Leading Edge: Navigating Interim Roles in Higher Education: Challenges, Opportunities, and Best Practices
Interim positions in higher education are increasingly common as institutions navigate leadership transitions, strategic changes, and unforeseen challenges. But what does it take to succeed in an interim role, and how can institutions maximize the potential of these temporary arrangements?
Join us for a dynamic panel discussion featuring experienced leaders who have navigated interim roles. The conversation will explore:
- The unique challenges and opportunities that interim leaders face
Whether you’re considering an interim role or are tasked with overseeing one, this session will provide valuable takeaways for both individuals and institutions to enhance the effectiveness of interim appointments. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the experts and engage in thoughtful dialogue on this timely topic.
Dr. Robyn Parker, Interim President, Saybrook University
Robyn Parker, Ph.D. has extensive administrative and instructional experience in higher education. She earned the rank of full professor with tenure and later served as Dean, Director of Instruction, and ultimately Provost at large and regional publics as well as private religious and secular institutions with varied missions and contexts. She currently serves as Interim President at Saybrook University.
Throughout her career, within each institution, she has been a leader in change facilitation, both incremental and transformative. A systems thinker, Robyn has facilitated the design and implementation of restructuring strategies that have reduced costs and streamlined processes while creating and implementing innovative new programs and learning environments.
Dr. Parker’s Ph.D. is in Organizational Communication. Her master’s is in Human Resource Development. Her early research focused on building and maintaining relationships among remote workers and teams; later, it examined building effective online teaching and learning environments. Robyn’s expertise lies in guiding others in becoming transformational leaders.
Our Panelists:
Mike Frantz spent 29 years behind the desk at three different universities in nearly every role possible with admissions. The last twenty of those years he was the chief enrollment officer. In addition, he was the interim chief enrollment officer at six different colleges/universities and has been a consultant for 23 others on enrollment related matters. He served on accreditation teams for six institutions. Currently, he spends his time volunteering in service to others.
Dr. Melinda Leonardo was appointed Director of Interim Search at AGB Search in January 2020. She leads the interim division in its continued growth serving institutions across sectors in the placement of senior leaders during periods of transition. In addition to her work with the interim division, Dr. Leonardo has over 20 years of experience in executive search for higher education assisting colleges and universities in a broad array of searches, including presidential, vice-presidential, and dean level searches. She continues to coordinate AGB Search’s new consultant orientation for a growing team of over 50 consultants and she has been certified and serves as one of the firm’s behavioral assessment analysts.
Dr. Stacy Sweeney is an accomplished and transformational leader. Dr. Sweeney has dedicated her career to improving higher education outcomes and successfully guiding institutions through periods of tremendous growth and change. Dr. Sweeney is known for providing cross-functional leadership and implementing innovative initiatives for institutions, whereby new revenue streams and efficiencies have been realized.
In her most recent role, Dr. Sweeney served as Senior Vice-President of Academic Operations at Core Education during its start-up phase, providing services and strategies to drive new program and partnership growth for clients. Prior to joining Core Education, Dr. Sweeney served as Interim Vice-President of Academic Administration & Enrollment at Bay Path University, where she was recognized for fostering trust and collegiality while developing leaders at all levels to advance the institutional mission and enhance graduate success.
Dr. Sweeney’s previous roles include President of Bay State College in Boston, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), in addition to executive level positions at DeVry University and The Art Institutes, where she led successful turnarounds and start-ups. During her tenure as CAO at SNHU, Dr. Sweeney successfully built infrastructure in various university services departments (traditional campus, online and the College for America) supporting the early years of SNHU’s exponential growth and innovative culture.
Additionally, Dr. Sweeney has served as a Commissioner for the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE) and as team chair for multiple NECHE evaluation visits, both domestic and international.
Dr. Sweeney earned her Doctorate in Higher Education Management (Ed.D.) from the University of Pennsylvania. Her dissertation topic, How Innovative Strategies Can Impact Fiscal Strength: Supporting a Culture of Innovation at Small Colleges, is a potential best practices list for small colleges interested in using innovative strategies to become financially sustainable while improving the student experience. Dr. Sweeney holds a Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership from Antioch University, McGregor and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications & Rhetoric from the University of Pittsburgh.
Dedicated to serving her community, Dr. Sweeney has been a long time Board Member for the Boston Center for the Arts and an advisory member and supporter of the Massachusetts General Hospital’s (MGH) Depression Clinical and Research Program (DCRP). Additionally, Dr. Sweeney currently serves on the Governing Board for Les Roches Global Hospitality Education in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
Dr. Amber L. Ferris is a professor and Interim Director for the School of Communication at the University of Akron. She has served in the interim role for seven months.