projects, establishing strategic partnerships, and implementing innovative solutions that significantly enhanced the university's research capabilities. Read more.

Rollins College has announced the appointment of Dr. Anil Menon as the new Dean of the Crummer Graduate School of Business. He will join Rollins College on August 1, 2023. Dr. Menon's academic career began as a member of the faculty at the Texas Tech University Graduate School of Business, where he achieved tenure and promotion to associate professor before joining the graduate faculty at Emory University's Goizueta Business School. Research for his doctoral degree dissertation was supported and conducted at the Strategic Planning Institute (SPI), an international research and consulting think tank in Cambridge, Massachusetts, established by GE and the Harvard Business School. In addition to his roles in academia, Menon also brings to the Crummer Graduate School of Business an impressive track record of international success as a business leader. Since 2021, he has served as Executive Vice President of Community and Urban Services at Sharecare, Inc., a digital health and well-being company based in Atlanta, where he and his team develop new tools and solutions that integrate health outcomes into infrastructure investments and smart city solutions. Before joining Sharecare, he served in global leadership roles at Cisco Systems, the World Economic Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, and IBM. Read more here.

Miami University has appointed Dr. Matt Moore as Chair of the Family Science and Social Work Department. Prior to accepting his new position at Miami, Moore earned degrees in psychology and philosophy before working as a case manager for the Department Child Services in Indiana, which inspired his continued interest in social work. After completing his Ph.D. at Indiana University, Moore rose through the ranks as a faculty member at Ball State University, where he recently served as the social work department chair. Dr. Moore will officially begin his role at Miami University beginning with the 2023 – 2024 academic year. Read more here.

Alvernia University has appointed Dr. Leamor Kahanov as its next Senior Vice President and Provost. Dr. Kahanov will begin on August 1st. Dr. Kahanov has over 25 years of higher education experience as a provost, dean, and professor. She has extensive experience in revising general education essential learning outcomes, creating faculty mentorship programs, academic affairs and institutional strategic planning, and developing academic programs. Since 2021, Dr. Kahanov has been Provost and Vice President Academic Affairs at Stockton College. Prior to that, Dr. Kahanov served as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at SUNY Oneonta. Professionally, she has served as an athletic trainer for several institutions and the Olympic Games. Dr. Kahanov received a bachelor's degree in exercise science and athletic training from Indiana University-Bloomington, an M.S. in exercise and sports sciences from the University of Arizona, and an Ed.D. in education, curriculum and instruction from the University of San Francisco. Read more here.