Academic Dean

Rafael Castilla is the executive vice president and provost of Eastwick College, a New Jersey career-oriented institution offering certificates and degrees in health care, technology, and business. Dr. Castilla oversees strategic planning, program development, institutional and programmatic assessment, and institutional compliance at the state, programmatic accreditation, institutional accreditation, and federal levels.

Dr. Castilla began his career at Eastwick College 25 years ago as an instructor of medical courses. Seven years later, he joined the administrative staff and rose through the positions of associate dean, dean of academics, corporate director of education, and vice president for academic affairs to his current position. He led the process to convert three independent career schools to Eastwick College and develop a portfolio of associate and bachelor’s degrees, some of which hold programmatic accreditation.

Previously, Dr. Castilla held a private practice in aesthetic medicine in Bogotá, Colombia, where he also taught medical courses, served as the director of an aesthetics certificate program, and organized continuing education courses in aesthetic medicine.

Dr. Castilla is a member of the Academic Issues Committee of the New Jersey Presidents’ Council. As a member of the Academic Quality Subcommittee, he collaborated in drafting regulatory text to implement portions of P.L. 2021, c.27. He is a former commissioner and chair of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools and a former member of the Advisory Council for Rider University’s Executive MBA program.

Dr. Castilla holds an MD degree from the Corpas School of Medicine and an MBA from Rider University. 

Anne Alexander is Vice Provost for Strategic Planning and Initiatives for Academic Affairs at the University of Wyoming. She earned her Ph.D. in Economics at UW, and her Master’s and BBA in Economics from New Mexico State University. Dr. Alexander’s research and teaching focuses on the history of American capitalism, international economics, and health economics. She regularly speaks to statewide audiences and state and national media about the status of the Wyoming, US, and global economies. She produces an annual economic and statewide engagement report on the impacts of the University on the state, and she has authored several publications on the political and economic impacts of transboundary pandemics and the productivity effects of various diseases. Prior to her position in Academic Affairs, she was the Director of International Programs and Associate Dean of Outreach at UW. She has also served as a Resources Economist in the U.S. Department of State, Assistant Dean of the UW College of Business, and Director of the interdisciplinary Health Economics Policy Center at UW. She is an alumni of Leadership Wyoming, Class of 2013.

As the Chancellor of Keiser University, Arthur Keiser. Ph.D., oversees and manages all operations at Keiser’s 21 Florida campuses, three international campuses, two in China and the other in Nicaragua, as well as the graduate and online school. Under Dr. Keiser’s four-plus decades of leadership, Keiser University, a private not-for-profit university, has become Florida’s largest independent university and is regionally accredited as Level VI by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS).

Dr. Keiser earned his doctorate in higher education administration at the Union Institute and University Graduate School, where he wrote his dissertation, “Benchmarking in Private Career Schools: A Preliminary Empirical Investigation in the Establishment of Quantitative Strategic Indicators in this Specialized Postsecondary Education Sector.” As a tireless advocate for students, he has given numerous presentations and published many articles and reports on various subjects related to private career-focused schools and not-for-profit institutions.

Curt Lox, Dean, Brooks College of Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL

Curt was born and raised in Orange County (California).  He completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Riverside, received his master’s degree from Miami (Ohio) University, and earned his doctoral degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  Curt began his career at Northern Illinois University in 1994 before moving on to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1996 where he later served as Dean, Associate Dean, and Coordinator of Grants & Research in the School of Education, Health, and Human Behavior as well as Chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education.  In 2017, he became Dean of the Brooks College of Health at the University of North Florida.  His research has centered broadly on the psychosocial benefits of physical activity for special populations including the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with traumatic brain injury, overweight adults, cardiac rehabilitation patients, and individuals with HIV-1.  He is co-author of The Psychology of Exercise: Integrating Theory and Practice, which is currently in its fifth edition.  Curt has served as a sport psychologist and leadership trainer for athletes and coaches at the interscholastic, intercollegiate

Catherine Wehlburg, Ph.D., currently serves as Interim President and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Athens State University. Prior to this role, she was named Senior Fellow at AAC&U. She also served as Founding Dean for the College of Sciences, Mathematics, and Education at Marymount University. She has served in several different roles in her thirty years of higher education as a tenured full professor, department chair, Associate Dean, Dean, and Associate Provost. In each of these roles, she has focused on assessment of learning, mission, enhancing student learning, and strategic decision making. Dr. Wehlburg has published many articles, books, and chapters and has always had a focus on educating the whole student as the essential role in higher education. She has been recognized for her work in student learning outcomes assessment by being elected president of the Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education (AALHE) and received their Outstanding Achievement Award. Her leadership has been called innovative and inclusive as she seeks to engage others in the ongoing discussions surrounding access and success for all. Dr. Wehlburg received her Ph.D. from the University of Florida in Educational Psychology.  

