Hired
Gina Spivey-Brown – Oakwood University (Ala.)
Oakwood University has hired Gina Spivey-Brown, the first female president of the 129-year-old institution. Spivey-Brown most recently served as dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health Science at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
She begins on July 1.
Helen Castellanos Brewer – College of the Mainland (Texas)
Helen Castellanos Brewer is the sole finalist for the presidency at The College of the Mainland. Currently the executive vice president for its student affairs department, Brewer has played a key part in helping the Texas-based community college grow its enrollment and expand access to early college programs, according to officials.
Jody Fournier – Baker University (Kan.)
Baker University is tapping Jody Fournier as the 31st president of the oldest college in Kansas.
Fournier has 25 years of academic leadership experience, where he’s led academic programming, student affairs, strategic planning, accreditation and enrollment management. In his most recent position as the provost and vice president of Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, he credit with helping significantly improve student retention, develop new curricula and build key partnerships, according to an announcement.
The incoming president begins July 1.
Retiring
Dwight Fennell – Texas College
Dwight Fennel, president of Texas College since 2008, announced his plans to retire at the end of June 2026.
Under Fennel’s leadership, the HBCU has maintained a balanced budget, increased its endowment from below $1 million to more than $10 million and completed campus renovations totaling $19 million without accruing any outstanding debt, CBS 19 reports.
More from UB: Campus antisemitism falls steeply on a campus targeted by Trump
“Your focus and persistence have helped build this institution honorably and have helped strengthen me in my faith,” Board Chairman Bishop Lawrence Reddick said.
Kevin Pollock – Central Carolina Technical College (S.C.)
Kevin Pollock announced his plans to retire from Central Carolina Technical College at the end of June in a special committee meeting. President since January 2021, Pollock has more than 42 years of education experience at private, public, community and technical colleges and universities.
Stepping down
Kim Schatzel – University of Louisville (Ky.)
Without warning or explanation, University of Louisville President Kim Schatzel has resigned.
Schatzel had left the top post at Towson University in Maryland for the Louisville job and had pledged a long-term commitment, AP News reports.
“The University of Louisville Board of Trustees thanks Dr. Schatzel for her two years of service, which have seen her build a team that has increased enrollment and retention and grown the university’s reputation as a research powerhouse,” said Diane Medley, chair of Louisville’s board of trustees.
The university announced a trio of record-breaking metrics last fall as it set new records for total enrollment, first-year class size and student retention rate.
Gerry Bradley, former executive vice president and provost, has been selected as her permanent replacement, effective immediately. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has since suggested that the university should hire its president after it conducts a national search, WDRB reports.
“I always believe you should do a search,” he said. “You may think you’re the very best person, but you do need to compare them to options.”
Katrina Armstrong – Columbia University (N.Y.)
Katrina Armstrong, the interim president of Columbia, has stepped down and returned as CEO of the Ivy League’s medical center.
Columbia has been embroiled in controversy following protests that erupted across campus during the early stages of the Israel-Hamas war. A heated Congressional hearing focused on rising rates of antisemitism and declining student safety contributed to the resignation of its sitting president last August.
Since Armstrong took the helm, the Trump administration canceled $400 million in federal funds after a joint federal task force investigated Columbia’s handling of campus antisemitism. One of Armstrong’s last decisions as sitting president was agreeing to a host of policy changes as a precondition to restoring the funding.
“Over the last few months, I appreciate having had the opportunity to play a small part in navigating this vast enterprise through some of the most difficult moments in its history,” Armstrong said in a statement. “The world needs Columbia University, and you can be assured that I will do everything I can to tell that story.”
