Antioch University’s leadership is comprised of a Chancellor, University Leadership Council, and a Board of Governors who work together to further the University’s mission and support faculty and students in all our programs. Together they are focused on creating a culture that fosters collaboration and shared responsibility across the University.
Chancellor
William R. Groves, JD
Chancellor
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William R. Groves, JD is the 22nd “President” or “Chancellor” of Antioch University. He has served as Chancellor since April, 2016. Chancellor Groves was hired in 2010 to establish the first Office of General Counsel for the University and served as Vice Chancellor and General Counsel for the University from 2010 to 2016. Prior to that, Groves was engaged as outside University Counsel for Antioch from 1979 to 2010 providing services to all its operating units, including Antioch College. He led the legal affairs of the University through the closure of the Antioch College campus in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and the eventual sale of assets to a new alumni-supported corporation which took over the college operations in 2009.
He is an honors graduate from Ohio University, Phi Beta Kappa, in 1976, and The Ohio State University College of Law in 1979. He also attended the Institute of Education Management (IEM) program of Harvard University, Graduate School of Education in 2013.
Executive Officers
Dr. Allan Gozum joined Antioch University in January 2016 and is the Vice Chancellor/CFO and Treasurer of the corporation. He oversees general and regional accounting, budget and planning, information technology, facilities planning, strategic partnerships, and in the interim, institutional advancement.
Prior to Antioch, Gozum was employed at Benedictine University based in Lisle, Illinois for 15 years and served as vice president of finance and chief financial officer. Earlier in his career, he held supervisory positions at companies that included KPMG, Trans Union, and Deloitte.
Gozum is a registered CPA in Illinois and earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Northern Illinois University, an MBA with concentrations in finance and economics from the University of Chicago, and an EdD in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania.
Chet Haskell, DPA
Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and University Provost
Dr. Chester (Chet) Haskell has served as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and University Provost since August 2018. He reports directly to the Chancellor and serves on the Chancellor’s Cabinet. Haskell chairs the Deans Council, the University’s senior academic leaders as well as the Faculty Co-Chairs of the University Academic Council. The Deans Council facilitates management, accountability and communication throughout Academic Affairs and the faculty.
Chet Haskell has had extensive experience in university leadership in the United States, having served in senior positions over 13 years at Harvard University, including as executive director of the Center for International Affairs, special assistant to the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, associate dean of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and as founding executive director of the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies. He later served as Dean of the College at Simmons College (Boston) and was president for more than a decade at the Monterey Institute of International Studies (California) and at Cogswell Polytechnical College (Silicon Valley). He also is a member of the Board of Governors of Al Ghurair University in Dubai. Finally, Dr. Haskell has lengthy experience in academic accreditation matters, including with the WASC Senior Colleges and Universities Commission and with accreditation bodies in Spain and Mexico.
Chet earned DPA and MPA degrees at the University of Southern California, as well as an MA from the University of Virginia and the AB from Harvard University.
Craig Maslowsky, EdD
Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management
Dr. Craig Maslowsky is an entrepreneur and higher education marketing and enrollment expert. He is currently the Vice Chancellor for Antioch University. Prior to joining Antioch, Craig was Vice President for EXPLORE Student Pathfinder solutions at DIGARC. He came to DIGARC after the company acquired new|ed, an education focused marketing software company Craig founded in 2015. Before starting new|ed, Craig was a successful higher education marketing executive at Excelsior College, Lesley University and University of Phoenix.
Craig has an extensive background in communicating non-traditional educational offerings to adult and traditional student populations on a national level for both for-profit and not-for-profit institutions of higher education. His expertise and interest lie in product strategy, customer experience design, student service optimization, process optimization, digital marketing and the integration of new technology to improve the enrollment exploration experience for students.
He earned a BS in Business Administration from SUNY Geneseo, an MBA from Clarkson University, and a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University.
Maria-Judith Rodriguez Herrera, MA/MBA
Vice Chancellor for Human Resources
Maria-Judith serves as the Vice Chancellor 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.
Melissa A. Kirk, EdD
Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Melissa A. Kirk, EdD, joined Antioch University in January 2020 as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Success. In July 2020, she transitioned into the role of Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. She serves as the University’s Chief Student Services Officer, Chief Retention Officer, and Title IX Officer. Additionally, she oversees numerous academic affairs and student services areas, including the University Registrar, Institutional Effectiveness, the University-Wide Institutional Review Board (IRB), Integrated Student Services (ISS), Student Conduct, the Virtual Writing Center, and International Student Services. She also works directly with the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and University Provost on strategic academic affairs projects central to Antioch’s mission.
Prior to joining Antioch, Kirk served as a member of two Academic and Student Affairs leadership teams for more than seventeen years: CUNY Bronx Community College and CUNY Lehman College. Most recently, she served as the Chief of Staff to the Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success at Lehman College.
