HLC Board of Trustees
The Board deliberates on and decides the official action on all recommendations for institutions placed on notice or probation and their removal from such status, withdrawal of accreditation or candidacy, application for candidacy or initial accreditation, and request for change of institutional control, structure or organization. The Board issues and removes all show-cause orders. When the Board decides on an official action, it does so by majority vote of those attending a meeting and eligible to vote.
HLC posts a summary of all institutional and policy actions taken by the Board within 30 days.
Chair
Dr. Jo Alice Blondin
President, Clark State College
Dr. Jo Alice Blondin became the fifth president of Clark State College on July 1, 2013. Since coming to Clark State, Dr. Blondin has led the development and implementation of two successive strategic plans, the creation of multiple marketing/branding campaigns, the development of employee wellness, safety, and mentoring programs, the establishment of two baccalaureate degrees and numerous workforce programs, a reorganization of the campus to increase student success and completion that has resulted in an increase of 60% in state funding for Clark State, secured nearly $17.5 million in state funds for capital and community improvement projects, and received grant funding for Manufacturing, Precision Agriculture, Cybersecurity, Addiction Studies, Mental Health, scholarships and youth programs totaling more than $16 million. Prior to Clark State, Dr. Blondin served as Chancellor of Arkansas Tech University – Ozark Campus and Professor of English for seven years, as well as Chief Academic Officer, Chief Student Officer, Department Chair of English, Communication, and Social Sciences and Instructor of English. Dr. Blondin holds a Ph.D. in English from Arizona State University; Master of Arts in English from Arizona State University; and Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University majoring in English with a minor in Spanish.
Vice Chair
Mr. Richard Dunsworth
President, University of the Ozarks
Richard L. Dunsworth, J.D., became the 25th president of University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas, on June 1, 2013. Under his leadership, enrollment at the private four-year Presbyterian-affiliated university has increased more than 29 percent, from 585 in 2013 to 755 in 2017. The growth is being fueled by holding tuition for five years and resulted in the university being ranked by U.S. News & World Report as No. 1 in the South in the “Great Schools, Great Prices” category for two consecutive years. The university embarked on an ambitious $55 million capital campaign in April 2015 to enhance student scholarships, support for the sciences and competition athletic facilities. Prior to arriving at Ozarks, Mr. Dunsworth was an administrator for 22 years at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, where he served as interim president and vice president for enrollment. Mr. Dunsworth earned a B.A. in Political Science from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, becoming the first person in his family to obtain a college degree. He went on to earn a master's degree in education in 1994 from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston and a J.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2002. He also earned certification from the institute for educational management at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2008.
Treasurer
Mr. Donald M. Elliman, Jr.
Chancellor, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Mr. Donald Elliman has been Chancellor of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus since February 2013. A long-time executive in publishing, he worked at Time Warner for 32 years, retiring as an executive vice president of Time Inc. Other positions he has held include publisher of People Magazine and president of Sports Illustrated. Most recently, Mr. Elliman was executive director of the University of Colorado School of Medicine’s Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology on the Anschutz Medical Campus. He also served for two years as chief operating officer for Colorado, assisting the governor in the management of all state agencies, and as chair of the Colorado Recovery Accountability Board, with responsibilities for oversight of spending in Colorado. He has also served as director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade and as president of Ascent Sports and of Kroenke Sports Enterprises, with oversight of business activities, including The Pepsi Center, The Denver Nuggets and The Colorado Avalanche. He received a B.A. in Economics from Middlebury College.
