President's Council/Senior Administration

Lisa Blazer serves as the Vice President of Enrollment Management. In this role, she leads strategic enrollment efforts, including oversight for Admissions, Registrar, Enrollment Technology, Financial Aid, International Admissions and Services, Webster University Online and Military Campus Operations. In collaboration with academic units and university departments, campuses and partners, Blazer oversees the development and implementation of the University’s strategic enrollment plan, building initiatives to expand opportunities for students to attend Webster’s online and face-to-face undergraduate and graduate programs.

Prior to joining Webster, Blazer served as the Associate Vice President of Enrollment Services at Texas A&M University and served in multiple roles at the University of Texas at San Antonio, including Senior Associate Vice Provost for Academic Innovation, Interim Vice President for Strategic Enrollment and Associate Vice President for Financial Aid and Enrollment Services. Blazer is the recipient of the Alan W. Purdy Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA). She served as the 2016-2017 NASFAA National Chair, and served as president in state and regional associations. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from Missouri Baptist University, and her master’s degree in Organizational Development and her doctoral degree in Education with a Focus on Organizational Leadership from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.

John Buck joined Webster University in 2000. He provides leadership for all functional areas of student affairs, works closely with campus student leaders, develops student life policies and procedures and consults with colleagues throughout Webster’s worldwide network on student life issues. Prior to joining Webster, Buck spent nine years working in student affairs at Saint Louis University.

Buck's responsibilities include Campus Dining Services, Career Planning and Development Center, Counseling and Life Development, Dean of Students Office, First-Year Experience Program, Housing and Residential Life, Multicultural Center and International Student Affairs, Office of Student Engagement, Student Health Services, Student Conduct and the University Center.

As an Adjunct Full Professor at Webster, Buck has taught courses on leadership thought and theory for undergraduate and graduate students. His research interests include decision making in crisis situations occurring on college campuses, which was the focus of his dissertation. Buck is also a long-time faculty member for the Foundation for Teaching Economics “Economics for Leaders” program.

Buck holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Colorado State University, a master’s degree in Management and Leadership, and a doctorate in Management (DMgt), both from Webster. He is also a 2014 graduate Webster University’s Global Leadership Academy.

 

 

Eileen Condon leads all aspects of operations and programming in Webster’s global library network, whose mission is to empower Webster’s diverse, global community of students, faculty, staff and alumni to fulfill their research, learning, and information needs now and in the future. She oversees all areas of library operations, including development, provision, and management of resources, collections and services. She coordinates with staff at Eden Theological Seminary on the operation of the Webster-Eden Library System, a cooperative program that supports the teaching, research and intellectual pursuits of Webster University and Eden Theological Seminary. Condon serves as editor of the Webster University Press, managing the existing catalog, as well as acquisition and publication of new titles.

Condon holds a master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and a bachelor’s in English with a minor in Spanish from Truman State University. She has been with Webster since 1992.

Simone Cummings serves as the chief academic officer for the George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology. In this role, she’s responsible for providing leadership, management, and oversight of all aspects of the Walker School, including program planning and development; enrollment and retention; curriculum; hiring, training and supervising faculty; accreditation; and business and community engagement — at our primary location in St. Louis, Missouri, as well as at our more than 60 military, metro and international locations.

Cummings joined the Walker School in 2013 as an Associate Professor of Management, having previously held faculty positions with Washington University, in St. Louis, and Simmons College, in Boston. She holds a BSBA with a Concentration in Marketing from Washington University, an MHA with a Concentration in Finance from the Washington University School of Medicine and a PhD in Health Policy and Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Cummings serves on the Advisory Board of #GIRLSWITHPOWER, a Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri program. She’s also a board member of the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute and the Missouri History Museum Sub-Commission. Cummings is an active tennis player and also enjoys reading horror novels. She’s married to Donald Lawrence and they have two daughters, Nina Marie and Madison Elise.

Stephanie Dane serves as the Chief Communications Officer for the Office of Global Marketing and Communications. Dane leads a team of 15 cross-functional professionals who support the University’s global campus network with public relations, emergency communications, internal communications, donor and alumni communications, photography, videography, website management and design, graphic design, social media, marketing and advertising.

Dane joined Webster in 2022 as the Senior Director of Communications, was appointed Interim CCO in January 2024, and accepted the position of CCO in June 2024. 

