Senior Administrative Searches - RH Perry

Zane State College Names Dr. Larisa Harper as Chief Academic Officer

Beginning in early spring, the College embarked on an executive search to fill the Chief Academic Officer (CAO) role and I am pleased to announce that Dr. Larisa Harper has accepted the role and will begin her service to the College as our new CAO on January 1, 2022.

Dr. Harper has been the Director of College Credit Plus (CCP) at the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) since October of 2016. In this role, she focused on providing ongoing assistance to professionals in the secondary and postsecondary fields regarding CCP implementation, strategies, and tactics. This role included communicating and guiding professionals through all legislative policy changes. Additionally, students, parents, legislators, and state leaders from across the United States have reached out to Dr. Harper for information about CCP.

Prior to her role at ODHE, Dr. Harper was responsible for overseeing all dual enrollment efforts at Zane State College, including program and curriculum development, secondary school collaborations, and teacher credential review. She worked at Zane State for nearly 20 years. Dr. Harper served in many roles, including Student Services Administrator, Grant Writer, and Project Director for several local, state, and federal grant projects. She also contributed to the assessment, accreditation, and strategic plan initiatives. Larisa has also worked at Otterbein University in the graduate program department.

Dr. Harper earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and Psychology from Ohio University. She earned a Master’s degree in English from Northern Arizona University and completed her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration at Ohio University.

Alvernia University Names Dr. Darryl Mace as Their Inaugural VP for Mission, Diversity and Inclusion

Seasoned faculty member and diversity officer Mace selected for senior leadership role

Alvernia University names Darryl C. Mace, Ph.D. as its inaugural vice president for Mission, Diversity and Inclusion. Mace brings over 15 years as a scholar, department chair and diversity and inclusion officer to his new role at Alvernia.

“Darryl’s background as a scholar, educator, diversity officer and campus leader makes him the perfect candidate to assist in the expansion of the university’s mission as well as the institution’s stewardship of our Franciscan identity and core values,” said Alvernia President John R. Loyack. “His data-driven approach, ability to cultivate support and fellowship in both the campus and wider communities and expertise in developing and implementing best practices will greatly benefit Alvernia’s student-centric strategic direction.”

In his new role, Mace will be charged with ensuring that mission, diversity and inclusion are central in all decision-making at the university, that Alvernia’s environment is welcoming and supportive for all students, faculty and staff, and that the culture of the university is one in which conversations about challenging issues are safe and educationally productive. He will directly oversee the operations of the university’s Office of Mission and Ministry.

“From the moment I read the job description for the vice president for Mission, Diversity and Inclusion, I knew Alvernia University was the right place for me,” said Mace. “I am excited to join the community as we embrace Alvernia’s mission-focused inclusive excellence in the continued implementation of the university’s Alvernia Advantage strategic plan.”

Mace comes from Cabrini University, where he helped establish and co-chaired the university’s Inclusivity Council and served as the chief diversity and inclusion officer across Cabrini’s academic affairs division. Under his leadership, Cabrini achieved many firsts, including developing an inclusivity strategic plan, a statement of inclusive excellence, a diversity and inclusion climate survey, and a university wide assessment protocol centered on diversity and inclusion strategic goals.

Mace has also led the creation of diversity and inclusion-based programs, including Black Studies, American Studies, Gender and Body Studies, Latin American Studies, Religious Studies and Cultural Studies. Outside of Cabrini, Mace has served as a diversity and inclusion consultant for St. Norbert College, Seba Enrichment Academy and has developed strong partnerships with the Interfaith Youth Core, Laurel House Domestic Violence Prevention Agency, Norristown State Hospital and Hope Community Church of King of Prussia.

A published historian, Mace’s books include In Remembrance of Emmett Till: Regional Stories and Media Responses to the Black Freedom Struggle (University Press of Kentucky, 2014); American History Through Its Greatest Speeches (ABC-CLIO, 2017); and Rosa Parks: A Life in American History (ABC-CLIO, 2021).

Mace holds a graduate certificate in women’s studies and a doctorate in African American History from Temple University. He has also earned bachelor’s degrees in History and Speech Communication from Pennsylvania State University. He is the recipient of the 2013 Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching, and a grant from the Interfaith Youth Core for their We Are Each Other’s Racial Equity & Interfaith Cooperation Award.

Mace begins his new appointment in December 2021.