Profiles

Marjorie Hass became president of the Council of Independent Colleges in 2021, after years of strengthening independent higher education in various leadership roles. From 2017 until her appointment to the CIC presidency, Hass served as president of Rhodes College. During that time, she expanded the college’s engagement with the city of Memphis, enhanced inclusive excellence, […]

Stephen Gibson joined CIC in 2001 and serves as director of programs. He oversees a wide range of projects, including the Presidents Governance Academy and seminars on Art History and Teaching Interfaith Understanding. Before joining CIC, he worked for many years as a bicycle messenger during which time he cofounded a zine called Mobile City […]

​Alonso De Los Rios joined CIC in 2022 and is the conference coordinator. He is responsible for the event registration process, logistics management, and providing client service for each CIC event. Previously, he worked for Strayer University as a faculty support & business development coordinator, as well as a logistics and finance associate for the […]

Allison Barkley joined CIC in 2022 and is the communication operations specialist. In this role, she drafts, edits, and manages correspondence, reports and newsletters, social media and website posts, and other communications on behalf of CIC. Before joining CIC, Barkley worked as a development coordinator in the Office of Principal Gifts at Johns Hopkins University, […]

Allison Blackburn joined CIC in 2005. As vice president for conferences, her responsibilities include contract negotiations and logistical management of CIC’s conferences. Prior to joining CIC, Blackburn served as manager of conferences and meetings for the International Life Sciences Institute with responsibility for managing multiple international conferences each year. A native of Trinidad and Tobago, […]

Sarah Ferguson is the vice president for strategic initiatives and partnerships at Texas Lutheran University. In this role, she leads the academic endeavors of the university, including all academic programs, the library, the registrar, and the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness. She also works closely with faculty, program directors, and department chairs to implement […]

Tynisha D. Willingham joined Eastern Mennonite University (VA) as provost and vice president of academic affairs in 2023. She has more than 20 years of experience in academia as a staff member, a faculty member, and an administrator. Most recently, Willingham served as vice president of academic affairs, chief academic officer, and professor of education […]

Monique Taylor is the provost and chief academic officer at Champlain College (VT). She previously spent 18 years working in international higher education with teaching and administrative positions in Mexico, China, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and the West Bank. Earlier in her career, Taylor was a liberal arts professor in Los Angeles and held […]

​Constance Rogers Lowery is the senior vice president and provost at Catawba College in Salisbury, NC. In her role as the chief academic officer, Lowery provides leadership for academic programming and student success services at Catawba. As a faculty member and an administrator, Lowery has 15 years of experience in academia, serving as department chair, […]

Jeff Rutenbeck, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Arcadia University (PA), oversees all aspects of academic and student affairs. He has extensive experience with strategic planning and finance, program development, stakeholder engagement, fundraising, external partnership cultivation, and transformative inclusion. Previously, Rutenbeck served as the dean of the school of communication at American […]