Her career has been dedicated to marketing communications in the nonprofit sector. She served over 20 years at the Gateway Region YMCA; 14 of those years focused on marketing and communications to support member acquisition and retention, and growing program enrollment. In 2021, Dane transitioned her career to higher education. She joined Fontbonne University as the Director of Integrated Marketing Communications before accepting the opportunity to return to her alma mater as the Senior Director of Communications.

A dual alumna of Webster’s School of Communications, Dane holds a BA in Advertising and Marketing Communications and an MA in Media Communications.

Thao Dang-Williams leads efforts to improve degree progression, retention and completion for graduate students. She will also manage programming to strengthen undergraduate enrollment and student success, including Dual Credit, and will help to build and improve services and programs for adult learners.

Previously, Dang-Williams served for six years as Dean of Extended Education for Webster’s St. Louis metropolitan locations at Gateway, Westport and WingHaven. In that position, she worked with Webster University's schools and colleges to enhance student services, led a coordinated enrollment effort, strengthened programs for both undergraduate and graduate students, and built educational partnerships in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Dang-Williams has had an extensive career in higher education. At Ranken Technical College, she held the positions of Assistant Registrar, instructor, and then later became the first female department chair of the college. She then assumed the position of Dean of the Humanities and Social Sciences Division at St. Louis Community College. She has been with Webster since 2010, serving first as the Associate Dean for the College of Arts and Sciences and then as Interim Associate Vice President and Director of the Online Learning Center, prior to her appointment as Dean of Extended Education in 2014.

Dang-Williams earned her Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude with a double major in Communication and Government with a minor in the Classics from Monmouth College. She also holds an Master of Arts in Communication and an EdD in Higher Education Administration, both from Saint Louis University.

Bill Donovan began working at Webster University in January 2024. He has served as CFO, vice president and financial director for several companies in the past two decades. He has worked in financial planning and analysis, investment banking, corporate development, private equity and accounting team leadership across multiple sectors, including real estate, manufacturing, services, renewable energy and cleantech. He was the CFO for Sansone Group LLC from 2021 until joining Webster earlier this year.

Donovan holds bachelor’s degrees in both International Studies and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri at Columbia, and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Ryan Elliott is primarily responsible for performance strategy development; departmental information systems and technology; gift/pledge processing and reporting; financial and business data reporting; process optimization; donor research and management; and constituent data integrity and biographical records management for 250,000-plus records. Elliott represents the Office of Advancement in various University-wide planning and implementation committees involving the Chancellor, President, Provost, Academic Affairs, Finance, Information Technology, Office of Research and Sponsored Grants, Student Affairs and more.

Elliott has more than 20 years of progressive responsibility and experience in government, nonprofit agency and higher education environments, starting his career working in the U.S. House of Representatives, Third Congressional District-Missouri Office of the Hon. Richard A. Gephardt, and as a fundraiser for the National MS Society-Gateway Area Chapter where he implemented donor-based fundraising campaigns and special projects.

Elliott earned his Master of Arts in Media Communications with an Emphasis in Public Relations from Webster University in 2004, and both a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Missouri. Additionally, he earned a certificate in fundraising from the IUPUI Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, and is a multiple-time Ironman finisher.

Vincent C. Flewellen joined Webster University in October 2018. He provides key leadership for the University’s core value of advancing diversity and inclusion as part of the educational mission through the University’s network of domestic and international locations.

With almost two decades of experience weaving diversity, inclusion and equity into the culture of education in the St. Louis area, Flewellen most recently served as Director of Equity and Inclusion at The College School in Webster Groves. Before taking his role at The College School, he taught in the Ladue School District and for Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School. He also served as center Director of the University City Children’s Center. Additionally, Flewellen has served as an Adjunct Professor at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis for the past six years, and he served as a consultant to Washington University, in St. Louis, in 2006 and 2007. For the past 16 years, he has served as a consultant on diversity and inclusion issues for a variety of schools and organizations, including the Kirkwood School District, the John Burroughs School, the Forsyth School, the Cochran Community Center and FOCUS St. Louis.

Flewellen has also served as the Director of Development for St. Louis nonprofit Neighborhood Houses (now known as Unleashing Potential). Flewellen served as Managing Director of Program for Teach For America-St. Louis and he was the speakers Bureau Coordinator for the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures. Flewellen holds a Master of Social Work from the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University, in St. Louis, and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Maryville University.

