University Leadership

Barbara Lipinski, JD, PhD

Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs & University Provost

Barbara Lipinski, PhD, JD, oversees all aspects of faculty appointments and academic personnel policy. She will be instrumental in helping deans and chairs in faculty searches, assessments, and contracts, and she works closely with Vice Chancellor for Human Resources, Maria-Judith Rodriguez, to ensure consistency and equity.

Barbara served as Provost and CEO of Antioch University Santa Barbara for more than 9 years. She earned her PhD from the University of Southern California, her Jurist Doctorate from the Southern California Institute of Law, her MA from the University of California, and her BSW from the Jane Addams School of Social Work at the University of Illinois. She is dedicated to advancing social justice and committed to providing access to education for all.

Her extensive higher education experience includes work at California Lutheran University and Pacifica Graduate Institute. Barbara’s interests bridge the areas of law and psychology, specifically forensic psychology, police psychology, therapeutic jurisprudence, restorative justice, and conflict resolution.

Barbara is a clinical member of the American Psychological Association (APA), life fellow of the American College of Forensic Examiners (ACFE), lifetime clinical member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), diplomate and board-certified forensic examiner with the American Board of Forensic Examiners, and associate member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). She served as an expert forensic witness for the California Attorney General’s Office from 1991-2012, was a founding board member of the Restorative Justice Neighborhood Initiative, and volunteered as an arbitrator for twenty years. She is also a Licensed Psychologist.

Jim Hyatt

Interim Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer

Jim Hyatt, Antioch University’s Interim Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, is a nationally respected higher education leader with more than 40 years of experience. He has provided leadership in finance, operations, planning, and institutional strategy at institutions, including the University of California, Berkeley, Virginia Tech, the University of Arizona, and the University of South Florida System. Jim has also served in interim executive roles for Notre Dame de Namur University and the University of Providence, where he led efforts to improve fiscal transparency, faculty and staff accountability, and strategic budgeting. Earlier in his career, he was Executive Vice President of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), shaping national policy on higher education finance and governance.

Jim has published widely on financial management, budgeting, pension reform, and administrative restructuring through the University of California Digital Library and NACUBO Press. He has also served on numerous university foundation boards. Awarded the Berkeley Citation for distinguished service, Jim counsels universities, foundations, and national organizations on fiscal strategy, governance, and operational excellence, helping them translate financial principles into sustainable practice.

Josh Jacobs, EdD

Vice President of Institutional Advancement

With a track record of innovation, strategic thinking, and effective team leadership, Josh Jacobs, EdD, is passionate about driving positive change in organizations and making meaningful contributions to the communities he serves.

He is a fixer, fueled by curiosity, who wants to help groups achieve ambitious goals that benefit humanity.

He is drawn to leaders and organizations like Antioch University that pursue high-impact change to better the lives of people. 

Laurien Alexandre, PhD

University Executive Director of Strategic Communications & Dean Emerit

Laurien Alexandre, PhD, Dean Emerit, has served as University Executive Director of Internal Communication (since 2024). 

During her over 33 years at Antioch University, Laurien was initially hired as the Academic Dean of the two California campuses (1991-1999). She is the founding Director of the PhD in Leadership & Change (1999-2023) and then the founding Provost and Dean of the Graduate School of Leadership and Change (2015-2023). During these years, she also served as University Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs (2006-2013). 

Prior to coming to Antioch University, Laurien worked at Immaculate Heart College Center, an ecumenical institute devoted to research and training on peace, justice, and global concerns, where she directed teacher training programs (K-16)  on international and multicultural classrooms. Dr. Alexandre also taught for over 10 years at California State University, Northridge, in the Department of Mass Communications/Journalism, where her focus was on graduate courses in media analysis.

Laurien has traveled extensively in Latin America and the Caribbean.  Her scholarship, including books, articles, speeches, and presentations, has focused on media studies, international politics and gender studies, higher education experimentation and graduate studies, and most recently, the role of education in strengthening democracy. She is also a professional translator, from Spanish to English.

Maria-Judith Rodriguez Herrera, MA/MBA

Vice President for Human Resources

Maria-Judith, MBA serves as the Vice President for Human Resources at Antioch University. In this role, she oversees all aspects of the HR function and sets the strategic direction and efforts in alignment with the institution’s mission and growth directions.

Prior to Antioch, she served as Chief HR Officer and Title IX deputy Coordinator at Amherst College for a decade and earlier headed HR at the Puerto Rico-based Arecibo Observatory, a research center managed by Cornell University. She has a diverse professional background, which includes experiences within a variety of industries including education, consulting, pharmaceutical and manufacturing. She holds her MA in Industrial Organizational Psychology from the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico and her MBA in Human Resources Management from the University of Phoenix.

Maria-Judith reports directly to the Chancellor and serves on the Chancellor’s Executive Team. She believes HR plays a critical strategic role in key areas of institutional success by fostering individual and organizational development, leading strategic efforts, and nurturing a work culture that embraces diversity and inclusion. She also believes in the importance of being an active citizen through community work, both professionally and personally.

