Our Partners
ALLEN L. SESSOMS, PHD
A physicist, diplomat and education administrator, Allen Sessoms’ wide experience brings a broad perspective to the diverse issues faced by institutions of higher education., Sessoms first worked as a scientific associate at the European Organization of Nuclear Research (CERN). He joined the U.S. State Department as a senior technical advisor in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, subsequently serving there as Director of the Office of Nuclear Technology and Safeguards before becoming the Counselor for Scientific and Technological Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in France. Sessoms was then assigned to Mexico, where he served as its Deputy Chief of Mission (Deputy Ambassador). After service in the State Department, he became the Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Massachusetts. Later Sessoms spent time at Harvard University as a visiting scholar; then as a fellow of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and as a lecturer in public policy. Sessoms served as the ninth president of Delaware State University prior to his appointment as president of the University of the District of Columbia. Recently, he has been a senior vice president with The Hollins Group, an executive search firm, where he managed the higher education practice. Sessoms was recipient of a Ford Foundation Grant and an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship. Sessoms received a B.S. in physics from Union College (N.Y.) an M.S. in physics from the University of Washington, a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) and a Ph.D. from Yale University. He has been awarded two honorary doctorates among many other national and international awards.
CHRISTOPHER G. APPLEGATE, MBA, MCMB
Chris Applegate has unparalleled experience in financial administration across a variety of academic and government environments. Applegate helped develop the Money Supply Index and Information Technology operations for the Federal Reserve System as a Grade 15 Chief Technology Administrator & Planner for the FRS Board of Governors. In commercial banking, he pioneered new technologies, transformed business models to profitability, and Chaired a nationwide effort to rebuild and recertify workforce & risk management curriculum for the Mortgage Banking Industry. As an Academic Director of multiple campuses, he transformed financial outcomes from deficit to surplus for the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). While at NOVA, he developed education partnerships with the European Dual Education System sponsored by the Republic of Germany and the US Utility industry sponsored by the Edison Electric Institute. Most recently, he has served US Central Command’s Afghanistan Theatre with a Secret Clearance to improve outcomes, he worked as a professional Central Banker, Commercial Banking Executive, Academic Administrator, Adjunct Graduate Professor of Finance, and Department of Defense Contractor. In the commercial banking sector he has served as Senior Officer, President, and Board Member for FSB, Commonwealth United, Inc., F&M National Bank, NA, Potomac Bank, & Colombo Bank, FSB; and served as Adjunct Graduate Professor at George Washington University and Trinity University.
FREDERICK M. BERNTHAL, PH.D
Fred Bernthal brings deep government and university policy experience to HEIG. He was President of Universities Research Association (URA) for 17 years until 2011, and continues to serve URA as Senior Advisor to the Board of Trustees. A non-profit consortium of 90 research universities, URA engages in the planning, construction, and operation of large research facilities as a contractor for the Federal Government. Previously he served in various U.S. government posts, including four years as Deputy Director of the National Science Foundation where he was also Acting Director for a year; two years as Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, Environment and Science; 5 years as a Member of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and 5 years on the staff of U.S. Senator Howard Baker. From 1970-80 he was a professor of chemistry and physics at Michigan State University. He did advanced study at Yale University, and later at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen as a NATO Senior Scientist Fellow. He was a director of PPL Corporation, and later of the PPL spin-off Talen Energy Corporation for 18 years. Dr. Bernthal has served since 2006 as a director of Information Systems Laboratories, Inc. Bernthal received a B.S. degree in chemistry from Valparaiso University and a Ph.D. in nuclear chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley.
WILLIAM J. HYNES, PHD
William J. Hynes’ experience as an academic and as a university leader makes him uniquely qualified to assist college and university leaders in today’s turbulent environment. He is a distinguished teacher, administrator, writer, consultant, mentor, and recruiter of talented and creative leaders. As a leadership recruiter, Dr. Hynes has conducted more than 20 successful searches for department chairs, endowed chairs, deans, vice-presidents, and CEOs. His teaching includes some three decades of tenured service and receipt of a National Endowment for the Humanities year-long research grant at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Most recently, as President of Holy Names University (HNU) in Oakland, California he tripled the HNU endowment. Dr. Hynes has worked with the American Council on Education, the Association of American Colleges and Universities, the American Academy of Religion, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, TIAA-CREF, the Women’s Institute for Research in History, Continental Bank, Food Bank of the Rockies, KCFR public television in Denver, and a host of colleges and universities on such topics as board development, mission centered innovative change, proactive recruiting, faculty development, mid-career change, graduated retirement, faculty handbooks, and roles and responsibilities of department chairs. He holds the Ph.D. and MA from the University of Chicago in the History of Christian Thought and the MA from Marquette University in Religious Studies. In addition, he has earned a Certificate from the Ecumenical Institute of the University of Geneva and two Certificates in Educational Administration from Harvard University.
HAMID SHIRVANI, PH.D. FRSA, FASLA
Dr. Hamid Shirvani has worked in the field of higher education for 39 years, with 28 years spent in senior level executive leadership and management posts. He has served as : Chancellor of the North Dakota University System and Professor of Architectural Engineering at the University of North Dakota; President of California State University, Stanislaus and Professor of Art and Architecture; President of Briar Cliff University and University Professor, a Senior Fellow of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities; Provost and Executive Vice President at Chapman University and Martha Masters Professor of Art and Architecture; Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research at Queens College of the City University of New York and Professor of Urban Studies; Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell and Professor of Philosophy; and Dean of the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado at Denver and Professor of Architecture and Urban Design. In addition, he has served on the faculties of the State University of New York at Syracuse, and the Pennsylvania State University. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from Princeton University, an M.L.A. from Harvard University, an M.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and he is a graduate of the Polytechnic of Central London.Dr. Shirvani is internationally recognized for his contributions to the fields of architecture and urban design and planning.