Eric Goedereis joined Webster University in 2009. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and master’s degree in Experimental Psychology from Western Illinois University and doctorate in Developmental Psychology from West Virginia University. He is a recipient of the 2015 William T. Kemper Award for Teaching Excellence, the 2016 Learning Happens Everywhere Award and multiple Faculty Research Grants from Webster University.

Research projects within his Lifespan Wellness Lab (LWL) at Webster University have examined the psychosocial determinants and correlates of various aspects of health and well-being from adolescence through older adulthood. In addition, Goedereis's work has explored ways to promote optimal developmental outcomes across the lifespan. To this end, Goedereis has a keen interest in promoting opportunity and equity and has long sought to engage in purposeful, inclusive advising, outreach and mentoring to provide high-impact experiences in ways that are equitable and inclusive.

Much of his career has been devoted to leading, mentoring and supporting undergraduate research, scholarly and creative activities and engaging in work to advance such high-impact experiences at Webster and beyond. Specifically, Goedereis has demonstrated a strong track record of mentoring and collaborating with students, resulting in numerous submissions to local, regional and national professional conferences and peer-reviewed empirical journals. His students have also had much success gaining acceptance into competitive graduate programs in Psychology and related fields, as well as securing internal and external funding to support their research and travel. He is a strong advocate for Study Abroad and has had the good fortune to teach at Webster's Vienna campus and to lead an integrated field research/Study Abroad experience to Athens, Greece.

Nancy Hellerud leads the Office of Academic Affairs, oversees Student Affairs and six of Webster’s international campuses.

As Vice President of Academic Affairs, Hellerud is responsible for Academic Affairs divisions and programs that support and strengthen student success, including Academic Advising, the Reeg Academic Resource Center and the Faculty Development Center. She is coordinating collaborative initiatives among the schools and colleges of Webster University. In support of global mobility for students and faculty, she oversees Study Abroad, Global Program Development and the Webster International Network of Schools (WINS) Program. In addition, she manages Webster’s institutional accreditation and oversees the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

Prior to joining Webster in 2011, Hellerud served as Interim Dean and Associate Dean of the Hamline University School of Business in St. Paul, Minnesota. She holds a JD from the University of Oregon School of Law, a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Hamline University, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and German, also from Hamline.

Michael (Mike) R. Hulsizer is the Dean for the College of Science and Health. He previously served as the Interim Dean for the College of Arts and Sciences and the Acting Dean for the School of Education.

Hulsizer has been a full-time faculty member in the Psychology Department since he arrived at Webster in 1997, and previously served as Department Chair. He teaches Introduction to Psychology, Social Psychology and Biopsychology, as well as Applied Psychology classes on topics such as motivation and emotion, prejudice and discrimination and advanced statistics. He is also a fellow in Webster's Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies.

Hulsizer has written about various topics related to the teaching of psychology, research methods, peace psychology, social justice, hate groups and genocide. He is co-author, with fellow Webster professor Linda M. Woolf, of "A Guide to Teaching Statistics: Innovations and Best Practices (Wiley-Blackwell)." He is a past recipient of the William T. Kemper Award for Excellence in Teaching at Webster University and the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award and has received or shared multiple awards for research and instruction from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology.

Hulsizer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from State University of New York at Buffalo, and an Master of Arts and a PhD in Experimental Psychology from Kent State University.

Dawn Jensen serves as the Vice President of Business Development, focusing on extended campus operations, recruitment efforts and strategic partnerships. Reporting directly to the President, this position was created in 2021 as part of a strategic realignment to help focus on sustainment and viability through enrollment growth, retention and innovation. As Vice President of Business Development, Jensen serves as a liaison by connecting staff with the resources and tools needed to thrive within their role. She also facilitates growth and innovation with extended campus directors by developing and implementing innovative recruitment initiatives to drive enrollments across the United States. In addition to overseeing metro campus operations and providing leadership management to extended campus directors, she also serves as the Chief of Corporate Partnerships. While under her management, the Office of Corporate Partnerships has successfully grown the University’s corporate cohort program by establishing new enrollment opportunities and cultivating corporate relationships.

Prior to Webster, Jensen worked in corporate sales for over 20 years. While working with Anheuser-Busch and Sanofi, she strengthened and fine-tuned her client and territory management skills. Her goal-oriented background has allowed her to apply her vast knowledge of business, in-depth sales strategies and presentation skills to her current role within Webster University.

When not at work, Jensen enjoys traveling abroad. She is also a volunteer ambassador for the local nonprofit, The Covering House.

