É«ÇéÊÓÆµ

É«ÇéÊÓÆµ team members

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Implementation Teams

Each co-chair will be tasked with implementing a specific set of activities to meet the university's defined goals. Team members are designated to support efforts to meet the defined goal within each of the five priorities.

Agnes Wong Nickerson headshot

Agnes Wong Nickerson, MBA

Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs & CFO
Strategic Plan Implementation Co-Chair

 

Luke Wood

J. Luke Wood, Ph.D.

Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity
Strategic Plan Implementation Co-Chair

 

 

Becoming a Premier Public Research University: A New Kind of HSI.

Executive Sponsor: Hala Madanat, Ph.D., Interim Vice President for Research

GOAL 1: Position É«ÇéÊÓÆµ to ultimately achieve R1 status:

Key Activities:

John Crockett, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President of Research Advancement
Scott Walter, Ph.D.
É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Library Dean

Hala Madanat
Michele Goetz
Jerry Sheehan
Pam Lach
Edgar Hodge
Jennifer Schenkenfelder
Heriberto Vasquez (past member)

Karen May-Newman, Ph.D.
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Steven Hooker, Ph.D.
Dean of the College of Health and Human Services

Cassie Aaron
Jennie Amison
Debbie Brighton
John Crockett
Hala Madanat
Natasha Bliss
Erika Larkins
Salvadore Espinosa
Kristen Wells
Yasmine Shead

Tracy Love, Ph.D.
Dean of the College of Graduate Studies
Monica Casper, Ph.D.
Dean of the College of Arts and Letters
Cassie Aaron
Graduate Council
Ed Balsdon (past member)

Stanley Maloy, Ph.D.

Associate Vice President of Research and Innovation

Natalie Mladenov

Heriberto Vasquez
Olivia Humphrey

GOAL 2: Leverage É«ÇéÊÓÆµâ€™s unique identity to enhance the quantity and quality of scholarship.

Key Activities:

John Crockett
Associate Vice President of Research Advancement
Emilio Ulloa
Associate Professor of Psychology

Michael Dominguez
Araceli Saucedo
Joi Coles
Karina Esteban
Jennie Amison (past member)
Debbie Brighton (past member)
Antonio Marquez (past member)

Ramona Pérez

Professor of Anthropology and Center for Latin American Studies Directora

Cristina Alfaro
Marcela Polanco
Antonio Marquez
Alondra Hernandez

Ramona Pérez

Professor of Anthropology and Center for Latin American Studies Directora

Jeff Roberts

Dean of the College of Sciences

Roddrick Colvin
Lluvia Flores-Renteria
Olivia Chilcote
Jenny Quintana
Lourdes Miriam Cueva Chacon

Resilience. Designed to Thrive

Executive Sponsor: Agnes Wong Nickerson, Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs, and Adrienne Vargas, Vice President for University Relations and Development

GOAL 1: Diversify and expand revenue streams that support our mission and our scholarly and creative activities, teaching and athletic aspirations.

Key Activities:

Brittany Santos-Dereig
Chief-of-Staff

Austin Barber
Christina Brown
Nikki Clay
Cynthia Cervantes
Mary Darling
Michele Goetz
Leslie Levinson
Rachel Lindell
Hala Madanat
Tommy Martindale
Victor Nava
Agnes Wong Nickerson
Tim Rice
Jerry Sanders
Radhika Seshan
Jerry Sheehan
John Putman
Victor Penera
Adrienne Vargas
John David Wicker
Todd Summer (past member)

William Tong

Interim Vice Provost

Tod Reeder
Mark Reed
Michelle Goetz
Cathy Pucher
Alex DeNoble
Salvador Ochoa
Victor Penera
Stephen Jackson

Seth Malios
Professor of Anthropology
Stefan Hyman
Interim Associate Provost for Enrollment and Retention Management at Stony Brook University
Thom McElroy
Co-founder of Volcom
Megan Newton
Director of Marketing and Digital Media

