WesternU UEOT & Administration

Dear Colleagues,

As we embark on the 2023-2024 academic year, I am excited to reflect on our highly successful recruitment of extraordinary Administration, Faculty, and Staff leaders, who have joined our WesternU community in new roles.

Hence, I wish to begin by introducing to you our new University Executive Operations Team (UEOT). This esteemed group of highly accomplished and distinguished colleagues will support the Office of the President–and the University–as we continue our transformation to a mature University recognized for its evidence-based culture, civility, transparency, communication, humanism, and growing national and international preeminence.

Please join me in welcoming our new University Executive Operations Team:

• Stephanie Bowlin, Senior Vice President & Special Advisor to the President and the Provost – Chair of UEOT
  Dr. Bowlin has served at WesternU since 1990, where she started her career as an instructor in the Physician Assistant (PA) Program and would be promoted to Associate Professor of PA Education, with tenure, specialty in Pediatrics. Dr. Bowlin has an educational research interest in leadership and accreditation. She was appointed to Special Advisor to the President and Provost in 2023 and serves as a strategic partner on special projects across the university. She graduated from the University of La Verne with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, a master’s degree from WesternU in Health Professions Education, and from the Charles R. Drew University Physician Assistant Program in 1981.
• Beverly Guidry, Senior Vice President for University Student Affairs
  Dr. Guidry joined WesternU in 1982. During her tenure at WesternU, she has served as Director, Health Careers Opportunity Program/Admissions Recruiter, Assistant, Associate and Director of Admissions before being named Assistant Dean of Student Affairs in 1996 and later Dean of Student Affairs. She served as Vice President of Enrollment Management and University Student Affairs and was named Senior Vice President for University Student Affairs in 2019. She leads the offices of Strategic Enrollment Management, Recruitment, Admissions, Admissions Operations, Enrollment Data Systems, Registrar, Student Affairs and Learning Enhancement and Academic Development. Dr. Guidry holds a Bachelor’s degree in Leadership and Management, master’s degree in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Strategic Organizational Development, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management from the University of La Verne.
• Denise Cornish, Interim Senior Vice President, Institutional Shared Services
  Dr. Cornish joined WesternU in 2001. During her tenure at WesternU, she has held various positions, showcasing her versatility and commitment to professional growth. Her roles have included Database Programmer, Project Manager, Director of Information Systems, Senior Director of Enterprise Applications and Databases, Associate Vice President of Information Technology & Deputy COO, Vice President & Deputy COO, and currently, Interim Senior Vice President of the Division of Institutional Shared Services. Dr. Cornish holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems, a master’s degree in Business Administration, and a Doctorate in Business Administration with an emphasis in management from Grand Canyon University.
• Jill Ferreira, Associate Vice President of Operations & Chief of Staff to the President
  Jill joined WesternU in 2015 serving in the College of Health Sciences and the Office of Institutional Engagement, Planning, and Effectiveness.  Jill has served the Office of the President since September 2022 where she was selected as Senior Director of Operations.  She was promoted to Associate Vice President of Operations & Chief of Staff to the President in 2023, overseeing all internal operations for the President’s Office and is a strategic partner for the President and the Board of Trustees.  Jill has more than 15 years of project management and strategic leadership experience. Jill obtained her Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Cal Baptist University and her Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management from the University of La Verne.  She is currently in pursuit of her Doctoral Degree in Organizational Change and Leadership.
• Joshua McFarlen, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
  Josh joined WesternU in July 2018 as Vice President for Finance and was selected as CFO and Treasurer in December 2022. He leads the Financial Services & Treasury Unit and is responsible for operations in the offices of University Financial Services & Treasury, Student Financial Aid, Auxiliary Enterprises (Bookstores), Procurement Services and Risk Management. The CFO’s Office supports the efforts of WesternU by ensuring the financial growth, stability, and long-term sustainability of its mission. Josh earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from the University of Regina and a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Saskatchewan. He is an active, licensed Certified Public Accountant in California and Canada. He began his career in the audit practice of Big 4 public accounting firm KPMG, then served as a Financial Administrative Officer as well as in the Controller’s Office at the University of Saskatchewan. He also spent time in a CFO role in private financial services prior to joining WesternU.
• Paula Crone, Provost & Chief Academic Officer
  Dr. Crone was appointed Provost and Chief Academic Offer on February 6, 2023, and provides oversight for student experience, faculty affairs and academic excellence. She is a proud alum of the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) and has served in multiple executive leadership roles at WesternU, including the founding site dean for the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest (COMP-Northwest), Dean of both COMP and COMP-Northwest and Vice President of the WesternU Oregon campus. Since beginning her executive academic career in 2010, Dr. Crone’s advocacy for students and commitment to academic excellence have positioned her leadership at multiple national and regional forums for patients, providers, and healthcare workforce pipelines. Dr. Crone earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from COMP and holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Portland.