Mary Granger, JD

University Counsel, Antioch University & Chief Legal Officer, Coalition for the Common Good

Mary Granger, JD, serves as University Counsel for Antioch University and reports directly to the Chancellor. In this role, she oversees the Office of General Counsel, managing the legal affairs of the University and providing legal advice to Antioch’s leadership, its academic Schools, and campuses. The goal of the Office of General Counsel is to promote a culture of respect, diversity, inclusion, and legal compliance throughout the University in furtherance of Antioch’s mission and values.

Mary began her career at Antioch’s Office of General Counsel in 2015, serving previously as Attorney, Assistant University Counsel, and Associate University Counsel. Mary is a graduate of the University of Maine School of Law.

Stephanie Helms Pickett, EdD

Vice President for Equity, Belonging & Culture

Stephanie Helms Pickett (she/her), EdD, joined Antioch University in January 2024 as the inaugural Head of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. She reports directly to the President and serves on Antioch's Executive Leadership. Stephanie has extensive experience in higher education administration, working at private, public, single-sex, predominantly White, and historically Black institutions of higher education, in residence life, commuter life, multicultural affairs, orientation, leadership, international student affairs, disability services, and academic support services. She’s served as the Associate Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence and Strategic Practice at North Carolina State University and as the Director of Assessment and Professional Development, as well as the Director of the Women’s Center at Duke University. Dr. Helms Pickett is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership and Higher Education Policy in the College of Education at NC State University and an Adjunct Professor in the Duke University Divinity School.

Her research interests are in the areas of higher education policy, women’s engagement, cultural competency, faith, and leadership. She is a qualified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory and uses it in her practice to assist others in developing an intercultural mindset. She presently serves as a member of the BRIDGES Advisory Board, a leadership program advancing women in higher education.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio & Television Broadcasting from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale; and a Master’s and Doctorate degree in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina State University.

Margaret Morgan

Executive Assistant to the President

Margaret Morgan serves as Executive Assistant to the President at Antioch University, where she provides high-level administrative and strategic support to the President and the Board of Governors. In this role, she manages presidential communications, coordinates cabinet and board operations, and ensures the effective day-to-day functioning of the Office of the President across Antioch’s multi-campus system.

Margaret joined Antioch in 2012 as part of the PhD in Leadership and Change program, where she supported doctoral students and faculty in advancing Antioch’s mission of socially engaged leadership. In January 2024, she took on the role of Executive Assistant to the Chancellor (title later changed to President), bringing more than a decade of institutional knowledge, organizational skill, and deep commitment to Antioch’s values of inclusion, innovation, and transformative education. Margaret lives with her husband, artist Jason Morgan, in southwest Ohio, a short drive from the Antioch campus in Yellow Springs.

Lemuel W. Watson, EdD

Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs & Vice Provost for Community Engagement

Lemuel Watson, EdD has been deeply engaged with the community as a personal and professional advocate through numerous arts, community, educational, and professional boards. He commits to leaving the world better than how he has found it. He genuinely loves those he meets and is curious to get to know them authentically. He moves about the world as an educator, advocate, leader, new thought minister, poet, and collaborator with various individuals and groups. He believes there is no separating life into compartments but that each day and all experiences help one to become fully awake. Watson is also a Distinguished Professor and Dean Emeritus and Founding Executive Director of the Center for Innovation in Higher Education at the University of South Carolina and the former founding Executive Director of the Center for P-20 Engagement and Dean of the College of Education at Northern Illinois University as well as former Associate Vice President and Interim Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, Dean of the School of Education at Indiana University Bloomington. He is the former host of Indiana University’s podcast On Illuminating: truth and Light, the South Carolina Educational Television series, Carolina Classrooms, and Fulbright Scholar to Belarus. He earned a BS in Business from the Moore School of Business at USC, an MA from Ball State University, his doctorate in higher education and policy from Indiana University at Bloomington, and a doctorate in spiritual studies at Emerson Theological Institute.

Michelle Koppitz

Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives & Extension Sites

Michelle Koppitz is the Associate Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Extension Sites. In this role, she oversees multi-campus and multi-modality strategic initiatives that expand Antioch University program delivery to include off-campus partnerships and extension sites.

Koppitz reports to the Vice President for Finance, but also works in strategic alignment with the Vice President of Academic Affairs, the Deans, and several program chairs to continue to develop partnership relations strategically aligned with the Institution’s academic vision and capable of expanding Antioch’s reach. She began her career in 1993 with the Institute for Professional Development. She then served Benedictine University’s nontraditional programs beginning in 1999, most recently as the Vice President for the School of Graduate, Adult and Professional Education since 2013 and oversaw a division of approximately 2800 students. Her responsibilities included strategic oversight of Enrollment Management, Online Initiatives, Strategic Partnership Initiatives and Marketing, Academic Development and Redesign, Adjunct Faculty Training and Management and Nontraditional Operations units.

Michelle has a graduate degree in Organizational Leadership from Olivet University and an undergraduate degree in Management from Cardinal Stritch University.