Jason Benito
Candy Carson
Jeff Ernst
Karina Esteban
Timothy Gonzalez
Courtney Harmon
Giselle Luevanos
Shawki Moore
Lori Padelford
Leomarc Pastor
Quentin Skaggs

Kellie Woodhouse
Tammy Blackburn (past member)
Joe Brock (past member)
LaMonica Everett-Haynes (past member)
Jim Herrick (past member)
Gina Jacobs (past member)
Maria Keckler (past member)
Chuck Lang (past member)
Mike May (past member)
Victor Nava (past member)
Victor Penera (past member)
Steve Schnall (past member)
Polly Sipper (past member)
Catherine Snapp (past member)

Adam Armolea (past member)
Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications for É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Alumni
Megan Newton
Director of Marketing and Digital Media

Tammy Blackburn
Jeff Ernst
Karina Esteban
La Monica Everett-Haynes
Jim Herrick
Stefan Hyman
Gina Jacobs
Giselle Luevanos
Seth Mallios
Mike May
Thom McElroy
Shawki Moore
Victor Nava
Melissa Porter
Steve Schnall

Amando Sepulveda
Catherine Snapp
Todd Summer
Kellie Woodhouse
Joe Brock (past member)

GOAL 2: Allocate resources with transparency, equity, efficiency and accountability.

Key Activities:

Mary Anne Kremicki
Director Academic Resources, Academic Affairs
Crystal Little
Interim Associate Vice President

Jerry Sheehan
Agnes Wong Nickerson
Hector Ochoa
Rashmi Praba
Jerry Sheehan
Myra Villalta
Ari Weizman
Luke Wood
Christian Holt (past member)

Todd Summer
CEO of Aztec Shops
Christina Brown
Executive Director of Associated Students
Austin Barber
Nikki Clay
Michele Goetz
Rachel Lindell
Hala Madanat
Agnes Wong Nickerson
Christy Samarkos
Jerry Sanders
Adrienne Vargas
Christian Holt (past member)
Sherry Ryan
Director of the School of Public Affairs
Bruce Reinig
Interim Thomas and Evelyn Page Dean of the Fowler College of Business

Austin Barber
Hala Madanat
Agnes Wong Nickerson
Hector Ochoa
Brittany Santos-Dereig
Jerry Sheehan
Adrienne Vargas
Luke Wood
Wil Weston
Christian Holt (past member)
Tom McCarron (past member)

GOAL 3: Invest in organizational practices that prioritize the responsible management of resources with a focus on global and environmental sustainability.

Key Activities:

Iana Castro
Assistant Professor of Marketing
Eric Hansen
Associate Vice President for Business Operation
Gener Abdon
Tenaya Bearmar
Glen Brandenburg
Liv Humphrey
Simran Jain
Keven Jeffery
Maribel Madero
Daryn Ockey
Tyler Rogers
Dave Weil
Charlotte Roberts (past member)

Jessica Barlow

Instructional Faculty for the School of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

Gener Abdon
Li An
Tenaya Bearmar
Trent Biggs
Glen Brandenburg
Eric Hansen
Simran Jain
Laura Shinn
Josh Mays
Paul Melchior
Charlotte Roberts
Presidential Task Force for Climate Action
Eric Frost (past member)
Robert Shultz (past member)
Christy Samarkos
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
Robert Schulz
Associate Vice President of Real Estate, Planning and Development
Gener Abdon
Tenaya Bearmar
Asfaw Beyene
Glen Brandenburg
Adrienne Fusek
Simran Jain
Keven Jeffery
Charlotte Roberts

We Are É«ÇéÊÓÆµ.

Executive Sponsor: Jerry Sheehan, Vice President for Information Technology

GOAL 1: Foster an inter-connected and equitable É«ÇéÊÓÆµ experience through implementing resource generation and allocation, communication and information-sharing, and systems of transportation. 

