- About Us
- Leadership Team
Setting Our Direction on the Right Path
Rasmussen University is guided by a carefully curated group with extensive and diverse institutional experience. The Board of Directors is responsible for governing Rasmussen University. The Academic Council advises the President, Chief Academic Officer and Chairman of the Board on academic decisions. These teams bring their academic experiences and perspectives to the institution and set a balanced, progressive vision for Rasmussen University.
For more information on ownership, view the full Statement of Ownership.
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Board of Directors

Dr. Henry S. Bienen
- Chairman, Public Member
- Education: University of Chicago, MA, PhD; Cornell University, BA with Honors
Dr. Bienen is the President Emeritus of Northwestern University and is a Presidential Counselor at Cornell University. He was Dean of Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor. Dr. Bienen was awarded an honorary degree from Northwestern University and has received a Carnegie Corporation Academic Leadership Award for innovative leadership in higher education. He is the author and editor of 18 books and numerous articles.

Dr. Kenneth L. Ender
- Director, Public Member
- Education: Virginia Commonwealth University, PhD in Urban Services Leadership; University of Georgia, Master’s degree in Education; Virginia Commonwealth University, Bachelor’s degree in Business Management
Dr. Ender became Harper College’s fifth President after serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of Cumberland County College in Vineland, New Jersey, for 11 years. Over the past 30 years, he has held a variety of positions in higher education, including Vice President for Academic Affairs, Interim District Dean, Associate Vice President for Administrative Services, Director of Student Activities and Director of Student Advising. Dr. Ender also has teaching experience and has written for numerous publications.

Atif Gilani
- Renovus Capital Partners, Founding Partner
- Education: University of Pennsylvania, Jerome Fisher Management & Technology Program – BS, Economics, and BAS, Computer Science Engineering
Mr. Gilani is a founding partner of Renovus Capital Partners. Previously, Mr. Gilani was a Managing Director at Leeds Equity Partners, an education focused private equity firm. Mr. Gilani began his career with Merrill Lynch in its Mergers & Acquisition Department.

Sharon Thomas Parrott
- Director, Public Member
- Education: University of Illinois, BA, MA
Ms. Thomas Parrott is a retired Senior Vice President of External Relations and Global Responsibility of DeVry Education Group (Adtalem), where she was responsible for regulatory compliance, government relations and charitable giving program. Previously, Ms. Thomas Parrott worked at the U.S. Department of Education and held faculty and administration positions at several Illinois colleges and universities. She began her career as a Chicago public school teacher and has served on boards and commissions for the State of Illinois, One Goal and the College Board.

