23 minute read
Rosemont Welcomes New Senior Staff To Leadership Team
“I wish I could meet more people in person,” he said. “I’m looking forward to when it is safe to do so again. At the same time, it has been remarkable to take advantage of this technology to connect with alums and donors all over the country.”
The pandemic has not stopped him from building a sense of community, though. He has started a weekly email called Campus Connections that is sent to students, faculty, staff, family members, and alumni on Mondays; a blog called Presidential Ponderings to explore the issues of our time; and a podcast he cohosts with the Director of Alumni Relations to discuss education and academia, religion and faith, healthcare, and social issues.
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To mark his 100 days in office, he hosted a series of conversations with students, faculty, staff, and alumni via Zoom called “100 Days – A Look Back and Our Way Forward.”
After brief discussions about Rosemont’s reopening plans during the session, he turned his attention to the future.
“We have to talk about COVID-19,” he said. “But I also want to look forward beyond the pandemic to where Rosemont is going.”
To help chart this path for the future, he is busy developing his leadership team. In September, he announced the appointments of three new vice presidents: Yoli Alovor, PhD; Mika Nash, EdD; and Marty Mehringer. Dr. Alovor took office on October 1 as the College’s first Chief of Staff and Vice President of Diversity and Belonging.
He said that the decision to create the new position was informed by the conversations he had with students, faculty, staff, and alumni during his first 100 days in office, and was determined by his own analysis of what changes will drive success at the College.
“The College’s Board of Trustees elected me as President with the full knowledge and understanding I would build on the efforts of the College’s past Presidents and leadership, but that my work would include changing the ways in which Rosemont operates as an organization, investing in its talent and infrastructure, and enhancing its culture. The Board acknowledged in hiring me that enrollment growth and financial stability depend on these changes.”
Dr. Nash, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, and Mr. Mehringer, Vice President of Finance and Administration, also took office on October 1.
“I acknowledge that my decision to bring Mr. Mehringer and Dr. Nash to Rosemont without search processes may be viewed by some as unconventional, and that some of you may question my making this change in senior leadership so soon after my own appointment on June 1. In their selection of me as President, the Board of Trustees chose a leader with a fervent commitment to this institution’s values, and the willingness to take the action required to ensure that its mission will live on. The two are not mutually exclusive. In fact, quite the opposite is true. There is no doubt in my mind that there is promise and possibility at Rosemont College. But, to realize it, we need to be bold.”
In addition, President Boyers has named two new members to the Board of Trustees: Ian Mortimer and Megan Sullivan ’93.
He has also made campus facilities and enhancements a priority during his first few months.
“Curb appeal is important to me,” he said. “We all know Rosemont is a special place, but I also want to make our campus more inviting to our students, their guests, and prospective students and families.”
He secured a pro bono arrangement with MKC Architects of Ohio to conduct a campus Master Plan.
In between Zoom appointments, his favorite part of the day is when he can wander.
“I love to walk this beautiful campus,” he said. “I want to keep a pulse on what’s going on and be able to talk with our students, faculty, and staff – all masked up and safely from a distance, of course. I look forward to all that is to come.”
Every Monday, read President Boyers’ Campus Connections to keep up to date with Rosemont.
What is Two Terms, One Focus?
In Two Terms, One Focus, the semester is divided into two seven-week terms. All courses are “hybrid,” which means they have an online component, including classes taught on campus. This has allowed faculty to combine in-classroom instruction with the state-of-the-art online platform, Canvas, and ensure the best educational experience possible. Contact hour requirements are fulfilled through online delivery and assignments. The spring semester for the Undergraduate College will continue the Two Terms, One Focus format. However, in response to feedback from students and faculty members, select courses will be taught in a 14-week format for the spring semester.
“Faculty have been remarkable in stepping up to the plate and preparing themselves to serve our students,” said Mika Nash, EdD, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs.
Courses in the School of Graduate and Professional Studies will continue to be delivered online for the spring semester.
Fall 2021 will return to a 14-week semester for undergraduate college students.
