Leadership

Ravi Ammigan, associate provost for international programs, is responsible for leading the internationalization and global engagement efforts at UD. He oversees the Center for Global Programs and Services and provides direction to the educational, programmatic, and financial mission of its units, which includes Study Abroad, International Student and Scholar Services, and Global Outreach and Partnerships. Reporting to the provost, he works in close collaboration with academic and administrative units to enhance global learning opportunities and broaden the University’s international portfolio through student, faculty, and staff engagement worldwide.

With over 20 years of experience in the field of international higher education, Ammigan first joined UD from Michigan State University in 2013 to serve as director of the Office for International Students and Scholars. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Kendall College, a master’s degree in communication from Michigan State University, and a doctorate in Higher Education Internationalization from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, Italy.

Melissa L. Bard provides strategic leadership on human resources matters to UD’s administrators, faculty and staff. While fostering a customer-service-oriented human resources approach, she works closely with other administrators to align HR, financial and operational systems efficiently.

With experience building high performing teams and collaborative relationships, Bard has led the human resources operations at Frederick Community College, California State University, East Carolina University and Pennsylvania State University.

Beth G. Brand, Vice President and University Secretary, acts as a liaison between the President and the Board of Trustees, providing administrative support for the Board and its chair, as well as overseeing the University's records management and archives operation.

In addition, she is responsible for coordination of presidential leadership advisory boards, as well as planning and delivering presidential, University-wide events, including Commencement and Convocations. Brand is also responsible for building an effective institutional model to cultivate corporate engagement in partnership with other areas of the University.

An administrator in UD’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations since 2007, she most recently served as Senior Associate Vice President for Development. From 2016-17, Brand served as the University’s Interim Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations. She is a UD alumna.

Martha Buell is Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, charged with ensuring that the University recruits, nurtures and retains high quality faculty. She joined UD in 1996, serving as the founding director of UD’s federal Early Head Start program from 1997 to 2002. From 2009 to 2020, she directed the Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood. 

Her scholarship focuses on factors influencing quality in early care and education programs. Her current research focuses on policy alignment and implementation related to suspension, expulsion and exclusionary discipline in state subsidized child care and preschool programs. Buell also has a joint appointment in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr., School of Public Policy and Administration.

She served as president of the Faculty Senate in 2017-18, and she has served on multiple committees for the University, the Faculty Senate and the UD chapter of the American Association of University Professors.

Buell earned her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Vanderbilt University, her master’s in education from Tulane University and her doctorate in human development and family studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Glenn Carter, former global marketing communications leader for the 3M Company in St. Paul, Minnesota, serves as Vice President for Communications and Marketing. Reporting directly to the President, he is responsible for the vision, implementation and supervision of the University’s overarching communication operations, as well as its branding strategy and initiatives, visual identity and development of major institutional relationships. 

In addition to serving as global marketing communications leader in 3M’s Global Design department, he held positions at 3M in the Corporate Communications Department. He earlier held positions with the Abernathy MacGregor Group Inc., the Charles A. Dana Foundation and the Paley Center for Media. A cum laude graduate of Vanderbilt University with a degree in English, he earned his master of science degree in integrated marketing communications, with a specialty in corporate public relations, from Northwestern University. 

Michael Chajes is interim vice provost for undergraduate education and a faculty member in the Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition in the College of Health Sciences. He leads programs that champion UD undergraduate student education. As part of a comprehensive team, his responsibilities include the coordination, oversight, development, implementation and assessment of initiatives that cross all disciplines and focus on the undergraduate academic experience the University of Delaware.

In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he oversees the University Studies Program, which serves approximately 1,500 undeclared students, the Office of Academic Enrichment, the Student Suppoprt Services Program TRIO grant and the First Year Seminar Program, the Center Health Professions Studies and the Undergraduate Research Program.

Joining the UD faculty in 1990, Chajes has served as chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and dean of the College of Engineering. He has taught classes and conducted research in the areas of structural engineering, structural health monitoring of bridges and applications of sustainability.

In 2019, Chajes was named director of the Honors Program, which was elevated to become the Honors College in 2020, with Chajes as the inaugural dean.

Chajes earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and graduated with honors. He received his master’s and doctoral degrees in civil engineering from the University of California at Davis.

Angela Chen serves as VP of Information Technologies and Chief Information Officer. She was appointed in June 2023. Chen previously served as global chief institutional solutions officer at New York University Information Technology, where she provided leadership for NYU’s strategic use of information technologies and data for both administrative and academic functions. She directed a global team of more than 150 employees and was responsible for many critical IT functions.

Chen earned her bachelor’s degree in clinical medicine at Shanghai Medical University and her master’s degree in management information systems at Virginia Commonwealth University. 