Key Activities:

Stacy Carota

Executive Director of Development, College of Sciences

Gina Jacobs

Associate Vice President of Mission Valley Development

Hala Madanat
Shawki Moore
Kumar Narayanan
Victor Nava
Daniel Nieto
Angela Pina
Jerry Sheehan
Shara Tscheulin
Amando Sepulveda (past member)

Wil Weston

Head of Collection Management, Chair of the University Senate 2020-2021

Jazmin Horton Alvarado
Julieanna Gutierrez
Daniel Nieto
Amando Sepulveda
Mark Wheeler
James Frazee
Associate Vice President AVP for Information Technology
Cristina Alfaro
Carlos Careaga
Pete Delaney
Margot Emer
Adrian Gonzalez
Kate Halvoet
Noah Hansen
IT
ITS
Kevin Jeffrey
Giselle Luevanos
Michelle Peterson
Rachel Raynoha
Amando Sepulveda
Mark Siprut
Joe Wolfman
Mark Wheeler
Cory Marshall
Associate Director of Media Relations
Rahim Baker
Tammy Blackburn
Deborah Brighton
Giselle Luevanos
Shawki Moore
Amando Sepulveda
Catherine Snapp
Raquel Herriot (past member)
Debbie Richeson
Director of Parking and Transportation Services

Karina Esteban
Josh Mays
Lisa Pearson
Steve Schnall
Amando Sepulveda
Janusz Supernak
Joe Wolfman
Rachel Szakmary (past member)

Debbie Richeson
Director of Parking and Transportation Services
Alan Castro
Karina Esteban
Josh Mays
John Moreno, Jr.
Amando Sepulveda
Henry Villegas
Lawson Hardick (past member)
Daniel Nieto (past member)
Miguel Rahiotis (past member)
Rachel Szakmary (past member)
Debbie Richeson
Director of Parking and Transportation Services
Beth Bridges
Rachel Gregg
Eric Hansen
Victor Penera (past member)
Amando Sepulveda (past member)
Rachel Szakmary (past member)
Debbie Richeson
Director of Parking and Transportation Services
Ali Moore
Gina Jacobs (past member)
Amando Sepulveda (past member)
Laura Shinn (past member)
Rachel Szakmary (past member)

GOAL 2: Expand É«ÇéÊÓÆµâ€™s academic infrastructure and partnerships to meet the needs of broadly diverse learners in our region, across the nation, and the world.

Key Activities:

Karen Myers-Bowman

 

Interim Dean of É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Global Campus

Radhika Seshan (past chair and member)

Associate Vice President for Career Relations and Strategic Partnerships

Jacq Banal
Edgar Hodge
Christy Samarkos
Crystal Sanchez
Mark Wheeler

Halil Güven
Dean of É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Georgia
É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Georgia Executive Committee
Stephen Schellenberg
Ari Weizman
Jacob Alvarado Waipuk
Tribal Liaison
David Gamble
David Kamper
Luke Wood
Crystal Sanchez (past member) (Associated Students)
Cristina Alfaro
Associate Vice President for International Affairs
Maria Keckler
Director of International Affairs Strategy and Communications

Adrienne Fusek
Noah Hansen
Lawson Hardick
Stefan Hyman
Linda Osuna
Eddie West
Crystal Sanchez
Jennifer Schenkenfelder
Sandra Temores-Valdez
International Coordinators representing each college across campus

Mark Wheeler
Interim Dean É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Imperial Valley
Executive Council & Program Coordinators from É«ÇéÊÓÆµ IV
Andrew Bohanak
Lawson Hardick
Linda Osuna
Crystal Sanchez
Jennifer Schenkenfelder
Gregorio Ponce (past member)

Equity and Inclusion in Everything We Do

Executive Sponsor: J. Luke Wood, Ph.D., Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity

GOAL 1: Ensure that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across campus are
aligned and implemented consistently, effectively and efficiently.