• Suresh Appavoo, Vice President for Humanism, Equity, and Anti-Racism
  Dr. Appavoo joined WesternU in November 2021 as the University’s first Vice President for Humanism, Equity, and Anti-Racism. He brings more than 30 years’ experience in higher education leading Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) and Anti-Racist initiatives, plans and programs. He previously served as Senior Executive for Equity and Diversity/Title-IX Coordinator for Southern Oregon University in Ashland where he oversaw and led comprehensive diversity, equity, and inclusion planning, operations, implementation, evaluation, and monitoring for the institution. Dr. Appavoo earned his Doctor of International and Multicultural Education (EdD) degree from the University of San Francisco, a Master of International Management from the American Graduate School of International Management, Glendale, Arizona, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of the Pacific, Stockton, California. His research and practice focus on intersectionality, transformative DEI leadership, and systemic change-agency in higher education.
• Andrea Giuffrida, Senior Vice President for Research
  Dr. Giuffrida served as Vice President, Strategic Ventures, Technology & Innovation at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) where he led their Office of Technology Commercialization and focused on growing their academic research enterprise through entrepreneurship and innovation. Dr. Giuffrida received his PhD from the University of Catania in Italy in 1992 and earned his Executive MBA at the University of Texas in San Antonio, Texas in 2022.  Dr. Giuffrida has held numerous research leadership positions in both academia and industry. After joining the University of Texas, Health Science Center San Antonio and being promoted to Full Professor with tenure, he provided strategic leadership for their Research Mission. While progressing through leadership roles as Director of Biomedical Research Development, Vice President for Research and Vice President for Strategic Industry Ventures, Dr. Giuffrida built Pipeline and Educational Programs focusing on biosciences, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
• Theresa Tibbs, Chief Human Resources Officer
  Terri joined WesternU in April 2023 as CHRO. She brings more than 30 years of human resources experience in a corporate setting and higher education. She recently served as Vice President Human Resources & Title IX at Presbyterian College, providing campus-wide HR leadership, and support to the Board of Trustee’s HR subcommittee. She also supported undergraduate and Health Sciences Academic programs. As Associate VC, Human Resources at Fayetteville State University, she served on the university’s strategic planning and accreditation committees and in the role of DEI Officer. As Chief of Staff at Elizabeth City State University she partnered with senior leadership to ensure implementation of the University’s initiatives. As Director Human Resources for a major Packaging company, she provided HR leadership for a business group, encompassing 61 facilities and led HR integration/merger activities. Terri earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from North Carolina A&T State University and a Master’s degree in Management Science/Human Resources Management from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh.
• Elizabeth Zamora, Senior Vice President for External Affairs
  Elizabeth served as a member of the WesternU Board of Trustees and most recently as chairwoman of the Board.  She stepped down from the Board of Trustees in April 2023. Elizabeth was the Chief Executive Officer of Bright Prospect, a college access and completion program working with high school students and college students nationwide. Dr. Zamora previously worked in healthcare and higher education advancement, as Executive Director of Women’s and Children’s Health Development at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and as Executive Director of Development and Alumni Relations at the UCLA School of Nursing. An active community leader, she presently serves as an appointed Commissioner on the City Planning Commission for the City of Los Angeles. She was previously a member of the West Adams Terrace Historic Preservation Overlay Zone within the Los Angeles City Planning Office of Historic Resources and previously served as the Chair of the Planning and Land Use Committee for Council District 11. Dr. Zamora is a graduate of Middlebury College, and went on to earn her Masters of Business Administration from Pepperdine University. She earned her Honorary Doctoral degree from Western University of Health Sciences in 2022.
• Gary Gugelchuk, Professor & Provost/COO Emeritus
  Dr. Gugelchuk began his long career at Western University of Health Science (then the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific) on August 1, 1986.  He ended his full-time employment with the University in 2019, having served as the Provost and Chief Operating Officer of WesternU for nearly 7 years.  During the 2015-2016, Dr. Gugelchuk served as the Interim President of the University.  Since his retirement from the Provost/Chief Operating Officer of the University, Dr. Gugelchuk has proudly continued to remain engaged with the institution in his role as Provost and Professor Emeritus.  This included providing leadership of the University’s Coronavirus Response Team since 2020.  In recognition of his many years of service, the University granted Dr. Gugelchuk the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in 2019.