Mark Clodfelter is associate dean of the Division of Professional and Continuing Studies, which is responsible for providing educational opportunities for anyone seeking to begin or complete their college career, enhance their professional skills or enrich their personal life. UD PCS also provides customized training and educational services to area businesses, organizations and professional associations. The unit also includes the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and UD’s ACCESS Center, which provides free academic advisement, career counseling and credit registration assistance for non-degree students, prospective and returning UD students and other members of the community. Clodfelter was formerly director of UD's Music School, where he was a professor of trumpet. Clodfelter's career has also included lifelong work as a professional musician, and for a time he ran his own music instruction studio before becoming a professor at the University of North Carolina Greensboro and the University of Kentucky.

Trevor A. Dawes reports to the Provost and works closely with administrator, faculty and students to provide leadership and resources that enhance research, learning and service at the University. He oversees University libraries, including the flagship Morris Library, as well as the University of Delaware Press and University Museums, which includes the Old College and Mechanical Hall art galleries and the Mineralogical Museum in Penny Hall. 

Formerly Associate University Librarian at Washington University in St. Louis, he previously held positions at the Princeton University Library and the Columbia University Libraries. Active in library and information services professional organizations, he earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology at Columbia University, a master’s degree in educational administration and educational leadership from Columbia University Teachers College and a master’s degree in library sciences from Rutgers University.

James Dicker, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, is responsible for promoting a culture of philanthropy throughout the University community and beyond and for enhancing connections of alumni to their alma mater.

Before joining UD, he served for three years as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Temple University, leading the alumni relations and development teams. Previously, he served for 12 years as Vice President of Development and College Relations at Lafayette College, where he was responsible for strategic planning and oversight of a $400 million comprehensive capital campaign.

Under his leadership, Lafayette’s development effort won 2012 and 2013 Circle of Excellence Awards for Education Fundraising from CASE, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. He earned his bachelor’s degree in government and law at Lafayette. 

As the University's chief legal counsel, Angela Downin is responsible for the management and supervision of all legal affairs for the University.

Reporting to the President, Downin serves as principal legal advisor to the Board of Trustees, the President, and senior staff on litigation, regulatory, and contract matters.

Miguel Garcia-Diaz serves as Vice President for Research, Scholarship, and Innovation (VPRSI). The VPRSI is the University’s senior research officer, responsible for advancing the University’s research enterprise and providing oversight over research administration, technology transfer, as well as several service centers and research institutes.

Garcia-Diaz, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, joined UD from Stony Brook University, where he was a Professor of Pharmacological Sciences, interim Vice President for Research, and the institution’s operations manager for the SUNY Research Foundation.

A structural biologist, Garcia-Diaz has focused his own research on understanding how mitochondria — the power plants in cells — build the different structures needed for cellular respiration and energy production. 

Garcia-Diaz received his B.S. in biochemistry and Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from the Universidad Autónoma in Madrid, Spain. He also pursued postdoctoral research as a visiting fellow at NIH’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Kim Isett currently serves as the vice provost for academic programs and university initiatives. In this role she supports academic program development, the academic program reviews of all academic units across campus, and university-wide cross-college units such as the Center for Teaching and Assessment (CTAL) and the Office of Sustainability. Her academic leadership experience has spanned programmatic and research foci. She has served as associate dean for research and the director of the health policy and management concentration of the Master of Public Health at UD’s Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration. At Georgia Tech, she served as director of graduate studies in the School of Public Policy, overseeing four masters and Ph.D. programs, and while at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health she served on the schoolwide curriculum coordinating committee.

Her research focuses on institutional pressures and dynamics in implementing government services, with a particular interest in the delivery of services to vulnerable populations, and the use of evidence in public decision-making. She has been the PI or co-PI on numerous federal and foundation grants and participated in the MacArthur Foundation’s Mental Health Policy Research Network (2002-2008) as a network associate. Prior to joining the University of Delaware, Dr. Isett was on faculty at Georgia Tech, Columbia University, and Texas A&M, and completed a NIMH-sponsored post doc at UNC-Chapel Hill. She holds a Ph.D. in management (organization theory) and an MPA (health and human services policy) from the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management, and a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA.

Peter Krawchyk Vice President for Facilities, Real Estate and Auxiliary Services and University Architect, is responsible for campus design, construction, maintenance and operations, custodial services, financial services and, working with senior leadership, the strategic development of the Science, Technology and Research (STAR) Campus. He also leads enterprises including the UD Barnes and Noble Bookstore, Dining Services, Hotel and Conference Services, Parking and Transportation, Real Estate and Printing.

Previously, Krawchyk has served as the University Architect and Director of Planning and Project Delivery since July 2015. Earlier he was the University Architect and Campus Planner from 2012-15 and Director of Facilities Planning and Construction from 2010-12. Before that, Krawchyk served as a Senior Associate at Ayers Saint Gross from 2008-10 and as Associate Director of Facilities Planning and Construction at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1998-2008. He earned his master of arts degree from Duke University and a master of architecture degree from North Carolina State University.

