The Registry

We thank Registry Member Thomas Traynor for sharing his reflections on his experience as Interim Dean of the College of Business at Eastern Michigan University. It is delightful to hear that he is enjoying his placement thus far. "My term as the Interim Dean of the College of Business Eastern Michigan University has gone very well so far. Key goals for the year included the development of the college's next strategic plan, completion of the self-reporting document for our accrediting organization, AACSB, and preparations for a visit by the college's AACSB Peer Review Team. Eastern Michigan University has a beautiful campus that is enjoyable to walk through. I have found everyone on campus to be friendly and helpful as I carry out my duties. My faculty and staff colleagues at the College of Business faculty are very dedicated to the students and the college's research mission. The college also has many impactful centers that support students and the local community business development and beyond. This my first appointment through The Registry since retiring from a 35-year career at Wright State University. The work has been manageable, rewarding, and enjoyable. I look forward to more of the same during the final months of my appointment."

The CUPA-HR conference starts today! Stop by Booth #108 and say "hi" to Registry Senior Consultant Larry Lewellen and Registry Member Marie Billie.

The CUPA-HR Spring Conference begins tomorrow. Be sure to stop by Booth #108 to meet Registry Senior Consultant Larry Lewellen and Registry Member Marie Billie. They are excited to chat and share more about The Registry’s expertise in interim senior leadership placements.

We appreciate Registry Member Kevin Butler for sharing all of his accomplishments as Interim Vice President for Finance and Administration at Winthrop University. We look forward to celebrating his future achievements as he finishes this assignment! "I have been active in this role since last April. Some of my immediate accomplishments were: -Developed a balanced budget in less than six weeks for Board of Trustees approval. -Recruited and hired several key positions that had been vacant for several months. -Implemented a University Budget Committee and a Budget Calendar necessary to create a transparent and inclusive budget process. -Restructured the University’s tuition structure from one with more than 40 different prices with caps, to a structure with only 10 prices all on a pure per credit hour basis. There is still much that needs attention, and we have several actions in process. I am thrilled to be a part of this amazing Cabinet. Things are truly looking up for Winthrop. I am grateful for all the support I have receive from the President, the Board and my Cabinet peers."

Congratulations to Registry Member Larry S Wakefield for his placement as Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In this role, he will oversee financial and administrative operations, including budgeting, accounting, HR, and facilities, while supporting strategic planning and ensuring stability during the transition.

Many thanks to Registry Member Gayle Roux, PhD, NP-C, FAAN, for sharing her experience as Interim Dean of the Froelich School of Nursing at Assumption University. It is delightful that she is enjoying her third placement with us and is continuing to share her wealth of knowledge with the next generation of nurses. "I have been honored to serve in three Registry appointments for nursing deans in universities from Oregon to Massachusetts. Currently, I have served as interim nursing dean during the 2024 - 2025 academic year at Froelich School of Nursing in Worcester, MA. During this time of need in nursing and higher education, it has been very rewarding to contribute to the advancement of nursing graduates. The Registry has offered me opportunities to sustain my intellectual and leadership contributions in avenues that I would not have had otherwise. I encourage my colleagues to keep our voices strong during this time of rapid change in higher education."

The Registry will be attending the CUPA-HR Spring Conference. This great event will offer attendees the chance to recharge, reconnect with peers, and reimagine HR within the higher ed landscape. Registry Senior Consultant Larry Lewellen and Registry Member Marie Billie will be representing The Registry at Booth #108.

Thank you to Registry Member Nasser Momayezi for reflecting on his experience as Interim Dean College of Arts and Sciences at Fort Valley State University. We are thrilled to hear he’s enjoying his placement and has already achieved so much. We wish him all the best as he finishes his assignment! "I was initially appointed as the Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Fort Valley State University from August 2024 to December 2025. However, I was asked to extend my service as interim dean until the end of June 2025. During this brief period, I made it a priority to connect with key university administrators and faculty within the college. Together, we began several important projects, including the launch of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program and the development of new degree programs in Bachelor of Science in Health Administration and Cybersecurity Management. Additionally, we focused on preparing for the accreditation of the Nursing and Master of Social Work (MSW) programs. Collaborating with department chairs, we developed strategies to increase student retention and graduation rates, as well as creating attractive flyers for each major offered in the college. I am proud to say that we have accomplished most of these initiatives, and I am confident we will complete all of them before my term ends. Serving at Fort Valley State University has been a tremendously rewarding experience, and I am grateful to The Registry for this opportunity. I look forward to the challenges ahead."

In this video, Registry Member Mark Liebling reflects on his experience working as Interim Associate Vice President for People and Culture at Ball State University. He shares how coming in as a Registry Interim allowed him to advance initiatives, setting the table for the permanent Associate Vice President to help take the school to the next level.

Join us for an engaging and insightful session at the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) 2025 Annual Convention! Our topic, "Turning Leadership Transitions Into Opportunities with a Registry Interim," will explore how institutions can navigate leadership changes with confidence and strategic vision with The Registry.