Kirk holds a BA in Sociology from the State University of New York at Cortland, an MA in Special Education with K-12 certification, from Fairfield University, and an EdD in Education Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota.
Laurien Alexandre, PhD
Dean of the Graduate School of Leadership and Change, and Special Advisor to the Chancellor
Dr. Laurien Alexandre serves as Special Assistant to the Chancellor and is the Dean of Antioch University’s Graduate School of Leadership and Change. During her 30 years at Antioch University, Laurien has served as Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, and prior to that, as the Academic Dean of the two California campuses. She is the founding Director of the PhD in Leadership & Change and the Dean of the Graduate School of Leadership and Change. 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 a teaching training (K-16) program 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. Her published work has focused on media studies, international politics and gender studies, and most recently higher education experimentation and graduate studies.
Ben Pryor, PhD
Dean of the School of Environmental Studies, and CEO Antioch University Seattle
The first Dean of the new School of Environmental Studies, Ben Pryor joined Antioch University in 2015 as the Provost and CEO of Antioch University Seattle. He reports to the VCAA. Originally from Southern California, Pryor received a B.A. from the Johnston Center at the University of Redlands and a Master’s degree from the Claremont Graduate University. He earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Penn State University in 1997 and taught at the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio, until 2013. His interest in law, politics and ethics led to the creation of an interdisciplinary program in Law and Social Thought in 2004. Pryor served as a Department Chair, Associate Vice Provost, and Dean before moving in 2013 to Phoenix, Arizona, to become the Provost at Western International University.
Shawn Fitzgerald, PhD
Dean of the School of Counseling, Psychology and Therapy, and CEO Antioch University New England
Dr. Shawn Fitzgerald, the first Dean of the School of Counseling, Psychology and Therapy, our largest school and also serves as CEO of Antioch University New England, a position he has held since 2018. He reports to the VCAA. Prior to joining Antioch, Shawn served in multiple positions at Widener University including Assistant Provost for Graduate Studies and Extended Learning and Dean for the School of Education, Innovation, and Continuing Studies. Additional leadership appointments while at Widener included serving as the Chair of the Pennsylvania Education Deans’ Forum, President of the Eastern Educational Research Association, and Chair of the Board of Trustees for Widener’s Charter School—Pennsylvania’s first university-based charter school.
Shawn also spent 17 years as a faculty member and administrator at Kent State University. During his tenure, he was the recipient of the Giovanna Jackson Faculty Award for International Culture; served as an Invited Lecturer for Sichuan University in Chengdu, China; hosted and mentored numerous visiting scholars from around the world; and was recognized by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education for innovative program development.
Shawn holds a PhD in Applied Research, Evaluation, Statistics, and Measurement and an MA in Educational Psychology from the University of Toledo. He earned his BA in Psychology from Lebanon Valley College.
Terry Ratcliff, EdD
Dean of the School of Distance and Extended Education
In his role as the first Dean of the School Distance and Extended Education , Dr. Terry Ratcliff oversees the University’s several completely online programs, heads the University’s essential academic technology services, and coordinates University-wide continuing education. Reporting to the VCAA, Terry also works with Michelle Koppitz, Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Extension Sites, in the building of distance relationships with other institutions and organizations. Ratcliff joined Antioch University in 2019 as Executive Dean for Online Learning and University Programs. During his career in higher education, he has served as assistant dean of students, director of enrollment, dean of adult and continuing education, director of online learning, and chief academic officer. Ratcliff has contributed to higher education as a consultant, providing insight to improve student retention, online teaching and learning, and faculty development. He is active in the Association for Continuing Higher Education, including an elected term as a Director at Large on the organization’s board of directors, 2014-16. Dr. Ratcliff is also active in higher education accreditation, serving as a volunteer site visitor for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Terry holds a BS from the University of Idaho, an MEd from Arizona State University, and an EdD from the University of California, Berkeley.
Michael Raffanti, EdD, JD
Dean of the School of Education
Michael Valdez Raffanti has a varied professional background in education and social justice. A California native, he completed his Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy at the University of Portland, and his Juris Doctor at Boston College Law School. He also holds a master’s degree from The Evergreen State College where he focused on multicultural education. He earned his Doctor of Education degree in Leadership and Change from Fielding Graduate University. Michael became interested in an educational career while practicing poverty law in San Francisco. He has taught third grade in urban settings and served in a variety of educational leadership roles. Michael has online and low residency university teaching and administrative experience at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. His research interests are in leadership studies, qualitative methodologies, teaching for social justice, and multicultural and antiracist education. He served as dean of the PhD Program in Interdisciplinary Studies at Union Institute & University and currently serves the joint role of Dean of Education and Director of Antioch University’s EdD in Educational and Professional Practice. Michael lives in the Seattle area and is active in animal rescue efforts in Mexico and the Pacific Northwest.