Scott Kilgallon was named the Director of Athletics for Webster University in 2014, after an extensive search. Kilgallon previously served at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC), where he was Athletic Director for 10 years.

Kilgallon helped build UWEC's reputation in one of the most competitive conferences in the NCAA III, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Prior to UWEC, Kilgallon served for seven years as Director of Athletics and Cross-Country and Track Coach at Southern Vermont College. At Webster, Kilgallon oversees the department's 16 teams and close to 300 student-athletes.

On joining the Webster staff, Kilgallon noted, "I am very excited and honored to lead the Webster University athletics program. It is an exciting time for Gorlok Athletics and I feel fortunate to join the coaches, support staff, University and student-athletes as we continue to move the program forward."

"There is a strong desire to provide our student-athletes with a great experience in a program in which everyone, from faculty and staff to our alumni and community, can be proud of their academic, athletic and community service successes."

Kilgallon also noted one of his strong reasons for coming to Webster was "The commitment from upper administration to our faculty and staff is at a high level. It is important for me that there exists a shared philosophy of working together to continue to build a strong program as our students work toward the attainment of their college degree." Kilgallon becomes the sixth Director of Athletics in the 30 years of the program's existence.

Michelle Loyet joined Webster in 2007 as Assistant Director of Academic Advising. In 2014, she moved to Online Learning and was named Associate Dean of the combined Military Campuses and Online Learning organizations in January of 2018.

In her role as Associate Vice President of Online Education, she leads the online area across all of Webster’s network, as well as the academic area (e.g., academic programs, advising) for military programs. She has a PhD in Anthropology, and teaches classes on human origins, osteology and old-world archaeology.

Danielle MacCartney holds a bachelor's degree in Art and Women's Studies from New Mexico State University, a master's in Social Science from UC Irvine, and a PhD in Sociology, also from UC Irvine.

MacCartney was hired as an Assistant Professor at Webster University in 2007. Before that, she was a Research Fellow at the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law. She was also an Editorial Assistant at the Journal of Social Problems, published by the University of California, Irvine, where she was a Graduate Teaching Assistant. In 2008, she became the Program Director and Chair of Women and Gender Studies in Webster’s Center for Interdisciplinary Studies. In 2011, she received the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award from the Emerson Foundation and was awarded the William T. Kemper Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 2012, she created the Women and Gender Studies major and in 2013, she was named Associate Dean.

In 2015, she established the first college-wide, interdisciplinary student research conference emphasizing faculty-student collaborative research. That program has since expanded to be University wide. In 2018, she served on a University-wide steering committee to analyze and make recommendations for operational and academic efficiencies. The following year, she created Study Abroad research programs to Ghana, Thailand and Costa Rica.

She has served as a fellow in Webster’s Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies since 2012 and has been Director of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University since 2017.

Stephanie Mahfood, PhD, is Interim Dean for the School of Education, Director of Field Experience, and an Associate Professor of Special Education in the Department of Teacher Education. She has taught K-12 learners with special needs in a variety of settings, including Tunisia, North Africa, where she was assigned for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer.

Mahfood's research interests center on bridging the research to practice gap to support individuals with disabilities and best prepare preservice teachers. Her past research publications address interventions for dental phobia in individuals with severe developmental disabilities, library collaborations to support graduate students in applied research experiences and the use of social media communities of practice to promote preservice teacher resilience. Mahfood's current research and practice interests focus on how to design field experiences to develop teachers who are reflective, innovative, collaborative and skilled. She has designed and implemented innovative field experiences embedding applied research projects that preservice teachers co-design and implement with cooperating teachers in the field.

She is currently investigating the effects of Mursion classroom simulation technology and video-enhanced observation (VEO) on teacher reflection about instructional practice. Mahfood's teaching philosophy is anchored in teaching teachers how to teach by teaching. Her course experiences are deliberately designed to model instructional practices such as co-teaching, instructional differentiation, executive function strategies, and instructional scaffolding. She has designed curricular experiences and instructional tools focusing on assisting preservice teachers in systematically assessing and developing their teacher presence in the classroom.

Mahfood has regularly provided trainings and consultation to a variety of organizations within the St. Louis community including the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis, The Soulard School and Lafayette Industries.

Greg Malone joined Webster in 2015 as a Senior Program Manager, later becoming a director. In 2022, Malone was named the Chief Information Officer, leading Webster's Global Information Technology team.

