The President's Cabinet

President Stanley Liberty
Stanley R. Liberty
President
President's Office
(810)762-9864
3-903 Campus Center
sliberty@kettering.edu

Dr. Stan Liberty, a native of Maine, became Kettering University’s sixth president July 1, 2005. He earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame.

Dr. Liberty came to Kettering from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, where he had served seven and one-half years as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. While at Bradley he was a member of the Board of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce (PACC), chaired the PACC Transportation Committee, was a member of the PACC Business Advisory Committee, and served on the Peoria Civic Federation Transportation Committee. He also chaired the Research, Education and Innovation Team of Peoria NEXT, a science and technology based economic development initiative, and he was a member of the Community Advisory Board for the Peoria Area World Affairs Council.

Before joining Bradley, he served as dean of Engineering for more than 13 years at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and as that university’s interim vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. He was the Nebraska representative on the Science and Technology Council of the States, a working group of the National Governor’s Association, and he advised Governor’s Orr and Nelson on science and technology matters. In 1995 he worked at Transcrypt International, a manufacturer of secure communications products, in a part-time position as director of Advanced Research and Planning. He has also served as a director of two small corporations.

Read Dr. Liberty's full biography.

Dr. Michael Harris
Dr. Michael Harris
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
(810)762-7949
3-302 AB
mharris@kettering.edu

Dr. Michael Harris became the new provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Kettering on July 9, 2007. He serves as the chief ranking academic officer for the institution. The Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs is responsible for all aspects of the academic mission and student life of the University. These duties include oversight of the academic budgets, the appointment of faculty members, all academic and curricular matters, and student life. Dr. Harris specializes in public policy and political economy. He has published three books, Entrepreneurs and Innovation in State and Local Government (edited with Rhonda Kinney), Public Policy and Electoral Reform: The Case of Israel, and Term Limits (co-authored with Gideon Doron). He has published in a variety of journals, such as The International Journal of Public Administration, Government and Policy, Nonprofit Quarterly, Utopian Studies, Israel Affairs and Israel Studies, as well as published chapters in several edited volumes. Dr. Harris serves as a political commentator to a variety of broadcast and print media in the United States and Israel.

Recognition of his teaching, research, and service include the following honors: an Honorary Doctorate in Educational Administration from Ave Maria College, Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching from Eastern Michigan University (EMU), Teaching Excellence Award from EMU's Alumni Association, recognition for Excellence in Teaching from the American Political Science Association, and the Michigan Association of Governing Boards Distinguished Faculty Award. 

Prior to joining Kettering, he served as the vice president for Academic Affairs at Ferris State University. At Ferris, he was successful in strengthening the areas of academics, teaching, research, scholarship, retention, assessment and service. A few of his successes included increasing online education, aiding progress in assessment efforts and leading Ferris through several successful accreditations. He has been the principal investigator for several grants, including $1 million from the Dow Foundation to construct new facilities. He has worked closely with efforts to increase student engagement and improve both retention and graduation rates. He implemented new hiring and orientation programs for faculty. Prior to Ferris, he served as associate provost at Eastern Michigan University, implementing programs that enhanced student success, enhanced students transfers and degree completions. Two doctoral programs were established during his tenure.

Dr. Harris is active in the higher education community. He is a consultant-evaluator for the North Central Association and a certified appraiser for the Academic Quality Improvement Program. He received his Ph.D. in public policy from Indiana University, his master's degree from Tel-Aviv University, and his undergraduate degree in economics and business administration from Bar-Ilan University. He is a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Institute For Educational Management (IEM) and the Management Development Program (MDP).

Susan Bolt
Susan Bolt
Vice President, Administration and Finance
Business Office
(810)762-9787
5-945 Campus Center
sbolt@kettering.edu

Susan Bolt has served in the position of vice president for Administration and Finance, treasurer since 1993. Active in the community, Ms. Bolt also serves as a member of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities Workers’ Compensation Self-Insurers’ Fund Board of Trustees.