Born in Pittsburgh, Stephen Maynard Caliendo grew up in a Western Pennsylvania exurb and later attended Clarion University, as a first-generation college student, to study English literature and political science. He earned Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in political science from Purdue University and has taught at the University of Missouri—St. Louis and Avila University (Kansas City, Missouri). He is currently dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of political science at North Central College (Naperville, Illinois).

With Charlton D. McIlwain (New York University), Caliendo is co-author of Race Appeal (Temple University Press, 2011) and co-editor the Routledge Companion to Race and Ethnicity, which is now in its second edition (2022). They have co-authored articles in The Harvard International Journal of Press/Politics, The Journal of Black Studies, and American Behavioral Scientist and entries to a number of edited volumes and specialized encyclopedias.

On his own, Caliendo is the author of Teachers Matter: The Trouble with Leaving Political Education to the Coaches (Praeger 2000), in which he examines the effects of political socialization on attitudes toward American political institutions. His textbook, Inequality in America: Race, Poverty, and Fulfilling Democracy’s Promise (Routledge) is now available in its third edition (2022). He has authored or co-authored dozens of papers presented at national and regional professional conferences and is often called upon to provide analysis for print media stories and to appear on radio and television programs to lend his expertise to national, state and local political issues.

Caliendo has been honored with numerous awards, including the American Political Science Association’s Ralph Bunche Award for Race Appeal (shared with Charlton D. McIlwain), Purdue University’s “Emerging Voice” (alumni) Award (2010), and awards for teaching (2007), research (2011), and service (2009) at North Central College. He was named Professor of the Year at Avila University in 2002. He lives in Chicago with his wife, Jillian, and is the proud father of Amelia, Gianni, and Stella.

Steven Bloomberg serves as President at Southeast Arkansas College (SEARK). He began his tenure on January 3, 2018. Among other accomplishments, under President Bloomberg’s leadership, the College has opened a new campus Food Pantry and Career Closet, developed a new five-year strategic plan, lowered the cost of attendance through a textbook agreement with Cengage Unlimited, opened a new Health and Wellness Facility, SEARK@Seabrook, launched a new strategic marketing plan with the tagline “Make Your Mark at SEARK”, and debuted a new website. 

In less than two years, President Bloomberg has raised over $11 million to support the construction of a new student center/classroom learning complex and 316 units of student housing. Most recently, SEARK became one of the first community colleges in the State of Arkansas to develop a two-year degree program in Cyber Security. 

Prior to his tenure at SEARK, President Bloomberg was most recently the Executive Vice President at Oklahoma City Community College. He is also a certified economic developer and served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Borger, Texas Economic Development Corporation. President Bloomberg has worked for higher education institutions in California, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. 

Jeff W. Coker, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of history at Shenandoah University (Winchester, Virginia), is a thought leader in higher education with more than twenty years of administrative leadership experience at multiple universities, including private and public institutions. Holding degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and Ohio University, Coker is the author of books and articles in the fields of American politics, culture, and social thought.  He has served as a mentor of students throughout his career, overseeing undergraduate research initiatives, serving on graduate student thesis committees, and traveling abroad with students. He has served as a grant reviewer for the National Endowment for the Humanities, as a consultant for the College Board, and has experience in university accreditation. The U.S. Department of State has tapped Jeff on several occasions to speak internationally on American history and culture and also on trends in higher education.  

Clay Christensen has been the President at Mountainland Technical College since 2006.  He has responsibility for day to day operations of the multiple campuses in the three county service region and delivery of occupational programs that meet the needs of business and industry.  

Prior to his employment at MTECH he was the Director of Career & Technical Education for Alpine School District.  He had direct supervisory responsibility for Career and Technical Education and Comprehensive Guidance programs, instructors, financial management, and operating budgets.  

Previous assignments include Agriculture Specialist at the Utah State Office of Education with direct supervision and responsibility over secondary and post-secondary agriculture programs.  He also served as the Utah FFA and Young Farmers Educational Association State Advisor.  In addition, he had assignments with coordination of Career & Technical Education and Special Education, Post-Secondary and Technical Colleges.  

He started his educational career as a high school agriculture/welding instructor at Lehi and Uintah High Schools. He has worked in education for over 40 years.  He lives with his wife Lori in Genola and they have three married children, three granddaughters and one grandson.

Dr. Kellie Bean has more than 25 years of experience as an educator and senior academic administrator serving small, non-profit, mission-driven institutions, including Marshall University, Northern Vermont University, Hartwick College, and more. Kellie began her career as Professor of English, at schools like these.

She was the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost for Rio Grande University/Rio Grande Community College from Fall 2021 to Fall 2022 and has recently moved on to her next assignment. Dr. Bean has dedicated her career to increasing access to higher education for traditionally underserved populations. Kellie has worked with institutions on a range of initiatives related to student success, faculty development and support, operational fitness and improvement, strategic curricular planning, workforce development, program creation and implementation.  

She received a PhD in English Literature and Cultural/Feminist Theory from the University of Delaware; a Master of Arts in English as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from The Ohio State University.