Key Activities:

Erica Aros

Director of Student Ability Success Center

Rahim Baker

Accessible Technology Initiative Coordinator

Austin Barber
Mark Figueroa
IT
Donald Kirson
Stacy Warner
Isabella Martelino (past member)

 
Jennifer Imazeki
Associate Chief Diversity Officer for Faculty & Staff

Diversity Liaisons
Sim Baweja
Jenny Bramer
Elizabeth Cordero
John Crockett
Kristine Catano
Anne Donadey
Theresa Garcia
Gabriel Gonzalez
Thom Harpole
Jennifer Lakin
Daniella Luistro
Arion Mayes
Deb Naylon
Claire Norberg
Melanie Patton
Amy Randel
Patricia Rea
Jessica Rentto
Gloria Rhodes
Nate Rogriguez
Sweta Sarkar
Cristian Sterling Aquino
Mary Taylor
Sarah Vanderburgh
Allison Vaughn
Aurora Velasco
Roy Whitaker
David Engstrom (past member)
Raquel Herriott (past member)
Isabella Martelino (past member)
Paula Peter (past member)
Rick Schultz (past member)

 
Randy Timm
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Nicole Belisle
Associate Chief Diversity Officer for Strategic Initiatives
Jeff Ernst
Mark Figeroa
Kayla Mari Vale Cruz 
Jessica Nare
Andrew Pierson
Dion Akers (past member)
Daniella Luistro (past member)
Isabella Martelino (past member)
 
Jennifer Imazeki
Associate Chief Diversity Officer for Faculty & Staff

Diversity Liaisons
Sim Baweja
Jenny Bramer
Elizabeth Cordero
John Crockett
Kristine Catano
Anne Donadey
Theresa Garcia
Nina Go
Gabriel Gonzalez
Thom Harpole
Jennifer Lakin
Arion Mayes
Deb Naylon
Claire Norberg
Melanie Patton
Amy Randel
Patricia Rea
Jessica Rentto
Gloria Rhodes
Nate Rogriguez
Sweta Sarkar
Cristian Sterling Aquino
Mary Taylor
Maya Taylor
Sarah Vanderburgh
Allison Vaughn
Aurora Velasco
Roy Whitaker

David Engstrom (past member)
Raquel Herriott (past member)
Daniella Luistro (past member)
Isabella Martelino (past member)
Paula Peter (past member)
Rick Schultz (past member)

 
Mike Juan
Associate Director of Counseling & Psychological Services
Virginia Loh-Hagan
Director of Asian Pacific Desi American (APIDA) Resource Center
Koko Nishi
Daniella Luistro
Sandra Wawrykto
Isabella Marteelino (past member)

GOAL 2: Foster and sustain an environment where all students, faculty, staff and alumni feel welcomed, supported, and valued by the university.

Key Activities:

Jessica Nare
Associate Chief Diversity Officer for Student Engagement
Jessica Chang
Elzbeth Islas
Virginia Loh-Hagan
Joy Moore
Megan Newton
Wesley Palau
Melissa Porter
Darren Wilson
La Monica Everett-Haynes
Associate Vice President and Chief Communications Officer
Catherine Snapp
Director of Communication Services for Student Affairs
Meena Alexander
Tiffany Dykstra-DeVette
Lisa Haney
Paige Hernandez
Caryl Montero Adams
Darren Wilson (past member)
Peggy Shannon
Dean of Professional Studies and Fine Arts
Alanie Abron
Karina Esteban
Joyce Gattas
Maribel Madero
Ragini Parkhi
Aresa Rochester
Eric Smigel
Rebecca Lewison, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Biology

Anahi Aceves
Anne Donadey
Edgar Hodge
Madhavi McCall
Joy Moore
Gloria Rhodes
Carolina Rodriguez-Uribe
Jennifer Stanley
Randy Timm
Tiffany Dykstra-DeVette (past member)
Raquel Herriot (past member)
Maria Keckler (past member)
Isabella Martelino (past member)

Jessica Chang

Diversity Officer for Student Engagement, Center for Intercultural Relations

Nicole Belisle

 
Yea Wen Chen
Jessica Chang
Sureshi Jayawardene
Alan Mobley
Joy Moore
LaWana Richmond
Alanie Abron (past member)
Justine Darling (past member)
Anne Guanciale (past member)
Tierney Trujillo-Harrison (past member)

