Rod is currently Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Innovation in the Benerd School of Education at University of the Pacific in California. His work is focused on helping leaders of all types nurture human and organizational potential. Rod’s professional practice focuses on organizational learning, organization development, strategic planning, and evaluation. In his current role at Pacific, Rod leads school-wide academic program development, innovation facilitation, and enrollment services. Rod facilitated the development and implementation of the school’s strategic plan, Benerd Reimagined, which is resulting in a major academic and organizational transformation. He’s currently a key leader in the school as it merges with the university’s continuing and professional education unit in 2019-2020. In his previous role at Pacific, he led the startup of the Benerd School in Sacramento, designed to be a hub of innovation and creativity for learning, leadership, and change. Prior to his work at Pacific, Rod worked at Drexel University’s startup campus in Sacramento and led the transformation of a program group at University of Louisville, which tripled in enrollment to 550 students during his time there. Before becoming a faculty member, Rod managed a group of online programs at the University of Illinois. In his previous […]
Dr. Czarda is President of Greensboro College in North Carolina. In 2010, Dr. Czarda was selected as the 18th president of the college after a national search. Dr. Czarda has earned a reputation for being an active presence on campus, addressing major issues directly with a commitment to shared governance and transparency. He has an open door policy and a productive relationship with the Board of Trustees and is a passionate advocate for small, private, church related, liberal arts colleges. Prior to his tenure at Greensboro College, Czarda served George Mason University in Northern Virginia in many capacities as a senior administrator for 27 years, during a critical period of the institution’s remarkable growth and development into one of the most innovative public research institutions in higher education, with a growing enrollment of over 35,000. In these various roles, he guided the executive management of many of the core functions of the university, financial and administrative operations at the highest level. Prior to his service to Mason, Czarda worked in municipal government in Virginia. Czarda has been a leader on numerous boards and commissions, including Highland School, Chair of the Fauquier County School Board, Chair of the Fauquier Health System, […]
Corey Cook, joined Saint Mary’s College of California on July 1 as the Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Planning. Prior to that, he served as the founding dean of the School of Public Service and Professor of Political Science at Boise State University. The School of Public Service was founded in 2015 to inspire and equip students to be innovative, principled and effective public service leaders, promote meaningful community engagement and civil discourse, and serve as an objective and unbiased resource for citizens and decision-makers. Cook has a PhD in Political Science from University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Assuming his role at Virginia Tech in 2009, Frank leads Virginia Tech’s largest auxiliary enterprise with an operating budget well over $100 million. He provides leadership for the following departments: Cranwell International Center, the Dean of Students Office, Dining Services, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Housing and Residence Life, Learning Partnerships, and Student Conduct. He also plays a role in Virginia Tech’s Title IX efforts and cares deeply about eradicating sexual violence from college campuses. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Frank is an associate professor in the higher education graduate program and, from 2013-2018, served as executive editor of About Campus, a national magazine that promotes strengthening the student learning experience in higher education. Frank’s commitment to higher education has been nationally recognized. He was named a fellow of the American Council on Higher Education, a Diamond Honoree by the ACPA—College Student Educators International and honored by the Association of College and University Housing Officers with its Research and Publication Award. As an avid supporter of strengths-based learning, he received the Chip Anderson Inspiration Award for significant contributions in advancing the strengths movement in higher education.
