Presidential Finalists
David Jenemann
Dr. David Jenemann is Dean of the Patrick Leahy Honors College (PLHC) and Professor
of English and Film and Television Studies at the University of Vermont. PLHC is an
interdisciplinary college drawing undergraduates from across the university. As dean,
Jenemann oversees recruitment and retention, faculty support, curricular innovation,
inclusive excellence, and advancement. The Honors College also houses UVM’s campus
wide Office of Fellowships, Opportunities, and Undergraduate Research, which serves
all 12,000 undergraduates.
An internationally recognized scholar of the Frankfurt School, Jenemann has published
numerous articles and three books on the philosopher and sociologist Theodor W. Adorno.
His research spans intellectual and cultural history, mass media, and the intersection
of sports and society. His book on the cultural anthropology of baseball gloves brings
many of these interests together.
Jenemann is proudest of his work supporting student achievement and celebrating the
extraordinary accomplishments of students during and after college. He and his family
have deep ties to New England, and outside the university he enjoys all four seasons,
hiking, running, and playing on an adult baseball team.
Michael j. Middleton
Dr. Michael Middleton is Provost and Vice President for Teaching, Learning, and Growth
at Ramapo College of New Jersey, a role he assumed in 2023. As chief academic officer,
he provides strategic leadership for the college’s academic programs, faculty development,
and institutional planning, advancing a vision centered on inclusive excellence, student
success, and the transformative power of the liberal arts.
Middleton brings extensive experience in higher education leadership. Prior to joining
Ramapo, he served as the Klara and Larry Silverstein Dean of the School of Education
at Hunter College and as Dean of the College of Education and Human Development at
University of Massachusetts Boston. He also held faculty and leadership roles at University
of New Hampshire, where he chaired the education department and was awarded a named
professorship in recognition of his teaching, research, and service.
A scholar of motivation and learning, Middleton’s research examines how classroom
practices and cultural contexts influence student engagement, achievement, and well-being.
His work—supported by funding from the National Science Foundation—has contributed
to understanding how educators can cultivate effective learning environments and strengthen
student persistence. He is co-author of Motivation to Learn: Transforming Classroom Culture to Support Student Achievement, which explores strategies for enhancing student motivation through classroom culture
and instructional practice.
Sherri Givens Mylott
Dr. Sherri Givens Mylott brings three decades of higher education leadership, having served on five presidential cabinets and raising in excess of $1.1 billion across five institutions. Dr. Mylott is a strategic and visionary leader who has completed campaigns across multiple unique institution types (public, private, women’s, HSI) in different economic conditions. Her work has earned national awards and recognition as a trusted leader and partner.
Dr. Mylott is a skilled strategist known for building entrepreneurial teams and fostering inclusive, mission-driven cultures. She is a national presenter and thought leader and has led inclusive strategic planning processes, partnered with faculty and trustees through shared governance, and elevated institutional visibility through enrollment strategies and national branding. She built public-private partnerships, workforce-aligned academic programs, led an institution through COVID-19 with decisive and inclusive leadership, developed sustainable revenue models, and inspired cross-campus collaboration. She brings a bold, authentic, and human approach to leadership.
Recognized for her abilities, Dr. Mylott was nominated and selected as one of 20 nationwide to participate in the American Academic Leadership Institute’s Executive Leadership Academy. She was also one of 17 selected to the Presidential Vision and Institutional Mission Institute, sponsored by the Eli Lilly Foundation.
She holds a BA from the College of William & Mary, an MPA from Old Dominion University, and an Ed.D. from the University of La Verne. Additionally, she holds certificates in Leadership from Harvard University and Non-Profit Management from Indiana University.
Dr. Mylott is married to Paul Mylott and has four children and two dogs, Oblio and Arrow.
Diana L. Rogers-Adkinson
Dr. Diana L. Rogers-Adkinson is a senior higher education leader and chief academic officer with extensive experience advancing student success, academic quality, and institutional transformation across complex, multi-campus systems. She currently serves as Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs and Chief Academic Officer for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), providing system-level leadership for 10 universities serving approximately 80,000 students and overseeing academic and student-affairs priorities.
Dr. Rogers-Adkinson previously served as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, where she helped lead the academic integration of three legacy universities, unify curriculum and operations, and strengthen enrollment and retention strategies. Her career also includes service as Provost and Senior Vice President at Bloomsburg University and as a dean at Southeast Missouri State University.
Recognized for collaborative leadership, fiscal stewardship, fundraising success, and a strong commitment to equity and access, she has secured significant external and philanthropic support, expanded academic pathways, and supported evidence-based advising and student support initiatives.
A tenured professor and published scholar, Dr. Rogers-Adkinson holds a Ph.D. from Kent State University and brings a student-centered, mission-driven approach to presidential leadership.