Jennifer Imazeki

Associate Chief Diversity Officer for Faculty & Staff

Francisco Velazquez

Director of New Student and Parent Programs

Michael Borgstrom
Joanna Brooks
Jessica Chang
Belen Gamino
Daniel Reinholz
Allison Vaughn
Gianna Wood
Ed Balsdon (past member)
Sarah Elkind (past member)
Darren Wilson (past member)

GOAL 3: Recruit, retain and advance graduate students, faculty and staff who can and will effectively support the diverse student body and communities served by É«ÇéÊÓÆµ.

Jennifer Imazeki
Associate Chief Diversity Officer for Faculty & Staff
Andrew Bohanak
Joanna Brooks
Thom Harpole
Frank Harris III
Jessica Rentto
Gianna Wood
Thierry Devos (past member)
Allen Gontz (past member)
Max Johnson (past member)
Sasha Chizhik
Director of Academic Labor Relations
Emilio Ulloa
Associate Chief Diversity Officer for HSI and Regional Affairs
Mark Reed
Charlie Sallee
Dustin Thoman
Karen Whited
Mari Luisa Zuniga
Joanna Brooks (past member)
Allen Gontz (past member)
Max Johnson (past member)
Thom Harpole
Director of Human Resources
Meena Alexander
Joanna Brooks
Courtney Harmon
Jennifer Imazeki
Allen Gontz (past member)
JR Lauron (past member)

Students at Our Core 

Executive Sponsor: Salvador Hector Ochoa, Ph.D., Provost and Senior Vice President

GOAL 1: Ensure that all members of the campus community are prepared to advance student success by deepening the quality of learning and closing equity gaps.

Key Activities:

Jeanne Stronach
Associate Vice President Analytic Studies and Institutional Research
Erin Jacobs
Director of Student Success Analytics
Michael Borgstrom
Jennifer Imazeki
Alane Lockwood
Michelle Lopez
Estralita Martin
Madhavi McCall
Salvador Hector Ochoa
Noemi Portillio
Sonja Pruitt-Lord
Norah Shultz
Randy Timm
Joanna Brooks (past member)
Sarah Elkind (past member)
Ashley Tejeda (past member)
Joanna Brooks
Associate Vice President for Faculty Advancement
Christy Samarkos
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
ITS
Amanda Fuller
Tito Hernandez
Stefan Hyman
Michelle Lopez
Christine Molina
Jose Preciado
Randy Timm
Joyce Chen (past member)
Kristie Dock (past member)
Jerry Sheehan (past member)
Julianna Saenz
Interim Director, Career Services
Graduate Affairs
Research Affairs
Joyce Chen
Martha Enciso
Megan Mahoney
Malerie McNeill
Christy Samarkos
Kristie Dock (past member)
James Tarbox (past member)
Andrew Bohonak
Assistant Dean for Graduate Affairs
Graduate Council
Research Affairs
Ramona Acuna
Josh Barfuss
John McMillan
Tina Tan
Allison Vaughn
Feion Villodas
Kylee Webster
James Tarbox (past member)

GOAL 2: Expand access to affordable, high-quality university undergraduate and graduate education for the people of our region and beyond.

Key Activities:

Y. Barry Chung
Dean of the College of Education
Mary Taylor
Director for Compact for Success & Collaborative Programs
Cristina Alfaro
Sarah Hoang
Miguel Rahiotis
Christy Samarkos
Jeanne Stronach
Sandra Temores-Valdez
Henry Villegas
Fabiola Moreno (past member)
Eugene Olevsky
Dean of the College of Engineering
Karen Myers-Bowman
Interim Dean of É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Global Campus
Radhika Seshan (past co-chair and member)
Associate Vice President for Career Relations and Strategic Partnerships
Hannah Berman Schneider
Joanna Brooks
Sean Hauze
Ray Savage
Ashley Tejada

GOAL 3: To support student success and well-being both inside and outside the classroom, É«ÇéÊÓÆµ will strategically increase its programming, resources and capacity to provide mental health, wellness and basic needs support for all undergraduate and graduate students.