Matthew Yale
- Director, Public Member
- Education: Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, MBA; Northwestern University, BA
Mr. Yale is one of the senior members of Tusk Ventures/Strategies where he oversees regulatory affairs. Previously, he was the senior vice president of global communications and public affairs at Laureate Education, Inc. Before joining Laureate, Matthew served as deputy chief of staff for U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. In this capacity, he was a senior advisor to the Secretary on policy and strategic planning and was the Department lead on a number of critical inter-agency initiatives, such as the H1N1 flu response. Before joining the Obama Administration, Matthew worked at Ariel Investments where he directed the firm’s civic, governmental and political affairs.
Academic Advisory Council
Dr. Debra Albert is the Chief Nursing Officer and Sr. Vice President of Patient Care Services at NYU Langone Health, where she oversees approximately 8,000 nurses across the organization. Dr. Albert graduated from the revered Johnson & Johnson Wharton Fellows Program in 2010 and began her career at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic Health System. As Chief Nursing Officer of the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus, Dr. Albert elevated the nursing-related patient experience and led a $4.7 million capital-improvement campaign. She also served as CNO at the University of Chicago Medicine where she led the team to Magnet designation, the highest recognition of nursing excellence, and was the operational leader in the opening of a new Level 1 trauma center.
Education: Rush University, DNP; Cleveland State University, MBA; University of Akron, BSN, MSN
Dr. Bienen is the President Emeritus of Northwestern University and is a Presidential Counselor at Cornell University. He was Dean of Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor. Dr. Bienen was awarded an honorary degree from Northwestern University and has received a Carnegie Corporation Academic Leadership Award for innovative leadership in higher education. He is the author and editor of 18 books and numerous articles.
Education: University of Chicago, MA, PhD; Cornell University, BA with Honors
The purpose of Hunter Global Education is to use Dr. Carroll’s 15+ years of experience in China and Vietnam to bridge educational gaps between American and Asian educational institutions and businesses. As the 10th president of Benedictine University from July 1995 to August 2015, he helped the university become one of the fastest-growing not-for-profit, Doctorate-granting institutions. Dr. Carroll is an active leader in the community, serves on many boards and has received numerous awards for his leadership in higher education.
Education: Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Philosophy; University of Scranton, Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy
Dr. Clawson has 20 years of experience leading higher education reform for traditional and for-profit universities as well as broad experience across philanthropic and national reform initiatives. Clawson is National Director of the Student Success Center Network for Jobs for the Future’s Postsecondary State Policy team. Prior to that, she was Senior Program Officer with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She began her career at Arizona State and the University of Minnesota overseeing educational technology initiatives and grants.
Education: Capella University, Doctor of Education in Instructional Design and Technology; Arizona State University, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education
Over the past 13 years, Ms. Daninhirsch has served Academic Affairs in a variety of roles including Dean, Regional Dean and, most recently, as the Vice President of Learning and Teaching. Ms. Daninhirsch began her career in psychology working with an undergraduate student population. She has co‐presented at national conferences on topics ranging from online teaching presence to Rasmussen University’s faculty performance evaluation system, as well as co‐authored publications related to the impact of technology on life care planning, vocational outcomes after brain injury and experimental training in group counseling. Carrie is currently enrolled in a doctoral program where she is pursuing an EdD in Leadership and Higher Education.
Education: Lesley University, MA in Counseling Psychology; Northeastern University, BA in Psychology
Dr. Ender became Harper College’s fifth President after serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of Cumberland County College in Vineland, New Jersey, for 11 years. Over the past 30 years, he has held a variety of positions in higher education, including Vice President for Academic Affairs, Interim District Dean, Associate Vice President for Administrative Services, Director of Student Activities and Director of Student Advising. Dr. Ender also has teaching experience and has written for numerous publications.
Education: Virginia Commonwealth University, PhD in Urban Services Leadership; University of Georgia, Master’s degree in Education; Virginia Commonwealth University, Bachelor’s degree in Business Management
Ms. Thomas Parrott is a retired Senior Vice President of External Relations and Global Responsibility of DeVry Education Group (Adtalem), where she was responsible for regulatory compliance, government relations and charitable giving program. Previously, Ms. Thomas Parrott worked at the U.S. Department of Education and held faculty and administration positions at several Illinois colleges and universities. She began her career as a Chicago public school teacher and has served on boards and commissions for the State of Illinois, One Goal and the College Board.
Education: University of Illinois, BA, MA
General Administration
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Interim President
Dr. Ann Leja, DNP
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Interim Chief Academic Officer
Carrie Daninhirsch, MS
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Chief Executive Officer
Tom Slagle, BS
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Chief Financial Officer
Kevin Delano, MBA
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Chief Enrollment Management Officer
Don DeVito, MBA
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Chief Information Officer
Rich DeJong, BA
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Senior Vice President of External and University Relations
Tawnie Cortez, BA
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Vice President of Human Capital
Anita Wilson, JD
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Vice President and Executive Director of Nursing
Dr. John Smith-Coppes, EdD
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Vice President of Nursing
Dr. Joan Rich, DNP
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Assistant Vice President of Student Financial Aid
Catherine Breuer, MFA
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University Registrar
Juliana Klocek, MBA
Academic Administration
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Interim Assistant Vice President Learning and Teaching
Kailyn Hauck, MS
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Assistant Vice President of the Institutional Research and Assessment
Dr. Matthew Segaard, PhD
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Assistant Vice President of Academic Innovation
Brooks Doherty, MA
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Assistant Vice President of Undergraduate Education
Jennifer Ayotte, MS
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Dean of Graduate Education
Dr. Joy Henrich, EdD
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Department Dean of Schools of Business and General Education
Jennifer Moorhead, MBA
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Department Dean of School of Design
Jennifer Ayotte, MS
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Department Dean of Social Services
Dr. Rikkisha Gilmore-Byrd, DrPH
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Department Dean of Health Sciences
Linda Kennedy, MBA
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Department Dean of School of Technology
Rodney Crater, MS
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Dean of Library and Learning Services
Jon Mladic, MA
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South Central Regional Dean of Academic Affairs
Dr. Lynne Croteau, EdD
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Interim Northern Regional Dean of Academic Affairs
Dr. Robert Neuteboom, PhD; Jenn Endries, MS
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Senior Dean of Nursing
Dr. Georgia Vest, DNP
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South Central Regional Dean of Nursing
Dr. Kelly McCullough, DNP
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Northern Regional Dean of Nursing
Dr. Alexandra Torres, DNP
Enrollment Management
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Vice President of Admissions and Student Experience
Dwayne Bertotto, BS
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Vice President, Campus Operations and Student Services
Eric Whitehouse, MPA
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Assistant Vice President of Admissions
Chris Phillips, BA
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Assistant Vice President, Campus Operations and Student Services
Lamont Allen, BA
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Regional Admissions Vice President
Lisa Riley, MBA
Campus Deans
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Academic Dean of Bachelor Completer Services
Jamie Kahon, DC
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Academic Dean, Bloomington/Blaine
Tracy Tepley, MS
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Academic Dean, Brooklyn Park
April Ray, MA
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Academic Dean, Eagan/Lake Elmo
Andy LaMere, MA
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Academic Dean, Fargo/Moorhead
Robert Neuteboom, MA
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Academic Dean, Fort Myers
Dr. Tracie Steed, DC
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Academic Dean, Green Bay
Jenn Endries, MS
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Academic Dean, Land O' Lakes/New Port Richey
Brenda Garcia, MA
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Academic Dean, Mankato
Donna Wenkel, MS
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Academic Dean, Mokena/Aurora
Julie Lawrence, MEd
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Academic Dean, National Online
Donna Wenkel, MS
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Academic Dean, Ocala
Laurie Harmon, MBA
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Academic Dean, Rockford
Dr. Caroline Gulbrandsen, EdD
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Academic Dean, Romeoville/Joliet
Andy Binanti, MS
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Academic Dean, St. Cloud
Laurie Larson, MA
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Academic Dean, Tampa/Brandon
Lynette Barcewicz, MEd
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Academic Dean, Topeka/Overland Park
Dr. Etta Steed, DM
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Academic Dean, Wausau
Jamie Kahon, DC