Andre’ N. McMillan serves as the Senior Director of Internal Audit, where he leads his team in providing risk-based assurance and advisory services.  Andre' has 20 years of auditing and accounting experience, including four years in public accounting with Baker Tilly.  Prior to joining the University of Delaware, Andre’ worked as a Grant Manager for the Reinvestment Fund.

Andre’ earned his Master of Science in Business Analytics and Information Management from the University of Delaware, and his Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Organizational Leadership from Wilmington University.  In addition, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Information Systems from Radford University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

As Vice President for Enrollment Management, Rodney Morrison has responsibility for identifying, attracting, admitting, yielding and retaining students. He oversees the offices of Admissions, the Registrar and Student Financial Services and works with other senior administrators, faculty, staff and students to integrate operational and strategic enrollment management initiatives across the campus.

Before joining UD in 2019, he served as Associate Provost for Enrollment and Retention Management at Stony Brook University. He also has worked in enrollment management at the Camden Campus of Rutgers University, Mount Mary College, the Wharton School, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Rochester.

Christine (Chrissi) Rawak is Director of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation. Before coming to UD, she spent more than a decade in athletics at the University of Michigan, where she oversaw external relations and strategic initiatives.

Previously she spent seven years in Michigan’s Office of University Development as the Assistant Vice President of Talent Management and Development Operations. From 1998-2004, she was Director of Personnel and Business Resources in the Office of Alumni Relations and Development at Northwestern University.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in sports management and communications from Michigan and a master’s degree in communication from Northwestern. 

José-Luis Riera serves as Vice President for Student Life, after serving as Interim Vice President since 2017. He joined UD in 2010 as Associate Dean of Students and was named Dean of Students in 2014.

His career in higher education includes a variety of experiences and progressive responsibilities in student affairs, including positions in student life at University of Maryland College Park, Drexel University and Colorado State University. A graduate of Muhlenberg College, he earned a master of science degree in student affairs from Colorado State University and his doctorate in college student personnel administration from the University of Maryland. 

Louis Rossi is vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate College, providing oversight for more than 150 graduate programs across all seven colleges and one school. He promotes excellence in graduate and professional education across campus and works to enhance support for graduate student services, increase funding opportunities, strengthen and expand interdisciplinary and cross-college collaborative programs, develop new high-profile initiatives that build on the University’s strengths, and promote the national and international visibility of current graduate students and alumni. Rossi joined UD’s Department of Mathematical Sciences in 2001. Rossi earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Harvey Mudd College, his master’s degree in mathematics at the University of California Berkeley and his doctorate in applied mathematics at the University of Arizona.

Aimee Turner began her career working in public accounting, went on to become chief financial officer and treasurer at the J. Craig Venter Institute. She then moved to senior level positions in accounting and finance at peer institutions, including as the associate vice president and university controller at Cornell University and university controller at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Since 2018, Turner has served as chief financial officer of the Duke Clinical Research Institute, the largest academic clinical research organization and part of the Duke University School of Medicine.

She earned her bachelor of science degree in accounting from Frostburg State University with a minor in psychology and holds a CPA license in Maryland and North Carolina.

Michael L. Vaughan serves as Vice Provost for Equity and works to advance the University’s academic mission and goals in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion and human rights by leading efforts to define, assess and cultivate equity as both an institutional value and an academic priority. He is a senior adviser to the Vice President for Institutional Equity/CDO and the University Provost on matters of equity, diversity, inclusion and social justice and collaborates with campus leaders and others on initiatives designed to support UD's overall academic equity, diversity, inclusion and social justice efforts.

With more than 25 years of academic administrative experience at UD, he previously served as Associate Dean for Engineering Undergraduate Education, managing overall college-level undergraduate academic infrastructure and processes. He also holds a secondary faculty appointment as an Instructor in the College of Engineering.

Vaughan received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from North Carolina A&T State University, and he completed his Ph.D. in civil engineering at UD.

Dana Veron, associate provost for faculty development, is responsible for facilitating the ongoing development of programs and policies that increase faculty success as they navigate their careers at UD. She joined the faculty of the School of Marine Science and Policy in 2006, focusing on the impact of changing surface conditions on regional climate.

During her time at UD, she has served in several leadership positions, including the director of the environmental science and management graduate program, director of environmental studies, director of the climate scholars’ program, director of environmental science, director of First State Marine Wind, Director of the Gerald J. Mangone Climate Change Science and Policy Hub and as associate chair of the Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences. A former co-director of UD’s Faculty Achievement Program, Veron has significant experience supporting peer-mentoring in small group settings, creating and implementing faculty professional development workshops focused on work-life synergy, time management, and preparation of dossier materials for evaluation, promotion, and tenure. She has served as member and chair of the Faculty Senate’s Student and Faculty Honors Committee and as a member of the Provost’s Task Force on Equity in Promotion. She holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from the State University of New York, College at Geneseo, and a doctorate in oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.