Key Activities:

Stephanie Galia
Director for Well-being & Health Promotion
Jen Rikard
Director for Counseling & Psychological Services

ECRT Committee
Chelsea Payne
Ava Grell
Abigail Tamayo (past member)

Michael Juan
Associate Director of Counseling & Psychological Services
Brent Taylor
Department Chair & Associate Professor of Counseling and School Psychology
Frida Diaz
Ray Savage
Kole Wellenstein
Nola Butler Byrd (past member)
Jen Rikard (past member)
Abigail Tamayo (past member)
Andrea Dooley
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
Stephanie Galia
Director for Well-being & Health Promotion

ECRT Committee
Gener Abdon
Dustin Adkins
Keiara Allen
Stephanie Dathe
Ava Grell
Chelsea Payne
Mayah Taylor
Vanessa Malcarne (past member)
Rosanne Pasenelli (past member)
Todd Summer (past member)
Abigail Tamayo (past member)

Strategic Planning Committee

Provost Hector Ochoa headshot

Co-Chair

Salvador Hector Ochoa, Ph.D.
É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Provost and Senior Vice President
J Luke Wood

Co-Chair

J. Luke Wood, Ph.D.
É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity


Strategic Planning Team Organizational Structure

Committee Members

Cassie Aaron
President of Graduate Student Association
Ed Balsdon, Ph.D.
Interim Dean of Graduate Affairs
Kyla E. Blaylock
É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Student
Joanna Brooks, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs – Faculty Advancement
Jenny Bramer
Executive Associate Athletic Director
Karen Emmorey, Ph.D.
Professor of Speech Language in the College of Health and Human Services
Angelica A. Espinoza
É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Student
La Monica Everett-Haynes, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President and Chief Communications Officer
Michele Goetz
Associate Vice President and Executive Director of É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Research Foundation
Maureen A. Guarcello, Ph.D.
Research, Analytics, and Communications Specialist, Instructional Technology Services
Jim Herrick
Assistant Vice President, Alumni
Edgar Hodge, Ed.D.
Assistant Vice President for Information Technology
Helina Hoyt, Ph.D., RN, PHN
School of Nursing, É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Imperial Valley
Jennifer Imazeki, Ph.D.
Associate Chief Diversity Officer for Faculty Success and Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning
Gina Jacobs
Associate Vice President for Mission Valley Development
Shane James
É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Student
Maria Keckler
Presidential Communications Director
Vanessa Malcarne, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology in the College of Sciences
Antionette Marbray, J.D.
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
Karen May-Newman, Ph.D.
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Christian Onwuka
2019-20 Associated Students President
Gregorio Ponce, Ph.D.
Dean of É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Imperial Valley
Jessica Rentto, J.D.
Associate Vice President, Administration
Jeffrey Roberts, Ph.D.
Dean of the College of Sciences
Sherry Ryan, Ph.D.
Professor and Director of the School of Public Affairs
Brittany Santos-Derieg
Chief-of-Staff
Radhika Seshan, Ph.D.
Dean of É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Global Campus
Stephanie Smith
Professional Graduate Fee Coordinator for the Fowler College of Business
Jeanne Stronach
Assistant Vice President, Analytic Studies and Institutional Research
Mark Wheeler, Ph.D.

University Senate Chair and Professor of Philosophy

Meet our Consultants

É«ÇéÊÓÆµ is embarking in a landmark planning process and, through that process, is committed to generating input from all levels of the university. To ensure broad participation, É«ÇéÊÓÆµ is drawing on expertise from both within and outside of the organization. An expert-informed initiative will strongly contribute to the campus community’s ability to develop a strategic plan that will define not just the future of one campus, but three: the É«ÇéÊÓÆµ main campus, É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Imperial Valley, and the potential development of É«ÇéÊÓÆµ Mission Valley. Skilled and nationally-recognized experts have been engaged to support and help guide this effort, and we encourage you to get to know them below.

