Profiles

Heather Moore Roberson serves as the dean of inclusive excellence at Allegheny College (PA). Roberson is an award-winning leader, teacher, and researcher who advances initiatives related to race, equity, and justice in higher education. She has published articles on diversity, equity, and inclusion and facilitated presentations on culturally relevant leadership for CIC and Leadership in […]

Gregor Thuswaldner is provost and dean of the faculty at La Roche University (PA), where he oversees both academic affairs and student life. Previously, he was provost and executive vice president at Whitworth University (WA). Gregor has published nine books, including The Chief Academic Officer’s Handbook: A Provost’s Guide to Visionary Leadership (Johns Hopkins, 2025) […]

Susan Larson is the provost and dean of Concordia College (MN). She previously served Concordia as division chair for the sciences and mathematics and as director of undergraduate research and student scholarship. Larson joined Concordia’s faculty in 1998 and taught psychology and neuroscience courses, many of which engaged students in undergraduate research through course-embedded research […]

Roberta Morehouse joined CIC in 2024 as the conference and program manager. In this role, she coordinates logistical details and manages registration for the annual Institute for Chief Academic Officers, Presidents Institute, and the biennial Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) Conference. Additionally, Morehouse supports CIC’s annual series of Department and Division Chair Workshops […]

Erica Prosper Nirenberg is senior director of customer insights at H-E-B and is the first lady of San Antonio, Texas. She co-founded and was the 2016 Chair of the Latina Leadership Institute and has led the creation of multiple education programming, youth entrepreneurship programming, and women’s economic development white papers with Rai$ing Texas, the SABER […]

Christon G. Arthur is president at La Sierra University (CA). Prior to his presidency, he served as provost and chief academic officer at Andrews University (MI). His professional experience includes serving as dean of the school of graduate studies and research at Andrews and as professor of educational administration and associate dean of the college […]

Cynthia Alby joined Georgia College in 2001, where she is a professor of teacher education and faculty director of GC Journeys. She works extensively with the Center for Teaching and Learning and is also the lead lecturer for Georgia College’s “Governor’s Teaching Fellows,” a faculty development program with which she has worked since 2001. Alby […]

Shirley V. Hoogstra is president emerita of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), an educational association representing over 185 colleges and universities around the world. She is a regular speaker at conferences and campuses across the country, speaking on and for Christian higher education, and has been quoted in The Washington Post, The […]

Kristen Shahverdian is the program director for campus free speech at PEN America, a nonprofit organization focusing on the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. Before PEN America, Shahverdian was a senior lecturer at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and was an adjunct […]

Tony Banout is the inaugural executive director of the University of Chicago’s Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression. Prior to his role at the University of Chicago, Banout served as senior vice president and before that vice president of institutional advancement at Interfaith America. A lifelong advocate for ideological diversity and inclusion in academia, Banout […]