Campus Enhancements During President Boyers’ First Six Months
● Newly paved roads throughout campus
● Relocation of the Wellness Center from the Chapel to newly renovated space in Alumnae Hall
● New furniture in classrooms and residence halls
● Updated mechanical equipment in the Science Building
● Painting throughout campus buildings
● Installation of a temporary tent on
Connelly Green to create an outdoor gathering place for our community
Rosemont Welcomes New Senior Staff to Leadership Team
President Jayson Boyers announced the appointments of three new senior administrators, Yoli Alovor, PhD, Mika Nash, EdD, and Marty Mehringer, in September. Earlier in the summer, Sr. Margaret Doyle assumed the role of Vice President for Mission upon Sr. Jeanne Marie Hatch’s retirement. But not all senior staff members are new to Rosemont. Christyn Moran ’94, Vice President for College Relations, will soon celebrate her 20th year at Rosemont. Let’s get to know more about each member of the leadership team and what brought them to Rosemont. Senior Staff: Jayson Boyers, EdD President Joined June 1
Yoli Alovor, PhD Chief of Staff and Vice President of Diversity and Belonging Joined October 1
Sr. Margaret Doyle, SHCJ Vice President for Mission Joined July 1
Marty Mehringer Vice President for Finance and Administration Joined October 1
Christyn Moran ’94 Vice President for College Relations Joined September 2001
Mika Nash, EdD Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Joined October 1
Yoli Alovor, PhD Chief of Staff and Vice President of Diversity and Belonging Dr. Alovor joins Rosemont in a new role for the College after serving as a Project Manager for Centene Corporation, a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise that has operated government-sponsored healthcare programs for more than 30 years. Prior to her role at Centene, Dr. Alovor led a large-scale multi-team research project in coordinaWisconsin School of Business and the Washington University Brain Sciences Research team that studied behavioral concepts such as social belonging theory, proximal learning, concept-building, and multiple intelligence.
Since 2013, she has served as a professor at the University of Missouri at Saint Louis teaching graduate level teacher education and social justice courses dealing with diversity and inclusion.
President Boyers pointed to the important role that Dr. Alovor will play in enhancing College-wide systems and the synergy between the College’s Board of Trustees and the campus community tion with the Dean of the University of
in her capacity as Chief of Staff. He said that the critical focus on diversity and inclusion that Dr. Alovor will bring to the College’s hiring practices to better mirror its student body in her capacity as Vice President for Diversity and Belonging.
Dr. Alovor earned her PhD in Educational Research in May of 2016 from the University of Missouri at Saint Louis.
Why Rosemont? What excites you most about the College? First, I would like to say that I am honored to be a part of Rosemont’s mission and commitment to fostering an environment of academic excellence and community. Rosemont’s tagline says it all - the POWER of small. Our mission speaks volumes about the College community’s belief in ensuring that we exemplify a culture of belonging through development, cognitive diversity, and advancement for social justice; all of which are key to a healthy sense of community. This excites me!
Rosemont’s fundamental principles are grounded in acceptance and committed to excellence. This background is an asset in today's diverse world and critical when attempting to help our students deal with systematic social problems. I was excited to learn about the diverse student body. This diversity leads to a greater sense of mindfulness and develops empathetic thinkers. A more diverse and inclusive campus can help drive innovation and tackle challenges through the incorporation of a variety of perspectives.
Rosemont also exemplifies a commitment to teamwork. A collaborative environment is one to be celebrated. I relish in the opportunity to engage with our faculty, staff, and students.
You’ll be the College’s first Chief of Staff and its first Diversity Officer. What are your thoughts about that?
I was raised to believe that education is fundamental to create equity in society. During my early conversations with President Boyers, I was inspired by his position on the significance of investment in education. While there are always inherent challenges with being the first in any organization, I embrace the opportunity to serve as a leader at Rosemont. Moreover, I believe that despite our current societal challenges, Rosemont is in a unique position to generate valuable insights about its culture, attention to staff and student retention, and improvements to overcome barriers to success.
Relationship building will be key in my role. I look forward to working with other campus leaders to make very intentional, effective, and efficient decisions. As Vice President of Diversity and Belonging, I look forward to working across campus and with our larger communities to support the vision of President Boyers’ initiatives. My focus will be to create an environment that conveys a sense of belonging that includes everyone on campus. While there is an emergence of diversity offices in higher education, I am committed to making Rosemont’s diversity office more than symbolic.
A year from now, what do you want to say you’ve accomplished at Rosemont? What about three years from now?