Emeritus Consulting Group

Alma R. Clayton-Pedersen is Chief Executive Officer of Emeritus Consulting Group, a firm that uses organizational development principles to assist nonprofit, public and education entities in enhancing their effectiveness for the public good. Clayton-Pedersen brings a wealth of experience to the firm’s work, particularly with respect to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion and facilitating discussions around inclusive excellence.

Clayton-Pedersen previously worked with the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) in several capacities. From 2010 to 2016, she was a Senior Scholar and co-Principal Investigator directing the work of AAC&U’s Preparing Critical Faculty for the Future Program, funded by the National Science Foundation. From 2000 to 2010, she served first as a Senior Policy Director, then Vice President for Education and Institutional Renewal, directing ongoing programs and several grant-funded projects. Prior to joining AAC&U, Dr. Clayton-Pedersen was deeply engaged for 16 years at Vanderbilt University, where she served in senior leadership roles in student affairs, a public policy center, academic affairs and athletic affairs. She conducted more than 20 institutional studies on retention, climate for diversity, and student programming. Throughout her 35-year career in higher education, Clayton-Pedersen has provided consultation on program evaluation, inter-organizational collaboration, diversity and institutional change in a range of settings and working with stakeholders nationally and internationally.

Sonja C. P. Armstrong, whose expertise stems from developing an expansive legal practice to public, is president and chief operating officer of Emeritus Consulting Group LLC.

Armstrong has served as both associate general counsel and special counsel at Chicago State University, a public, urban institution. As a generalist in higher education law, she has been responsible for oversight of issues relating to labor and employment, governance, athletics, residence life, academic affairs and student discipline, among other areas. One of Armstrong’s most significant campus endeavors involved a 15-month presidential appointment as interim director of intercollegiate athletics to restructure an emerging division of the university – creating a culture of compliance, an environment for successful student outcomes and a focus on institutional mission.

Prior to joining Chicago State University, Armstrong was an attorney at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, one of the largest, most well-respected national law firms based in Chicago. While in private practice, she served as legal counsel and advocate for a diverse group of public and private entities – including higher education institutions – in business, regulatory, complex litigation and dispute resolution matters. Overall she was responsible for resolving challenges faced by her clients and fostering trusting relationships at all levels within these organizations. Handling that work effectively required her to use collaborative approaches to chart the best course of action to reach each client’s organizational objectives.

AASCU Penson Center for Professional Development

Howard Cohen, Ph.D. is the AASCU Penson Center for Professional Development (APC) Executive Director and a Senior Associate of its consulting group, which works primarily with public regional universities. Cohen also holds the distinction of Chancellor Emeritus at Purdue University Northwest. Prior to his 10-year tenure as Chancellor, Cohen also served in academic and administrative appointments within the University of Massachusetts and University of Wisconsin systems. His areas of focus include strategic and academic planning, department chair leadership, leadership team development and executive coaching. Cohen is expected to be the lead consultant for the strategic planning components of our engagement, working in conjunction with other APC colleagues as needed.

Sal Rinella, Ph.D. is a former university president who has served as a consultant with APC and other organizations in all sectors of higher education for the past 14 years. Rinella also has been a facilitator and author for the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) roundtables and monographs, leading discussions of timely topics including New Forces and Realities: Making the Adjustment and The Presidential Role in Disaster Planning and Response. From 1994 to 2000, Rinella served at the helm of Austin Peay State University, an institution known for its collaborative, integrative learning community that tremendously expanded over the past three decades. Rinella’s areas of emphasis include strategic planning and positioning, identifying transformational programs and initiatives, formulating partnerships to advance the institution and team development.

We thank all members of our campus community – students, faculty, staff and administrators – for providing input and feedback, which will then inform É«ÇéÊÓÆµâ€™s future vision, mission and strategic priorities.