Organizational Updates - May 2026
May 26, 2026
Dear Colleagues,
It is hard to believe it has been three weeks since commencement. I want to say thank you to everyone who helped make the move to Salem Stadium go so well. We made that change for a number of important reasons—accessibility, safety, parking, and cost among them—but I also knew it would feel different for many people who care deeply about our traditions. That is why it has meant so much to hear such positive feedback about the ceremony. One parent wrote, “The commencement ceremony was meaningful and felt connected. It was pretty amazing for the graduates to see a packed stadium applauding their achievements.” Thank you for helping make it such a special day for our graduates and their families.
As I shared this time last year, Roanoke College is not alone in facing real financial pressure right now. Higher education is changing quickly. The demographic cliff we have been talking about for years is here. Families are looking harder at the value of a college degree, artificial intelligence is changing expectations, and inflation continues to affect nearly every part of the economy. All of that makes for a more uncertain environment, especially for smaller colleges like ours.
As I have worked with the Board of Trustees and other stakeholders on reducing the College’s $7.5 million structural deficit over three years, it has also become clear that the incoming class will be smaller than we had anticipated. That makes the work in front of us even more pressing and important. We need to continue to be disciplined and focused about our costs, continue investing in academic programs students want and need for successful careers, and strengthen both recruitment and retention. One important step we have undertaken is to simplify the Cabinet structure to only four Vice Presidents, along with the General Counsel and Chief of Staff. This reorganization includes no salary increases and will help us operate more efficiently, make decisions more nimbly and reduce cost.
To that end, I want to thank Jay Ellison, our VP for Student Success, as he concludes his service on June 30th, for all he has done over the past two years to support our students and strengthen this area of the College.
I am very pleased to welcome Mark Campbell as interim Vice President for Enrollment Strategy and Student Success, effective June 3rd. Mark brings deep experience in both enrollment and student success, and I am grateful he is joining us at such an important time and juncture in our college’s history. Mark has served in senior enrollment and student success roles at several institutions, including Cooper Union, The New School, San Francisco Art Institute, and Berklee College of Music. He will take a close look at every part of our recruitment and retention work and help us make sure we provide students the thoughtful, data-informed support they deserve.
In this new structure, Rita Farlow will serve as Senior Associate Vice President for Communications and Marketing, with a clear focus on supporting enrollment growth and advancement efforts. Ashlee Williams, while continuing as our Title IX Coordinator, will also assume the role of Assistant Vice President for Student Success – Orientation to Career. In that newly envisioned role, she will help make sure students begin exploring meaningful work-based opportunities from the beginning of their academics here, with a charge for strengthening our connections to first-year advising, internships, experiential learning, and study-away opportunities. Lisa Stoneman, AVP for RC-RV, will join the President's Office as part of an innovation team led by Ryan King. In accordance with accreditation guidelines, academic programs in RC-RV will continue to be developed, approved, and implemented with oversight from faculty and Kathy Wolfe. At the end of the day, our goal is simple: to help students turn their education into strong measurable outcomes after graduation. To help you better understand these organizational changes, please reference the department charts on the Presidential page here.
I know that change can bring questions and uncertainty. But I also know the strength of this community. We care deeply about this institution, about one another, and most of all about our students. I am confident that if we stay focused, work together, and keep our mission at the center, we will move through this period well. Thank you, as always, for your dedication to our students and to Roanoke College.
With hope,
Frank Shushok Jr.