October 9, 2026
Accomplished academic leader and Champlain College Provost brings extensive global perspective and deep commitment to independent higher education.
The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) announced today that Monique M. Taylor, provost and chief academic officer at Champlain College (VT), has been appointed as the organization’s next vice president for programs, effective January 1, 2027.
Taylor emerged as the top choice following an extensive national search that drew an exceptionally competitive pool of higher education leaders. In her new role, she will lead the development and execution of CIC’s robust portfolio of academic initiatives, leadership development institutes, and member-focused programming serving more than 700 nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils of independent colleges, and other higher education organizations.
Taylor brings more than three decades of distinguished higher education experience as a senior administrator, faculty leader, and scholar. Since 2021, she has served as a leader and professor at CIC member institution Champlain College, where she championed innovative interdisciplinary curricula, faculty development, inclusive excellence, and strategic institutional partnerships.
Prior to Champlain, Taylor held multiple senior international leadership positions. She has spent time in the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia, where she was campus dean and executive director of New York Institute of Technology’s programs in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and Nanjing, China; assistant provost for academic affairs at the Mexico City campus of Alliant International University (MX); and a visiting lecturer at Al Quds University.
She also held roles of increasing responsibility at CIC member institution Occidental College (CA), where she served as associate professor and chair of the Department of Sociology and was a teaching fellow at Harvard University (MA). Taylor is currently an appointed member of the board of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), serving on the finance and audit committees.
“In a large and talented applicant pool—one of the strongest I have ever seen—Monique stood out for her deep experience, her accomplishments as an academic leader, and her ability to combine vision with tactical execution,” said CIC President Marjorie Hass. “Monique brings courageous, collegial leadership and a remarkable gift for mentoring and collaboration. Having served at CIC institutions as well as universities globally, she understands the diverse needs of our member campuses and brings the exact energy and strategic mindset.”
Taylor is a familiar and active leader within the CIC community. A graduate of CIC’s Presidential Vocation and Institutional Mission program, she has regularly presented and facilitated sessions at the annual Institute for Chief Academic Officers and the Workshops for Department and Division Chairs, served as a mentor to emerging leaders, and currently serves as chair of the Chief Academic Officers Task Force that guides the annual Institute.
“I am honored and excited to join the Council of Independent Colleges at such a pivotal moment for independent higher education,” said Taylor. “CIC plays an indispensable role in strengthening member institutions, developing visionary leaders, and advocating for the distinctive power of liberal arts and career-focused education. I look forward to working closely with President Hass, the talented CIC staff, and colleagues across our member network to foster programs that inspire innovation, inclusivity, and long-term institutional vitality.”
“Dr. Taylor’s appointment is a testament to both her extraordinary talents and the innovative work she spearheaded at Champlain College,” said Alex Hernandez, president of Champlain College. “She was instrumental in advancing our new academic model that is experiential, flexible, and focused on preparing students for success in a rapidly changing world. It’s no surprise that an organization dedicated to advancing independent higher education would look to someone who played such a central role in driving that work. While we will miss her greatly, I am thrilled that she will bring her vision and leadership to institutions across the country.”
Taylor holds a PhD and an MA in sociology from Harvard University and a BA in sociology from Yale University (CT). She is also the author of Harlem Between Heaven and Hell (University of Minnesota Press).
Taylor will succeed Titi Ufomata, who will retire from CIC this December after five years of impactful leadership as senior vice president for academic programs.
“We are deeply grateful to Titi for her extraordinary leadership, dedication, and lasting contributions to CIC and our member institutions,” added Hass. “As Titi prepares to conclude her tenure this December to launch her own higher education consulting practice, she leaves an indelible mark on our community. We wish her the very best in this exciting next chapter and know that our programs will transition smoothly from strength to strength.”
About CIC
The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is a membership organization of more than 700 nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils of independent colleges, and other higher education organizations. CIC works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education contributions to society.