Trustees
Dr. Daniel Abebe
Vice Provost, University of Chicago
Dr. Daniel Abebe is Vice Provost at the University of Chicago, where he oversees University of Chicago Professional Education and the Laboratory Schools and serves as President of the Charter School Board of Directors. He supervises the Office of the Secretary of the Faculties and the Office of Institutional Analysis and manages regulatory and compliance matters under the purview of the Office of the Provost, including accreditation. Dr. Abebe is a member of the Board of Governors for Argonne National Laboratory, Chair of the Board of Directors of Chapin Hall, and an ex officio member of the Board of the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. Dr. Abebe previously served as the Deputy Dean of the University of Chicago Law School. He is the Harold J. and Marion F. Green Professor of Law and Walter Mander Teaching Scholar, an elected member of the American Law Institute, an associate member of the Department of Political Science, and a faculty affiliate at the Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture at the University of Chicago. He clerked for Judge Damon J. Keith of the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and later worked as a corporate associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP. Before joining the faculty, Dr. Abebe was a Bigelow Teaching Fellow and Lecturer in Law at the University of Chicago Law School. Dr. Abebe earned a Bachelor of Arts from Maryville University of St. Louis, a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Chicago, and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.
Mr. Michael Belter
Retired Budget Analyst Staff, American Electric Power Company
A public member of the Board, Mr. Belter worked at American Electric Power Company (AEP) from 1990 until his retirement in 2022. While at AEP, one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, some of his roles included organizational performance excellence and improvement, and research and development. Mr. Belter has served on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Board of Examiners since 2001 and is currently a Master Examiner. He has written seven Baldrige applications for AEP organizations and three for the regional Baldrige program for Ohio, Indiana, and West Virginia (TPE). He has also conducted over 30 site visits and several volunteer recognitions. Mr. Belter is a retired U.S. Army officer. He received the Bronze Star Award for the development of Money as a Weapon System doctrine while serving 16 months in Iraq. He served as a public member of HLC’s Institutional Actions Council (IAC) from 2012 until his appointment to the Board of Trustees. Mr. Belter earned a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a Master’s in Organizational Behavior from Ball State University, an MBA from Syracuse University, and has completed post graduate work in Operations Research/System Analysis.
Dr. Rita Hartung Cheng
President Emerita, Professor of Accounting and Senior Fellow for Educational Policy, Northern Arizona University
Dr. Rita Hartung Cheng served as the 16th President of Northern Arizona University from 2014 to 2021 and is currently Professor of Accounting and Sr. Fellow for Educational Policy at NAU. Under her leadership, NAU experienced enrollment increases of first generation and underrepresented students and significant improvements in retention and graduation rates. She focused on growing and enhancing diverse, market-driven programs on the Flagstaff campus, state-wide and online. During her tenure NAU received designation as an Hispanic-serving institution, was ranked in the top one percent of all four-year public universities with the highest Native American enrollment, doubled research awards and created the institution’s first Diversity Strategic Plan. Dr. Cheng served as Chancellor of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale from 2010 to 2014. She also spent over 20 years in faculty and administrative roles at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, including as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. She earned her Ph.D. in management from Temple University’s Fox School of Business and Management, an MBA from the University of Rhode Island and a bachelor of business administration with honors from Bishop’s University in Quebec.
Ms. Catherine (Katy) Crosby
Town Manager, Apex, NC
A public member of the Board, Katy Crosby serves as the town manager for the city of Apex, NC. In this capacity, she serves as the chief executive officer overseeing day to day town operations. Prior to this role, she served as the chief of staff for the city of Toledo, OH, where she had the delegated responsibility as the chief administrative officer and worked with a team to oversee city operations. She also served as executive director of the city of Dayton Human Relations Council reporting directly to the mayor and city commission. Her experience includes local government administration, civil rights enforcement in the areas of housing, employment, public accommodation and credit; capacity building for small businesses to include diversity and inclusion programs with a focus on compliance and capacity building; community relations programs that focus on immigrant integration and reducing intergroup tension and violence, improving the relationship between the community and police, and working with community and regional banks across the country to develop and implement equitable community and economic development strategies. She is a native of Cleveland. She holds a BS in accounting from Wilberforce University and a MPA from Wright State University.