She received her B.A. from Michigan State University and her M.B.A. from the University of Hartford. She began her career as an internal auditor working first for Dart & Kraft, Inc. and then The Hartford Insurance Group. Prior to her arrival at Kettering, she spent eight years professionally at the University of Hartford where she most recently held the position of assistant vice president, Budget and Financial Analysis.

Frank Hribar
Frank Hribar
Vice President for Enrollment Services
(810)762-9511
4-100 Campus Center
fhribar@kettering.edu

Frank J. Hribar is the Vice President for Enrollment Services at Kettering University. In his role, he provides oversight for the Offices of Admissions, Cooperative Education, Corporate Relations and Career Services, the Office of Financial Aid, the Marketing Office, and the University Welcome Center.

Originally from Allen Park, Mich., Hribar attended St. Frances Cabrini schools prior to his collegiate studies. He attended Siena Heights University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration in 1990 and a Master of Arts degree in Human Resource Development in 1997. He also distinguished himself on the baseball field, playing third base for the Saints. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in higher education and organizational development from Benedictine (Illinois) University.

Hribar began his career in higher education at SHU as the associate dean of admissions and enrollment services from 1993-97. In 1997, he left SHU for Madonna University located in Livonia, Mich., to become Madonna’s Director for Enrollment Management. During that time, Hribar rose to become Madonna’s Vice President for Planning and Enrollment Management. His credentials indicate a wide variety of administrative responsibilities with sound performance. His accomplishments at Madonna include leading the planning effort and implementation of a comprehensive enrollment program, along with coordinating retention activities that resulted in sustaining solid record of enrollment growth, including in the University’s record-high enrollment in 2005. He also helped develop the university’s continuing education and professional studies program, and set goals and strategies for Madonna’s long-range planning and visioning document and campus master facilities plan.

In his previous position at Siena Heights University, Hribar had oversight for the Offices of Admissions, Financial Aid, and the Registrar, along with the Office of Academic Advising, the Office of First-Year Experience, Student Accounts, Career Services and International Student Services. Additionally, he worked collaboratively with other senior staff in promoting and achieving the overall recruitment, retention, marketing and enrollment goals and objectives of the university.

Hribar, currently lives in Adrian with his wife, Tracy, and their two children, Emily and Andrew. In his free time, Hribar enjoys golf, reading, coaching, and traveling with his family.

Pat Mroczek
Pat Mroczek
Chief Public Relations Officer
Public Relations and Communications Office
(810)762-9533
3-905 Campus Center
pmroczek@kettering.edu

Pat directs the University Communications office and assists members of the President’s Cabinet with communications and public relations. She has worked in higher education communications for more than 20 years. A newspaper reporter by training, she comes to Kettering from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich., where she served as manager of News Services. During her career, she has been director of Publications and Information at Adrian College in Adrian, Mich., and an associate editor of Communications at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She was also a reporter and photographer at the "Huron Daily Tribune" in Bad Axe, Mich. She earned a master's degree in Journalism at Ohio State University and a bachelor's degree in Journalism from Central Michigan University.

Bob Nichols
Bob Nichols
Director of External Affairs & Associate to the President
President’s Office
(810)762-9828
3-901A Campus Center
bnichols@kettering.edu

Bob develops and facilitates corporate, governmental and community partnerships as well as special projects. His responsibilities include the development of strategic direction and outcomes in Kettering's outreach efforts, especially related to corporate recruitment. He works with the president on a variety of local, state and national organizations, and he is the lead liaison for Kettering with Automation Alley, Genesee Intermediate School District, Project Lead the Way, FIRST Robotics, and other partner organizations. Bob is also working to build more international co-op opportunities through strategic relationships with educational institutions and companies on the global economy.

He is a 1974 graduate of Kettering/GMI and has worked at the University since 1983. Most recently, he was vice president for Corporate Relations and Enrollment Services. Prior assignments include assistant dean of Academic Services, director of Student Professional Development, and director of corporate relations and cooperative education services. A volunteer in the Flint community, Bob is an elder and former deacon at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Flint, former chair of Junior Achievement for Genesee and Shiawassee County, founder of the annual Kettering Kickoff Robotics Competition, and is an avid hockey player and fan.