At the end of my first year, I want to be able to say that I created measurable results, not just symbolic gestures. I plan to implement effective diversity trainings and programs. My goal is to implement thought-leadership that embraces whole person education. This will need to include a shift in how diversity is defined and perceived on campus. I hope to develop campus events and create systems that ensure that our faculty and staff have access to resources that support the importance of inclusive diversity.
Essential to creating an inclusive environment involves changing the way our community members think and act. Achieving a sustainable diversity program requires a great deal of collaboration. I plan to help create a climate that views diversity and belonging as critical, everyday responsibilities for everyone.
Within three years, I would like to be able to say that Rosemont is committed to diversity and belonging. I want to help enhance existing campus policies to include diverse interview panels, establish employee resource programs, and include diversity and inclusion performance measures in every employee’s annual performance plan. In three years, I want Rosemont to attract, engage, and retain a highly talented, diverse workforce because we have an inclusive environment. What book are you currently reading?
I am reading Waking Up White and Finding Myself in The Story of Race by Debby Irving. This book was recommended to me by one of my neighbors the second week I arrived in Philly.
Where can we find you when you’re not at work?
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and being outdoors in all seasons.I look forward to going to the gym when it is open.
What is your favorite hobby?
Some of my favorites are traveling, going to live theater, arts, live music, being an “unofficial” ethnographer, reading, and thrifting when it’s safe again.
What excites you about moving to the Philly region?
I am excited about learning and growing with my Rosemont community, exploring all the history and culture, joining the rowing community, and gaining an “East Coast” dialect to wow my midwestern friends.
Mika Nash, EdD Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Rosemont’s new Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs is an experienced and innovative academic leader. Mika Nash, EdD most recently served as Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at American International College. In that role, she was responsible for the operation, maintenance, and growth of the academic affairs side of a 3,000-student minority serving institution offering Associate, Baccalaureate, Master’s, and Doctoral level degrees, with almost 60% Pell eligible, first generation students, and a deep commitment to social justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Prior to her role at American International College, Dr. Nash served Champlain College as Dean of Continuing Professional Studies at Champlain College for nearly six years and Associate Dean of the same division for five years. From 2001 to 2007, she held various roles of increasing responsibility at the New England Culinary Institute culminating in the position of Dean of the School of Hospitality and Restaurant Management. Her early career included roles as the Researcher and Lead Writer in the President’s Office and Research Assistant for the Academic Affairs Committee of the Faculty Senate, both at the University of Vermont.
Dr. Nash earned her Doctor of Education degree in Higher Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, as well as both her Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Vermont. Dr. Nash also holds a Post Baccalaureate 7-12 English certification.
Why Rosemont? What excites you most about the College?
I’ve spent my professional life focused on creating access for, and serving, under-represented populations through ensuring that each student feels visible and that they matter throughout their academic journey. In Rosemont, I see an institution that seeks to live its mission through recognition of the inherent dignity of all members of the College community - which is critical if students are going to feel seen.
I am also struck by the wisdom of Rosemont’s third value, which is the acknowledgement that promoting compassionate justice takes both persistence and courage. Seeing each student’s individual humanity does not result in easy answers, but it is essential if we are going to meet students where they are and support them in getting where they want to go. At the heart of what I see as I learn more about Rosemont is a campus rooted in a deep-seated love of learning, a curiosity about the other, about the big ideas, but about the smaller ones, too, and a desire to bring one’s best self to the learning community, thus elevating the academic experience in ways that can change the world. I like that this is happening in such an intimate space - residing in the POWER of small. I’m excited about the possibilities that can be created when students are not lost or confused with their ID numbers. A year from now, what do you want to say you’ve accomplished at Rosemont? What about three years from now?
What are some of my hopes and dreams for the near future of this wonderful institution? A year from now, I’d like to be an integral part of this vibrant campus, continuing to work toward Rosemont’s stated goals. I expect to see myriad co-curricular living and learning opportunities to engage in themes that elevate each student’s individual college experience, while offering space for each faculty and staff member to feel revitalized spiritually and intellectually. I’d like to see a more robust focus on revenue generation to subsidize and support the traditional, residential campus. These revenue streams would ground themselves in corporate partnerships, a broader online, low residency, and hybrid degree, certificate, and non-credit portfolio, and new initiatives to support debt reduction, adult degree
Mr. Mehringer intends to help lead enrollment growth and increase retention at Rosemont by enhancing its physical plant, improving its campus services, and bolstering its financial standing. As a result, Mr. Mehringer confidently predicts 10% growth in the College’s graduation rate in the next three years. completion, as well as increased retention, persistence, and graduation. There is so much potential at Rosemont, and it is clear there is tremendous heart for the work, for the students, for this lovely campus. I want to serve this community in feeling we are meeting that potential in all ways.
