Kendall College announced today that it has named Gwen Hillesheim, Ed.D., as provost. In this role, Dr. Hillesheim will serve as the academic leader of the Chicago-based institution that offers degrees in business, culinary arts, early childhood education, and hospitality management. She replaces Dr. Karen Gersten, president of Kendall College, who served as provost for the last four years.

Hillesheim, who officially began her new role at Kendall on September 1, 2011, has more than 30 years of experience as an academic administrator with extensive expertise in policy development and implementation, student services, academic oversight, assessment, faculty management, curriculum review, and accreditation processes. She previously served as vice provost at Colorado Technical University.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Hillesheim to Kendall College,” says Dr. Gersten. “She is a skilled communicator who believes in team empowerment, modeling leadership, and exhibiting a high level of integrity. Plus, she brings with her amazing energy and a vast academic background. The entire Kendall community will benefit from her ideas, leadership and diverse program experience.”

Prior to joining Kendall College, Dr. Hillesheim managed programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels in public, private, and land grant institutions. She also taught at the high school and college levels, including teaching research courses at the doctoral level. She graduated with a B.S. in Open Studies and an M.S. in Education and Counseling from Minnesota State University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas. Dr. Hillesheim has published articles on assessment from a practical perspective and has presented on topics such as faculty quality, assessment, and retention.