In addition, I am excited to share with you that we have filled an impressive 11 positions over the past year, after successful rigorous national searches, culminating in the recruitment to the WesternU community of the following extraordinary Administration, Faculty, and Staff leaders:

• Provost and Chief Academic Officer: Paula M. Crone (please refer above)
• Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer: Joshua McFarlen (please refer above)
• Interim Chief Human Resources Officer: Shairon Zingsheim
• Permanent Chief Human Resources Officer: Theresa Tibbs (please refer above)
• Dean, College of Dental Medicine: Elizabeth Andrews
  Dr. Andrews is a native of Southern California and obtained a BA in biology from California State University, Northridge followed by her DDS degree from University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. Dr. Andrews practiced general dentistry for 10 years in Merced, California and then went on to complete her specialty training and master’s degree in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at the University of North Carolina (UNC), Chapel Hill. Elizabeth Andrews joined WesternU CDM in its infancy in 2008. In her most recent role, she served as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and IPE Implementation Liaison for the College of Dental Medicine. Dr. Andrews also led the college to successfully complete two accreditation site visits as chair of the CDM Accreditation Steering Committee. Nationally, Dr. Andrews served as the immediate past chair for the ADEA Women in Leadership Section and currently serves as the councilor for the WIL Section.
• Dean, College of Podiatric Medicine: Jonathan Labovitz
  Dean Labovitz joined WesternU in 2009 and has served the College of Podiatric Medicine in numerous leadership roles, including Department Chair, Associate Dean of Clinical Education and Graduate Placement, and Medical Director of the WesternU Foot & Ankle Center. He was named Dean on Nov. 1, 2022. Dr. Labovitz earned his Bachelor of Arts in Biology with a concentration in Nutritional Biochemistry from Cornell University and his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine. He completed his Podiatric Medicine and Surgery residency at Botsford General Hospital in Farmington Hills, Michigan, then traveled to Graz, Austria for the AO International Orthopedic Trauma Surgery Fellowship at LKH University Clinic for Traumatology. He also served as a Visiting Scholar in Health Policy and Management at UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health.
• Senior Director of Operations, OOP: Jill Ferreira (please refer above)
• Executive Liaison Officer: Joshua Cameron
  Dr. Cameron was appointed as the Executive Liaison Officer in the Office of the President in March 2023, where he manages and strengthens the relationship between executive leaders, offices across WesternU campus, and with external partners. Dr. Cameron is an AGB certified Board Professional and is charged with planning, coordination, and facilitation of the WesternU Board of Trustees Meetings. As a visual neuroscience faculty member at WesternU since 2010, Dr. Cameron served as the Academic Senate Chair from 2017-2019. Dr. Cameron completed his postdoctoral research at Harvard University’s Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, earned a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Utah, and holds a bachelor’s of science degree in Molecular Biology from Brigham Young University
• Senior Vice President for Research: Andrea Giuffrida (please refer above)
• General Counsel: Simone Miller
  Simone has been a valued and trusted member of the WesternU community since joining the Counsel’s office in 2015. Simone served as Associate University Counsel from 2015-2018, Senior University Counsel from 2018-2021, and has been our Interim General Counsel since July 2021. As Interim Counsel, Simone offered strategic legal advice to the Board of Trustees, senior university administrators, the Office of the President, and our Colleges and administrative departments. Before joining WesternU, Simone was an Employee Relations Consultant at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Departmental Civil Services Representative for LA County’s Department of Children and Family Services. Simone earned her Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from UCLA. She is a member of the California Bar, the National Association of College and University Attorneys, the Society for Human Resource Management, the International Association of Privacy Professionals, and the Black Women Lawyers Association.
• Senior Vice President of External Affairs: Elizabeth Zamora (please refer above)

Please join me in congratulating and welcoming these distinguished accomplished leaders to their new roles at WesternU.

I wish you all a restful end of the summer, and I look forward to seeing you on campus soon!

With my warmest regards,
Robin