What book are you currently reading?
On Being, by Carl Rogers.
Where can we find you when you’re not at work?
With my family.
What is your favorite hobby?
I enjoy connecting with people through meaningful dialogue.
What excites you about moving to the Philly region?
So much to do, across such a wide variety of options - culture, arts, great food, outdoor activities . . . this area has it all.
Marty Mehringer Vice President for Finance and Administration The College’s new Vice President for Finance and Administration, Marty Mehringer, joins Rosemont College after four years as the Director of Financial Aid and Compliance for Salem University and Schiller International University. Prior to that position, Mr. Mehringer served for 11 years at Harrison College, first as the Associate Director of Student Financial Services, then the Director of Student Financial Services, and later as the Vice
President of Student Financial Services.
Mr. Mehringer earned his MBA from Indiana Institute of Technology, his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Northwood University in Michigan, and his Associate’s Degree in Business Management from Indiana Business College.
Why Rosemont? What excites you most about the College?
I look forward to being able to serve at Rosemont in the role of Vice President of Finance and Administration as it will allow me to grow personally, professionally, and spiritually. I have dedicated my entire career to higher education. I believe in being able to assist others to not only achieve their educational goals, but to live meaningful lives. I truly believe that education is the foundation to be able to make that happen. I also believe in the POWER of small. Too often at large universities students are simply treated as a number instead of as a unique, individual student. Rosemont does not allow that to happen. Rosemont cares about each and every student and is invested in the suc-
Sr. Doyle has served as a member of the Leadership Team of the American Province of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. She has served on the Boards of Trustees of several of the Society’s schools and other ministries, including Casa Cornelia Law Center, San Diego, California; Providence Center, Philadelphia; and the Africa Faith and Justice Network, Washington, DC. She was a founding Board Member of two collaborative ministries of the Society: Cristo Rey New York High School and Henriette De Lille Middle School, New Orleans, Louisiana. Sr. Doyle also chaired the Board of South Central Los Angeles Ministry Project, a collaborative ministry with seven other congregations of women religious.
Sr. Doyle holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Education in Administration from Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois. She did graduate coursework in Theology at the Regina Mundi Institute, Rome, Italy and the Franciscan School of Theology, Berkeley, California and recently participated in the Ignatian Immersion Program in Manresa, Spain.
Why Rosemont? What excites you about Rosemont?
Rosemont College has been part of my life since I visited on a college tour weekend during my senior year of high school. Many of my undergraduate courses were taught by Rosemont faculty, and I lived on campus during summer school at Villanova. The College is a treasured ministry of the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus. For many years Rosemont hosted renewal programs and retreats following Vatican cess of the student body. I look forward to being able to contribute to that and the overall mission of Rosemont.
A year from now, what do you want to say you’ve accomplished at Rosemont? What about three years from now?
A year from now, I would like to say that I have helped allow additional students to experience the exceptional education and value that Rosemont has to offer. That would be a significant accomplishment for me both personally and professionally. Three years from now, I would like to have helped lead enrollment growth and increase retention by enhancing our physical plant, improving our campus services, and bolstering our financial standing. As a result, I believe we can increase our graduation rate by 10% in three years.
Margaret Doyle, SHCJ assumed the role of Vice President for Mission on July 1, following the retirement of Jeanne Marie Hatch, SHCJ.
Sr. Doyle has a long history of teaching and administrative roles in many Holy Child and other schools, including an 11-year ministry as the Principal of the Connelly School of the Holy Child in Potomac, Maryland. In addition, Sr. Doyle was a member of the College’s Board of Trustees, a position from which she stepped down on June 30. What book are you currently reading?
Ambush by James Patterson for pleasure and Building a Magnetic Culture by Kevin Sheridan for personal/professional development. Where can we find you when you’re not at work?
Outside enjoying the beautiful weather with my family.
What is your favorite hobby?
I enjoy playing golf.
What excites you about moving to the Philly region?
Since I am technically only living in Philadelphia part-time, the beautiful area of the country along with the rich history of the city.