MeHee Hyun, PhD
Dean of Undergraduate Studies
As the new Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Hyun builds on a lengthy Antioch career as chair of undergraduate programs in Los Angeles, She now oversees all the undergraduate programs while working closely with Terry Ratcliff on fully asynchronous undergraduate offerings. She reports to the VCAA.
MeHee has long been a faculty leader, serving as co-chair of the University Academic Council for many years. A graduate of UCLA three times over, MeHee was recognized as a Chancellor’s Marshall for distinguished service while completing her BA in English, and also received her MA and her PhD in Education, in their Division of Higher Education with an emphasis on Afro-American Studies.
MeHee has over 20 years of professional work experience in the field of Higher Education, having served at Antioch University in various capacities including Director of Admissions & Records, and Acting Dean of Advancement. She also had a number of roles in the Office of Executive Education in the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA, on the UCLA Alumni and Scholarship Advisory Committee, and Undergraduate Admissions and Relations with Schools at UCLA.
Mark Hower, PhD
Provost and CEO, Antioch University Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, and Acting Chair of the MAP Program
Dr. Mark Hower is the Provost and CEO of Antioch University Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. He has been Provost at the Los Angeles campus since June 2017. He reports to the VCAA.
Mark joined the faculty of Antioch University Seattle in January 2000 as an affiliate faculty member. Throughout his time in Seattle, he served in a variety of roles, including chair of the Graduate Management Program, special assistant to the president, interim president, and as a core faculty in the Center for Creative Change.
Mark’s professional experience includes several staff positions in the U.S. Peace Corps, including Peace Corps Country Director in Tonga, and Country Desk Officer for South Pacific Programs and later for startup programs in Ukraine, Russia and the Baltic States.
Mark has a BA from Whitman College, and an MS and PhD in Leadership and Change from Antioch.
Ryan Kasmier, EdD
Associate Provost, Antioch University Santa Barbara
Ryan Kasmier’s extensive higher education experience includes professional work at six different institutions, including the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, and Antioch University Santa Barbara, where he has served as the Director of Student Services since July 2017. In his over 20-year career in student affairs, he has worked in leadership positions in academic support, housing, retention and persistence, new student orientation, and family services. Ryan has also taught public speaking, life and academic skills classes, and various other liberal arts courses. He is an active member of NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education). He has served in several positions for the AGAPSS (Administrators in Graduate and Professional Student Services) Knowledge Community, including Knowledge Community Co-Chair. Ryan holds a BS in Organizational Communication and Political Science from Central Michigan University and an MA in Organization and Leadership, with an emphasis in Higher Education, from the University of San Francisco. In May 2021, he completed his EdD in Higher Education Leadership from California Lutheran University.
Barbara Lipinski, JD, PhD
Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs for Academic Personnel
Dr. Barbara Lipinski has recently been appointed as Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Personnel. In this role, Barbara 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 will work closely with Vice Chancellor for Human Resources, Maria-Judith Rodriguez, to assure consistency and equity.
Dr. Lipinski 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, Jurist Doctorate from the Southern California Institute of Law, MA from University of California, and 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.
Michelle Koppitz
Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives & Extension Sites
Michelle Koppitz is the Associate Vice Chancellor 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 Chancellor for Finance, but also works in strategic alignment with the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Chet Haskell, Terry Ratcliff, 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.
Michael Greizer
University Dir Real Estate/Strategic Initiatives
Michael Greitzer currently serves as the University Director for Real Estate and Special Initiatives, a position that he has held since 2019.
Michael is the retired Dayton Market President and Partner of Miller-Valentine Group, a national commercial real estate development concern with offices in the Midwest and Atlantic coast. Over more than a 20-year career, he has led teams working with some of the nation’s largest corporations, providing the thought leadership for transactions ranging from; confidential relocation/site selection processes, development of large scale corporate campuses, complex sale lease-back transactions, brownfield redevelopment, and multi-jurisdictional public-private partnerships.
In addition to providing the operational management of the University’s owned and leased portfolio of real estate, he is a resource to the Chancellor for special projects and initiatives across the University.
Suzette Castonguay
Chief Human Resources Officer
Suzette Castonguay, Chief Human Resources Officer is responsible for the overall administration and management of human resources, payroll and benefits administration, working closely with legal counsel and the campus human resources associates. Suzette ensures that Antioch is compliant with federal, state and local law as it pertains to employment, payroll and benefits administration. She also serves on the University’s Retirement Oversight Committee as the Plan Administrator, oversees recruitment, contracts and administers the various health and welfare benefit plans for the University, and serves on the Property and Casualty Insurance Committee.
Suzette has a BA in Business Administration and an MA in Management. She is a member of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR), the Ohio CUPA-HR association and the Springfield Human Resources Association (SHRMA).