Dr. Jacquelyn Elliott
President, Central Arizona College
Dr. Jacquelyn Elliott became President of Central Arizona College on July 1, 2016. She was previously the first-ever female President of North Arkansas College (Northark). At Northark, she led the development of the college’s comprehensive strategic plan and implemented the first academic, facility and information technology master plans for the institution. The planning model she developed, which Northark uses to advance improvement, has been trademarked. Prior to joining Northark, Dr. Elliott was the Vice President for Student Affairs at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville for five years. She also served as the Dean of Student Services at Barton County Community College in Kansas for 10 years. She served in various Student Affairs leadership roles at Creighton University in Nebraska for two years and Highland Community College in Kansas for five years. Dr. Elliott received her Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration from the University of Nebraska, her master’s degree from Fort Hays State University in Kansas, and her bachelor’s from Concordia University in Nebraska.
Dr. Joyce Ester
President, Normandale Community College
Dr. Joyce Ester has been President of Normandale Community College since 2014. During her tenure, Normandale has experienced stable enrollment and budgetary success. These efforts have led to the creation of a Student Resource Center, Student Success Center, Office of Equity and Inclusion, and several other initiatives. Normandale is home to the first Somali Area Studies program and Dr. Ester has added a program focused on increasing the number of Black men in Teaching. Prior to Normandale, she served as president of Kennedy-King College in Chicago. Other administrative roles included Associate Vice President at Bakersfield College (CA), Assistant Vice President at California State University, Fresno, and Assistant Dean of Students for Judicial Affairs at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr. Ester also served as an adjunct instructor in American Sign Language at Santa Barbara City College. Dr. Ester holds a Ph.D. in Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara; a Master of Arts in Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara; and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Northern Illinois University.
Dr. Noah Finkelstein
Professor of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder
Dr. Noah Finkelstein has taught in the Physics Department at the University of Colorado Boulder since 2003 and became a full professor in 2012. He serves as a director of the Physics Education Research (PER) group at Colorado, one of the largest research groups in physics education in the country. Dr. Finkelstein is also a director of the national-scale Center for STEM Learning, which has become one of eight national demonstration sites for the Association of American Universities’ STEM Education Initiative. During an NSF-supported postdoc, he formally entered the field of physics education research, through joint appointments at the UC San Diego’s Lab of Comparative Human Cognition, and UC Berkeley’s Group in Science and Mathematics Education. He has also served as a Research Consultant at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and a Research Associate and Instructor at Princeton University. Dr. Finkelstein received a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Yale University and his Ph.D. for work in Applied Physics from Princeton University.
Brig. Gen. Jack R. Fox
United States Army (retired)
A public member of the Board, retired New Mexico Army National Guard Brigadier General Jack R. Fox served as Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services from January 2015 to December 2018. Prior to this appointment he served with the Army, Army Reserves and New Mexico National Guard; taught high school and was a girls’ softball and cross-country coach; served as Commandant at the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI); and was President of St. John’s Military School. He has also served on the New Mexico State Armory Board and the New Mexico National Guard Bataan Memorial Museum Foundation. Secretary Fox is a graduate of NMMI and New Mexico State University (NMSU). Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from NMSU, he was commissioned as a U.S. Army Second Lieutenant/Infantry in 1969. While stationed at Ft. Benning, GA, he earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Georgia State University. He is also a member of the New Mexico Military Institute Hall of Fame and the New Mexico University ROTC Honor Company.
Ms. Lisa John
Secretary, Chickasaw Nation Department of Culture and Humanities
A public member of the Board, Ms. John was appointed secretary of the Chickasaw Nation Department of Culture and Humanities in 2013. She oversees divisions specifically focusing on history, culture, art, Chickasaw language, historic sites, and literary arts and the development of increased online presence for language instruction, including the launch of Rosetta Stone Chickasaw in 2017. Under her leadership, the literary arts division creates and produces social studies curricula which are Chickasaw specific and meet the state standards for use in public schools. She also oversaw the creation of a non-profit organization which is currently working to construct a Chickasaw Heritage Center in Tupelo, Mississippi. Ms. John has worked for the Chickasaw Nation for 27 years. She previously served as the Chickasaw Nation division of education administrator, was the lead negotiator for the Chickasaw Nation office of self-governance and was instrumental in planning and developing the Chickasaw Nation Sick Childcare center. Ms. John holds two degrees from the University of Oklahoma: a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in public administration with concentrations in public policy, budgeting and financial management, and public management.
