Hired
Mike Sosulski – Lake Forest College (Ill.)
The Lake Forest College Board of Trustees has appointed Mike Sosulski as the college’s 15th president. He most recently led Washington College in Maryland.
At Washington College, Sosulski secured $125 million in fundraising and helped complete a $20 million first-year housing renovation, according to Lake Forest.
He begins on August 15.
Alan Smith – Gadsden State Community College (Ala.) 
Gadsden State Community College Interim President Alan Smith has been promoted to permanent leader beginning in August.
Smith joined Gadsden as an adjunct instructor in 2017 before becoming the dean of workforce development in 2019. He then went on to become the vice president of capital projects in 2024.
Smith also has experience leading in the private sector, owning and operating construction and cabinet-making companies.
Johnny M. Moore – Rust College (Miss.)
Johnny Moore will become the next leader of Rust College, a private HBCU in Mississippi operating for over 130 years.
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Moore previously served as chancellor of Arkansas State University-Newport, where he helped increase enrollment and completion rates. He also expanded academic offerings in high-demand fields, such as data science and analytics.
Moore officially begins Aug. 11, the first day of classes of the fall semester.
Maureen Geary – Aquinas College (Mich.)
Aquinas College has elevated Maureen Geary to a permanent role as president of Aquinas College.
Prior to her interim appointment as president beginning in April, Geary served in multiple positions across the private Catholic liberal arts college, including assistant professor, vice president of finance and trustee.
“The unanimous decision to elect Sr. Maureen to lead Aquinas reflects our firm belief that she is the leader we need at this pivotal moment of both tremendous possibility and unique challenge,” said board chair John Lowery. “She brings with her a skill set that is deeply valued and clearly visible in every interaction she has.
Sinda K. Vanderpool – University of St. Thomas (Texas)
University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, has found a new leader in Sinda K. Vanderpool, the first woman to lead the 77-year-old institution.
Vanderpool joins St. Thomas from Calgary, Canada, where she led St. Mary’s University as its president, increasing enrollment and nearly doubling the endowment. She began her career in higher education at Baylor University, where she served for 18 years until ultimately becoming associate vice provost for student success.
As vice provost, Vanderpool spearheaded original programs supporting first-generation, low-income and underrepresented students.
Muddassir Siddiqi – College of DuPage (Ill.)
The College of DuPage has chosen Muddassir Siddiqi as its next president.
A proven higher education leader, Siddiqi has served as president and as interim president at Central College in Texas and Morton College in Illinois.
He is currently the vice chancellor of instructional technology and digital innovation for the Houston Community College System, focusing on implementing AI and learning technologies and curricular reform.
Retired
Ed Klonoski – Charter Oak State College (Conn.)
Ed Klonoski, the 18-year president of the Connecticut state system’s only online college, announced he will retire in June 2026.
Klonoski joined Charter Oak State College in 1997 as the first director of technology and was appointed president in 2008. The institution has since expanded by 20 undergraduate majors and four graduate programs.
Recently, Klonoski helped spearhead an innovative workforce program providing free training for entry-level healthcare jobs to unemployed and underemployed workers. Charter Oak has also opened an AI academy in partnership with Google to introduce state residents to generative AI.
Sheila Quirk-Bailey – Illinois Central College
Sheila Quirk-Bailey will be retiring from Illinois Central College at the end of the calendar year, capping a nine-year career at the institution and 40 years in higher education.
Quirk-Bailey advocated for stronger experiential and employment training opportunities for students. Illinois Central’s Workforce Empowerment Initiative addressed high-demand careers for low-income individuals, creating programs in construction, health science and information technology. The program has lifted more than 1,200 people out of poverty, 25 News Now reports.
Stepping down
Richard Yao – California State University Channel Islands
Richard Yao, president of California State University Channel Islands, will be stepping down beginning in August to lead a philanthropic foundation.
Yao helped CSU Channel Islands increase its foundation’s assets from $26 million to over $90 million, KCLU reports. Continuing student retention has also increased by 5%.
“It has been the greatest honor of my professional life to serve as president of CSUCI,” said Yao. “This campus has demonstrated remarkable strength and resilience through an era of unprecedented challenges.