II, and many of our Society celebrations were held in the chapel and dining hall. I was serving on the Board of Trustees when former President Hirsh asked me to consider following in the steps of Sr. Jeanne Marie Hatch. So, I was glad to accept.
What excites me? The unexpected opportunity I have to join in creating Rosemont’s unique environment. It is one in which each person is appreciated for the unique creation he or she is and where each one is looked upon with reverence. I remember reading the U.S. Bishops’ Letter on Education almost fifty years ago in which they quoted these words of Chardin, “The future belongs to those who give the next generation reason for hope.” That is what Rosemont aspires to do, and I am very glad to be part of this vital mission in this unprecedented time.
A year from now, what do you want to say you’ve accomplished at Rosemont? What about three years from now?
There are three of us working in the Office for Mission and Ministry, and we talk often about our hopes for Campus Ministry. Through a variety of programs, we support the efforts of everyone on campus in living the College’s mission.
As Vice President for College Relations, Ms. Moran oversees the College’s fundraising efforts, alumni relations, special events, non-credit programs, and communications with all constituents. In her nearly 20 years of working for Rosemont as a member of Senior Staff, Ms. Moran has played a key role in the College’s decision to become coeducational in the Undergraduate College, the growth of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies, the development of the College’s tagline, the POWER of small, the expansion of alumni programming, and the raising of over $60 million for the College. We also want these programs to help each one be even more aware of themselves as a unique image of God.
By the end of this year, we hope everyone on campus will know what is going how to find these happenings and the members of our team.
During the next three years we want to make progress in having more student leadership, more student initiatives and more adults involved in planning activities for faculty, staff, and alumni. We want to expand our music ministry, and we want to develop a richer connection between Campus Ministry and the sites such as St. Francis Inn where we work currently and with the Holy Child ministries and schools. We also want these programs to help each one be even more aware of themselves as a unique image of God.
By the end of this year, we hope everyone on campus will know what is going on and how to find these happenings and the members of our team.
During the next three years we want to make progress in having more student leadership, more student initiatives and more adults involved in planning activities for faculty, staff, and alumni. We want to
Christyn J. Moran ’94
Vice President for College Relations
Christyn Moran ’94 has served as the
College’s Vice President for College
Relations since 2002. Hired by the late
President Ann Amore in 2001 as a
Special Assistant to the President following two terms as President of the Alumni Association, Ms. Moran left a successful career in healthcare marketing to serve her alma mater, and she’s never looked back. As an alumna and the daughter of an alumna (her mother is Dorothy
Kubiak Moran ’65), Ms. Moran has a great appreciation for the traditions of Rosemont and the College’s mission and Holy Child heritage. expand our music ministry, and we want to develop a richer connection between Campus Ministry and the sites such as St. Francis Inn where we work currently and with the Holy Child ministries and schools. What book are you currently reading?
Native by Kaitlin Curtice, The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, and, for escape, Michael Connelly’s The Late Show.
Where can we find you when you’re not at work?
Reading a historical novel, singing on Zoom with the choir of Our Mother of Good Counsel Parish, walking my neighbor’s dog, and connecting by Zoom with friends and family and Boards of Trustees of several Holy Child ministries.
What is your favorite hobby?
Walking and listening to music.
What excites you about moving to the Philly region?
Its rich history. I enjoy taking the train and walking around the historic area. I live close enough to the city to be able to help out at Providence Center, a Holy Child
ministry in North Philadelphia.
As Vice President for College Relations, Christyn oversees the College’s fundraising efforts, alumni relations, special events, non-credit programs, and communications with all constituents. In her nearly 20 years of working for Rosemont as a member of Senior Staff, Christyn has played a key role in the College’s decision to become co-educational in the Undergraduate College, the growth of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies, the development of the College’s tagline, the POWER of small, the expansion of alumni programming, and the raising of over $60 million for the College.
Why Rosemont? What excites you most about the College?
It is such a gift to be able to see Cornelia Connelly’s emphasis on the uniqueness of the individual lived out at Rosemont in 2020. For me, this is how Rosemont’s past connects to its present and will connect to its future. I love that the experience of becoming my best self at Rosemont in the early 1990s, and that my mom had before me in the early 1960s, is exactly what is happening today for our students. That is very exciting – and important – to me.