Dr. J. Lee Johnson
Senior Vice President and Treasurer, Siena Heights University
Dr. J. Lee Johnson serves as the Senior Vice President and Treasurer for Siena Heights University. His resourcefulness includes focusing on organizational change, strategic resource planning, cultivating partnerships, fostering the usefulness of website content and social media, reviewing undergraduate and graduate program offerings, and improving upon the efficiencies of campus services. He has led and participated in a variety of planning processes as well as overseen or assisted on a variety of capital expansion programs. Additional experiences include contributing to grant proposals, developing partnerships and supporting cultivation efforts by speaking with donors about the need for scholarships and program support as well as funding for new facilities and campus improvements. Prior to his current role, he was a senior-level administrator for Lawrence Technological University and the Medical College of Ohio (now the Health Sciences Center of the University of Toledo) and has held a number of faculty appointments. Dr. Johnson received his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration with a Minor in Law from the University of Toledo; an M.B.A. concentrating in economics from Bowling Green State University; and a B.S. in Business Administration majoring in Finance from The Ohio State University. He completed post-graduate education at Harvard University and The Ohio State University. A certified public accountant, he is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and both the Ohio and Michigan societies for certified public accountants.
Dr. Paul C. Koch
Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, St. Ambrose University
Dr. Paul C. Koch serves St. Ambrose University as Provost & Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. Dr. Koch recently completed 10 years as a Vice President at St. Ambrose and has been engaged in and managed a great deal of change during this time. He is active in ensuring that the University is true to its mission and has been instrumental in furthering the University’s commitment to its core value of Diversity for many years. He also served as the Accreditation Liaison Officer for his University and has been active in ensuring successful outcomes in visits from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and multiple specialized accreditors over the years. He also assists the University in cultivating potential and current donors and has been successful in his efforts. Dr. Koch previously served St. Ambrose University as Vice President for Academic Affairs, Associate Vice President for Assessment and Institutional Research, Dean of Arts and Sciences, Director of General Education, Chair of the Faculty Assembly, and Department Chair. Dr. Koch served for many years as a Peer Reviewer and Team Chair for HLC, was a member of the Institutional Actions Council, and served on the Appeals Body. Dr. Koch received his Ph.D. in Psychology from Iowa State University, his Master of Science with a major in Psychology from Iowa State University, and his Bachelor of Science with a major in Psychology from Morningside College.
Dr. Joanne Li
Chancellor, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, became the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) 16th chancellor in July 2021. She is the first woman of color to serve as UNO chancellor and the first Asian-American in the history of the University of Nebraska System to hold an executive leadership role. Since joining UNO, she has focused on positioning the university – and Omaha – as a leader in the state’s workforce development and student performance. As a first-generation student and native of Hong Kong, Dr. Li has a passion for serving learners of all ages and all social, cultural, and economic backgrounds, and ensures UNO Mavericks have the resources and support they need to be successful as students and professionals to increase their social and economic mobility. Prior to joining UNO, Dr. Li served as dean of the Florida International University (FIU) College of Business and dean of the College of Business at Wright State University (WSU). She is a member of CNBC’s Financial Wellness Council; a member of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) Global Network Americas Advisory Board; and a founding member of the International Advisory Council of the Lisbon School of Economics and Management in Portugal. She is also a founding member of Women in Business Education. Dr. Li holds bachelor and doctoral degrees in finance from Florida State University.