Linda Peterson
Linda Peterson
Vice President
Human Resources
(810)762-9940
5-843 Campus Center
linda.peterson@kettering.edu

Linda K. Peterson has served as vice president of Human Resources for Kettering University since the fall of 1995.

A Detroit native, Peterson earned a master's degree in Guidance and Counseling, and a bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Prior to arriving at Kettering, she held a variety of leadership positions in three states in both Operations and Human Resources for the GTE Corporation (currently known as Verizon). Her professional and service awards include Volunteer of the Year, Individual Excellence Award, Service Provider Employee of the Year, Individual Achievement Award, and Outstanding Service Provider. Over the years she has been an active community volunteer in a variety of organizations from Community Mental Health to Economic Development to Scouting. She has received special training in issues such as negotiation, management, leadership, personnel diversity and a host of federal and state employment related compliance statutes. While responsible for the full scope of Human Resources at Kettering which includes staffing, compensation, benefits and employee & labor relations, she is especially experienced in the areas of employee performance, employment related litigation management and diversity initiatives.

Peterson is passionate about serving as a meaningful business partner by balancing the needs of the University with the needs of the individual, optimizing teamwork and communication. While at Kettering, she has focused on delivering value added customer service, aligning human resource initiatives with the University's Strategic Plan and participating in cultural shift initiatives. Peterson has also earned the designation Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and the College and University Personnel Association-HR.

Susan Reynolds
Susan Reynolds
Assistant to the President
President's Office
(810)762-9864
3-903 Campus Center
sreynold@kettering.edu

After raising two children, Susan Reynolds began a career at Kettering University in 1994. She worked in the Enrollment Management Department and moved into increasingly more responsible positions prior to joining the President’s Staff. 

Susan became the assistant to Kettering President Stan Liberty in July 2005. She also serves as the assistant secretary for Kettering’s Board of Trustees. Susan was born and raised in Michigan. She is an avid walker and former business owner. Her children, daughter, Katie, and son, Andrew, now live in the Washington, D.C., area.

Viola Sprague
Viola Sprague
Executive Director of Information Technology
Information Technology
(810) 762-9668
3-901 A Campus Center
vsprague@kettering.edu

Viola Sprague came to Kettering in November 2008 as Executive Director of Information Technology. She is the Chief Information Technology Officer for the University. Ms. Sprague’s role at Kettering will be to lead the Kettering IT department in maintaining existing technologies, as well as focus on strategic technology solutions. She came to campus from Spectrum Health Systems in Grand Rapids, Mich., where she served as the Applications Manager/Project Manager for the Technology and Information Solutions department.

She began her career at Wayne State University on the main campus working with their student systems and technical support. Most recently she was an IT manager for the Wayne State University School of Medicine. During her time at the School of Medicine she participated in the implementation of the SunGard Banner student system and various other software implementations. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems and an MBA from Wayne State University. She is also a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Dennis Washington
Dennis Washington
Vice President
University Advancement
(810)762-9863
4-945 Campus Center
dwashing@kettering.edu

Dennis Washington became the vice president for University Advancement in December 2006.

At Kettering, Washington directs the University Advancement division and supervises the staff members who support individual giving, corporate and foundation giving, and alumni relations. 

Washington worked at Central Michigan University from 2002 - 2006. At CMU, he was responsible for developing and building relationships with corporations and foundations in support of internship and placement opportunities for CMU students and graduates, equipment donations, corporate sponsorships, scholarship support, program support, professorships, matching gift support, and specific financial support for the various CMU colleges, athletics, public broadcasting stations, and library. He served as a staff member for the CMU Development Board and chaired CMU’s Corporate Meeting Group.

Prior to working at CMU, he was a senior consultant for Public Sector Consultants; a grants coordinator for the City of Lansing; and a planner for Capital Area Michigan Works. He is a member of the Council for the Advancement and Support for Education (CASE).