Clarke Announces New Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs

Clarke University is proud to announce Dr. Michael C. Gleason as the new Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. 

The Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs plays a critical leadership role in advancing Clarke’s educational mission by providing strategic leadership for both Academic Affairs and Student Affairs. In this role, Dr. Gleason will lead the development and implementation of programs, and initiatives that strengthen academic excellence, student success, and whole-person formation. Working closely with the Dean of Academic Affairs, Dean of Faculty, and Dean of Student Affairs, he will help ensure that Clarke continues to provide the high-quality, values-based educational experience for which the University is known. 

“Throughout the search process, Michael impressed us with his collaborative, relationship-centered approach to leadership, his commitment to students, and his ability to bring people together around complex institutional challenges,” said President Yvonne C. Zimmerman. “His experience in academic innovation, student success, and cross-campus collaboration as both an administrator and a tenured faculty member makes him an excellent fit for Clarke at this important moment.” 

Gleason brings over 20 years of educational experience to the role, having most recently served as the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Professor of Leadership at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. There he guided key initiatives tied to academic affairs, student success, resources stewardship, and more, including the development of a Master of Arts in Leadership program. Prior to this role, he served as Director of the Leadership Institute at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas and most recently as Associate for Vocation and Mentoring at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. His full curriculum vitae is available here. 

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside the student-centered faculty and staff who make Clarke University such a special community,” Gleason said. “It is an honor to be selected to lead the newly integrated division of academic and student affairs, as we collaborate in creating meaningful learning environments for students to maximize their success and achieve their goals.”