Dr. Robert Martin
President, Institute of American Indian Arts
Dr. Robert Martin became President of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) on July 1, 2007. He has led the development of a comprehensive strategic plan and a campus facilities master plan resulting in academic program expansion, growth in student enrollment, construction of four new buildings on campus and the launch of a successful capital campaign. Prior to joining the IAIA community, Dr. Martin was the Associate Head for the American Indian Studies program at the University of Arizona. He also served as President of Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque for eight years and president of Haskell Indian Nations University for ten years. Under his guidance, Haskell made the transition from junior college to a university offering baccalaureate programs. In addition, he served as the President of Tohono O’odham Community College (TOCC) in Sells, Arizona. During his tenure, TOCC achieved accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission and was designated as a 1994 Land Grant Institution by the U.S. Congress. Dr. Martin is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and received his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Kansas and his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Appalachian State University.
Dr. Katricia Pierson
President, Crowder College
Dr. Katricia Pierson became president of Crowder College on January 3, 2022. Crowder College, founded in 1963, is a comprehensive community college situated in the beautiful Ozark region of southwest Missouri. Prior to joining Crowder, she served East Central University as president, the first woman appointed to the position in the 100-plus years of the institution, as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs and as the assistant vice president for Academic Affairs. At ECU Pierson oversaw the groundbreaking of a new residence hall, launched fourteen online programs, obtained several new grants and implemented new academic programs. She is a proud citizen of the Choctaw Nation. Pierson earned both her doctorate (2004) and master’s degree (1998) in English from the University of Arkansas and obtained her bachelor’s degree in Journalism and English Secondary Education from the University of Wyoming in 1988.
Dr. Bill Pink
President, Ferris State University
Dr. Bill Pink became the 19th president of Ferris State University in July 2022 and is the first African-American appointed to the position since the University’s founding in 1884. An active educator and leader at the national and local level for more than 30 years, he strongly believes in the power of an education, in providing opportunity and furthering the University’s commitment to ensuring the success of all students. Prior to Ferris State University, Dr. Pink served as president of Grand Rapids Community College and was vice president for academic affairs at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City Campus. In West Michigan, he serves on the boards of Spectrum Health West Michigan, the Heart of West Michigan United Way, and The Right Place. Dr. Pink is also involved in governance and policy development at regional and national levels. He was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation executive committee and also serves on the American Council on Education board of directors, working with leaders from across the nation to shape public policy and to help more students gain a quality education. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Oklahoma in Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum, a Master of Education in Physical Education and Secondary Education from the University of Central Oklahoma, and a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Professional Education from Oklahoma Christian University.
Dr. Henry L. Smith
Professor of Communication, Indiana Wesleyan University
Dr. Henry L. Smith is Professor of Communication at Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) after serving seven years as President there. He has returned to his “first love” and teaches a variety of graduate and undergraduate communication courses, primarily in the online delivery modality. In addition, he coordinates IWU's Communication Department offering an online Communication program in the College of Adult and Professional Studies. As part of his IWU assignment, he assists The Wesleyan Church with international college development and has led academic leadership Institutes in Johannesburg, South Africa; Brisbane, Australia; and Panama City, Panama. Over his more than 40 years in higher education he has served as department chair, director of broadcasting, graduate dean, provost, and past president and chancellor at Indiana Wesleyan University. He has served on the boards of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), and for Ashland University. As a former President, he participated in the mentoring program for new presidents for the CCCU. For 21 years Dr. Smith was an active peer reviewer and team chair for the Higher Learning Commission and has completed visits every year, including international reviews in Ecuador and Thailand. He led Indiana Wesleyan University during rapid growth, and has consulted at several universities regarding issues in higher education in areas such as enrollment growth strategies. As the son of a minister, Dr. Smith completed a degree at God’s Bible College, then earned a second undergraduate degree and Master’s in Communication at the University of Cincinnati and completed the Ph.D. at The Ohio State University.
