The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education approved Valerie R. Roberson, currently vice president for academic affairs at Joliet Junior College in Illinois and former president of Olive-Harvey College, to be the 15th president of Roxbury Community College, effective July 22. A March report requested by trustees showed systematic lapses over the past decade by administrators at the college. Roberson will replace Linda Edmunds Turner, who served as interim president after Terrence Gomes resigned last summer. Gov. Deval Patrick, meanwhile, appointed Year Up founder Gerald Chertavian to chair the board of the community college, replacing Kathy Taylor, who is taking a job at the state Department of Higher Education. The group called Friends of Roxbury Community College wrote Patrick to protest his appointment of a white person to lead the predominantly black institution.
Rev. John Denning C.S.C. was named president of Stonehill College, where he is currently vice president for student affairs. He will succeed Rev. Mark T. Cregan C.S.C. who is stepping down after 13 years and has served as a NEBHE delegate for seven years.
Richard J. Murnane, the Juliana W. and William Foss Thompson Professor of Education and Society at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE), was named acting dean of HGSE, succeding Kathleen McCartney who is leaving Harvard to become president of Smith College.
Framingham State University President Timothy Flanagan accepted the presidency of Illinois State University after seven years leading Framingham State.
Ben C. Hammond was named vice president for finance and administration at Wellesley College, succeeding Andrew B. Evans who will retire on June 30. Hammond is currently vp for finance and administration and treasurer at Mount Holyoke College.
Physicist Elizabeth Ivey, provost emeritus and professor of mechanical engineering emeritus at the University of Hartford. was elected chair of the Mitchell College Board of Trustees.
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