Haley Associates Assists Franklin Pierce University in Provost Search
January 14, 2021 – Higher education search firm Haley Associates has assisted Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, NH, in the recruitment of Catherine M. Paden as provost and vice president for academic affairs. The search was led by Katherine Haley. In July, Dr. Paden will assume her new role as the chief academic officer on Franklin Pierce’s senior leadership team, where she will oversee the development, implementation and assessment of new programs and the ongoing review and evaluation of existing curricula. She will report directly to the university’s president, Kim Mooney.
“Dr. Paden is an accomplished academic professional with a strong record of success empowering faculty in their efforts to provide the impassioned instruction, guidance and attention that makes a difference in students’ lives,” said Dr. Mooney. “Her ability to foster an inclusive environment and her demonstrated proficiency in creating innovation aligns perfectly with our vision for the future of Franklin Pierce.”
Dr. Paden is a seasoned leader in academic administration with more than 15 years of experience. Currently, she is deputy provost at Simmons University in Boston. At Simmons, she led the implementation of the general education curriculum, the Simmons PLAN, which transformed the student experience. Dr. Paden revamped and redesigned Simmons’s undergraduate advising model and process, and she oversaw the creation and launch of the Center for Student Success – a $3 million investment that has improved undergraduate and graduate student access to academic services.
In her role with Franklin Pierce, Dr. Paden will lead strategic institutional initiatives for innovation in program development and teaching and learning. “Her experience in designing and launching academic programs and building an implementing undergraduate and graduate curricula will enhance the university’s development of programs that resonate with the demands of the broader marketplace,” the school said. “She will provide oversight of student success initiatives, including retention efforts.”
“I was immediately drawn to Franklin Pierce University by the richness of its academic programs, the passion of its faculty, the impact it is making in important arenas like healthcare and its commitment to provide an inclusive environment that welcomes and celebrates all students,” said Dr. Paden. “I look forward to contributing to the exciting work to come and am thrilled to join Raven nation.”
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Franklin Pierce College was founded in 1962 by Frank S. DiPietro, who had a vision of a “small college that fosters intimate relationships between those who learn and those who teach.” The college was formally recognized as Franklin Pierce University in 2007, reflecting the growth of undergraduate opportunities, the addition of graduate-level degrees and the institution’s expanding national reach. The university now includes the College of Business, the College of Health and Natural Sciences (which includes the School of Nursing), the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (which includes the School of Education), and professional programs and partnerships.
A Boutique Recruiter
Manchester, NH-based Haley Associates provides personalized services focused on the unique needs of the institutions and leaders it serves. The firm works on a limited number of consulting engagements and searches in order to remain a client-focused practice. Its services include strategic institutional assessment and modeling, board governance consultation and retreats, executive coaching for presidents and senior leaders, effective presidential transitions and presidential/senior leadership evaluations.
Dr. Haley is the former president of both Gettysburg College and Whittier College. She was the first woman president at both schools. As an executive search consultant, she has conducted numerous higher education leadership searches for institutions across the country, including over 35 presidential searches. She advises colleges and universities on leadership succession, governance and effective board performance.
Prior to her president roles, Dr. Haley was provost and professor of English at Kenyon College and dean of graduate study and director of general education at Augustana College. She has held leadership positions in a number of national higher education associations. She served as chair of the board of the Annapolis Group, the professional organization of the presidents of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges. Dr. Haley also served on the boards of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Council of Independent Colleges, the American Council of Academic Deans, the Eisenhower Institute, the Lincoln Prize Board and the Gettysburg Foundation. She is a member of the board at Thomas College.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
