Welcome everyone to this special edition of Small College America. On December 3rd we held a live webinar titled “Navigating Higher Education’s Existential Challenges: From Partnerships and Mergers to Reinvention,” brings together four seasoned leaders deeply involved in higher education strategy, governance, law, and finance. The issues of partnerships, mergers, closures and institutional reinvention are no longer abstract concepts, they’re real challenges shaping daily decision-making. To help us explore these topics we have four distinguished panelists with extensive experience across higher-education, strategy, finance, law, and governance. 

• Dr. Chet Haskell is an experienced higher education consultant focusing on existential challenges to smaller non-profit institutions and opportunities for collaboration. He is a former 2-time president and most recently a provost directly involved in three significant merger/acquisition or partnership agreements, including the Coalition for the Common Good partnership of Antioch and Otterbein Universities.

• Dr. Barry Ryan is an experienced leader, and attorney who has served as president, and provost, for multiple universities. He helped guide several institutions through merger/acquisition, and accreditation. Most recently he led Woodbury University through its merger with the University of Redlands. He has served on university boards and as a Commissioner for WSCUC

• A.J. Prager, Managing Director at Hilltop Securities Inc., investment banker focusing on higher education M&A, helping institutions manage the partnership process, such as finding a partner, financial analysis, due diligence and board management. Most recently, AJ served as engagement lead to Seattle University on its partnership with Cornish College of the Arts.

• Stephanie Gold, is a Partner and Head of the Higher Education Practice at Hogan Lovells LLP, who has spent nearly three decades guiding colleges and universities through transformative transactions.  She helps institutions to navigate the regulatory requirements and procedures related to such transactions, including accreditation approvals, state agency review, and the U.S. Department of Education process.