Malone is an accomplished information management executive, with a career scope that includes executive level leadership, program management, operations management and organization development leading several multi-million dollar development efforts that reduced costs, improved operational efficiency and effectiveness, and improved customer responsiveness for several Fortune 500 corporations utilizing information technology, Six Sigma, program management and organization development methodologies.

Melissa O’Connor joined Webster University in 2019. She provides leadership for individual giving efforts, including major gifts, annual giving and donor relations at the University. Prior to joining Webster, she was part of the Alumni and Development team at Washington University in St. Louis. O’Connor and her team coordinate with colleagues across Webster’s network to generate donor support for the University, benefitting our students, faculty and staff.

O’Connor holds a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership from Webster University, as well as a Certificate of Fundraising Management from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

Julie (JP) Palmer is a professor in the George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology and became president of the Faculty Senate in 2021.

She received a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and Chemistry from Colorado State University, MBA from the University of Nebraska and her PhD from the University of Missouri. Palmer's areas of teaching are Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior. Her areas of research include management education, recruitment and organizational reputation. Palmer is the Walker School of Business' Faculty Advisor for Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE). She has been published in Academy of Business Research Journal, Academy of Management Proceedings and Midwest Academy of Management Proceedings.

Eric W. Rothenbuhler was previously Associate Dean of the Scripps College of Communication and Professor of Media Arts and Studies at Ohio University (2010–2012), director of the Media Studies Master of Arts Program at New School University (2001–2004), and a faculty member at University of Iowa (1985–2001) and Texas A&M University (2004–2010). He earned his PhD in 1985, from the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Southern California with a dissertation on the living room celebration of the television audience for the 1984 Summer Olympic games.

As a scholar, teacher and administrator, Rothenbuhler has long pursued the integration of differing approaches to the study and practice of communication and media, and built a record of engagement with interdisciplinary programs, international scholarship, student media, outreach and educational access.

Rothenbuhler's teaching and research address media anthropology, media history and communication systems ranging from ritual through community to media industries, with special interest in music, sound and radio. He is author or co-author of more than 60 articles, chapters, essays and reviews on media, ritual, community, media industries, popular music and communication theory. He has been a keynote or invited speaker at conferences and universities in China, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden and at many universities in the United States.

Paul Steger is the Dean of the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts. He was previously Director of the School of Performing Arts at Virginia Tech, and the Inaugural Director of the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Steger is a fight director, action designer, director and actor with credits on Broadway and in numerous regional theatres. He is a Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors and holds certificates from the British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat, the Nordic Stagefight Society, and Fight Directors Canada. He recently worked in Ireland creating fights for the History Channel series Vikings with his colleague Richard Ryan and was invited to participate and present at the inaugural “World Combat Teachers Conference” in Toronto.

He is a member of AEA, SAG and the National Theatre Conference among others. Recent speaking engagements included the 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 National Association of Schools of Theatre Conferences (NAST). He is a member of the Board of Trustees for the National Theatre Conference, previously served on the Board of Directors for NAST, and has directed more than 50 productions for the educational and professional theatre. His collaborations with a variety of video and performance artists have played such venues as Franklin Furnace (NYC), Randolph Street Gallery, Club Lower Links, The Museum of Contemporary Art (Chicago), The Contemporary Museum of Art (Glasgow) and the Ljubljana Festival (Slovenia).

Steger shares his joy of art, dance, music and theatre with his wife, Sara Bucy, and their daughter, Cooper.

Laura A. Wainz joined Webster University in 2004, and in all, has worked in higher education for more than 25 years. She filled several positions at the University before being promoted to her current role of Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management Operations and University Registrar.

In this position, she leads the Admissions Processing and Enrollment Technology teams and the Office of the Registrar through action-oriented problem solving, proficient data governance and utilization of strategic business processes to achieve programmatic objectives and the overall organizational mission.

Wainz serves on several decision-making teams where she employs her expertise in data management, problem solving, analysis and SQL report writing. Building strong relationships during her time at Webster has enabled her to collaborate and partner with various cross-functional teams to implement design and functional enhancements, and help identify and develop key metrics for use in optimizing operations.

A Webster alum, Wainz earned both an MA in Management and Leadership in 2014, and a BA in Management in 2012 from the University. Also in 2012, she earned a Certificate from the Global Leadership Academy. She has been an adjunct faculty member in Webster’s George H. Walker School of Business & Technology since 2016.