In her current role, Dr. Gail F. Baker is USD’s chief academic officer and works closely with President James T. Harris III and the university’s academic deans. Prior to joining USD in 2017, Dr. Baker was dean of the College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media at the University of Nebraska Omaha. She also served as executive associate to the chancellor of UNO as well as other university leadership positions. At the University of Florida, she served as chair of the Department of Public Relations in the College of Journalism and Communications. She later served as vice president of public relations and special assistant to the president. At the University of Missouri-Columbia, she was chair of advertising and directed the Minority Recruiting Program of the School of Journalism. Dr. Baker holds a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, a Master of Science degree in marketing communications from Roosevelt University, and a doctorate in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Her industry experience includes public relations positions with IBM and International Harvester (now Navistar). She was a reporter and editor for the Chicago Daily Defender Newspaper. She has earned recognition for her […]
Jeanine Bias has spent her entire professional career in Higher Education Administration including Student Affairs, Compliance and Academic Affairs. Currently, she serves as SHSU’s Chief Experience Officer (CXO) who works with university stakeholders, reviews goals, values and day-to-day practices, and better aligns them to the university mission. As CXO, she aims to create a community where members of the organization understand how they can contribute to the organization’s overarching priorities and enjoy collaboration among multiple areas of the organization. Her responsibilities include devising strategies and policies to help the institution create positive, meaningful student experiences. Her role comprises planning, overseeing, and developing programs that allow the organization to cultivate student-centric culture by formulating intentional access, retention and success initiatives. She also supports university leaders and hiring supervisors at all levels regarding efforts to recruit and retain faculty and students from a broad range of backgrounds including the development of faculty success initiatives. Jeanine’s passion for civic engagement and student development has motivated her throughout her career spanning almost 20 years. She has a wide range of experience and expertise in multiple areas of higher education including admissions, recruitment, leadership development, advising/mentoring, event coordination, diversity, compliance, and policy development/implementation. Jeanine is […]
In his current role, Mr. Powell is responsible for the strategic direction of Rensselaer’s workforce, including short- and long-term strategies to attract, develop, and retain a highly qualified technological and research-oriented workforce. He has successfully positioned human resources as a strategic business partner and leading organizational change while establishing excellence in the delivery of HR services. Mr. Powell is recognized as a national and international human resource innovator. He serves as an officer of the Institute and consults regularly with Rensselaer’s president regarding strategic human capital, operational, and risk management planning. Early in his career, Mr. Powell spent more than 15 years at the University of Maryland. He also spent 10 years with the Bon Secours Health System as vice president for human resources in Baltimore, Maryland and served as corporate director of human resources with Suburban Hospital Healthcare System in Bethesda, Maryland. A graduate of Delaware State University with a bachelor’s degree in primary and secondary education, Mr. Powell also earned a master’s degree in human resource development from the University of Maryland, Bowie State University campus. He is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management, where he holds lifetime certification as a Senior Professional in […]
Dr. Vickie Cook is the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment & Retention Management at the University of Illinois Springfield. She holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and an M.S. in Adult Education. Dr. Cook has been actively engaged in providing consulting and faculty development with educational leaders across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. She has provided consultation to over 45 institutions seeking to expand or evaluate their online learning programs and leadership. She has published many journal articles and book chapters in a variety of national educational publications. Her scholarship includes Generational Learning and Leadership Capacity Building. Dr. Cook was named as a 2017 University of Illinois President’s Executive Leadership Fellow; 2017 Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Fellow; and 2020 University Professional and Continuing Education Outstanding Leader.
In her current role, Lauren directs a comprehensive programming, volunteer, annual giving, and communications strategy designed to deepen meaningful engagement among Syracuse University’s 300,000+ alumni worldwide. She collaborates with the Syracuse University Alumni Association Board of Directors, campus stakeholders, and volunteer leaders to support philanthropic and engagement priorities associated with the Forever Orange campaign. Prior to joining the Syracuse University team in July 2022, Lauren was Assistant Vice President and Executive Director of the Alumni Board of Governors at Drexel University in Philadelphia. In this role, she developed the strategy to guide programs, volunteer engagement, and data management in the context of the university’s recently concluded $750 million campaign, The Future Is a Place We Make. She led the Alumni Board through a transition at the start of the campaign to enhance its strategic alignment with the institution and ensure that membership was representative of the diverse identities and lived experiences of the Drexel community. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications, a Master of Science in higher education administration and organizational management, and an Ed.D. in educational leadership and management, all from Drexel University in Philadelphia. Her research interests center on talent management within higher education Institutional Advancement. She […]
As Sr. Alumnae Engagement Advisor, Colleen DelVecchio focuses on strategically engaging alumnae with the college through professional development, volunteerism, advancing women’s leadership, and connecting with current students. Colleen is also the owner of Colleen DelVecchio Coaching, a coaching and consulting business focused on helping business increase women’s leadership and move towards a strength-based management model. She has worked with Converse, PFM, BankESB, multiple chambers of commerce, independent private schools, large state universities and many small businesses. With over 20 years of experience in organizational change, strategic management, career counseling, women’s leadership, training, and staff development, she uses a strengths-based leadership model to guide her work. Her background includes extensive development of curricula for in-person and e-learning experiences around strategic thinking, career choice, board development, volunteer management, public speaking, and developing innovative alumni programming. Colleen has provided technical assistance to non-profits nationwide on organizational change and start-up program development. She has also taught public speaking at UMass Amherst and volunteer & board management at Bay Path University. Colleen has a B.A. in psychology from Boston University, a M.A. in nonprofit management from Bay Path University and is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach.