New Leadership: Cabinet Members Spotlight
Meet the four newest members of the President’s Cabinet.
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VP for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Dr. Bice joined Purchase in 2002 as the College Registrar and has served in a variety of leadership roles during her time at the college. Her focus on student success lead to the development of several student success initiatives, including a summer fellows program for first-generation freshman and a SophomoreQuest program for rising sophomores.
What do you love most about Purchase?
I love the creativity and passion of the entire community, students, staff and faculty.
What are your goals for your first year in this position?
- Establishing open and clear communication regarding recruitment and enrollment priorities
- Finalizing a Strategic Enrollment Plan with input from the community
- Improving Retention
- Increasing enrollment in fall 2024
- Improving the campus experience for our students
- Supporting all the areas and staff in Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
- Building relationships with faculty and directors in Academic Affairs
- Being part of establishing a community and culture of respect
What’s a fun fact about you that people may not know?
I’ve lived in 4 different states.
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Senior Director of Intergenerational Learning and Program Planning in the School of Continuing Education
Kelly Jackson joined Purchase College in 2008 as Director of Continuing Education managing Adult Noncredit Courses and Programs and the summer Youth and Precollege Programs in the Arts. Since that time, she added Online Noncredit Programs and Courses, Summer and Winter Sessions, and Broadview at Purchase College to her programming portfolio.
What do you love most about Purchase?
The people! In my over 15 years at Purchase, I’ve gotten to know faculty and staff that I am fortunate enough to also call friends. I’ve seen firsthand the hard work and tireless dedication of my colleagues for this institution, especially for Purchase students, that I admire every day. I have also had the opportunity to get to know many students when hiring them for the summer youth/precollege programs or listening to them at Broadview Mentoring sessions and am in awe of their talent, academic prowess, and determination to succeed. Of course, I love it too because my son is an alum!
What are your goals for your first year in this position?
With Broadview Charter Members (finally) moving on campus, I hope to make that transition smooth and fruitful for all of us. Broadview is providing so much for the campus and Purchase College can do so much in return for Broadview which I talked about in my 12/21/2023 email. I would like Purchase to be a national leader in intergenerational programming in order to reap the benefits research* indicates comes with it, including, but not limited to, combatting ageism, decreasing isolation, increasing career skills, and more.
*Generations United, Making the Case Fact Sheet
*Generations United, Making the Case Fact Sheet (in Spanish)
What’s a fun fact about you that people may not know?
I am a University of Michigan Wolverine fan through and through! I grew up in Ann Arbor and am, admittedly, brainwashed to love them (I didn’t miss a home football or basketball game from 4th-12th grade!). Further, my father was a professor at U of M and on their Athletic Board for three years during which time we hosted some of the football players at our home!
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VP for Administration
Mike Kopas joined Purchase in 2017 as the Senior Director of Facilities and Capital Planning. Prior to his arrival at Purchase College, Mike spent 13 years at Drew University in New Jersey where he last served as Associate Vice President of Facilities and Campus Operations.
What do you love most about Purchase?
The people – faculty, staff and students. The dedication of those who live, learn and work on campus keeps me motivated every day. It’s easy to love a place when you share the same motivations and goals with so many.
What are your goals for your first year in this position?
I have been lucky enough to have already been working at Purchase for 6 years before getting this position so I have the benefit of hitting the ground running. For a first year goal, a stable and sustainable budget plan that supports the campus community academically, socially and administratively is at the top of my list. Through thoughtful, shared and collaborative conversation, I’m confident in our ability to provide a sustainable plan for the future.
What’s a fun fact about you that people may not know?
My career in higher education started as a grounds manager at a small private university in New Jersey over 20 years ago.
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Interim VP for Institutional Advancements and ED of the Purchase College Foundation and Charitable Entities
Jason came to Purchase in the summer of 2023 with over 20 years of experience in fundraising, alumni engagement, board development, marketing, and working with volunteers. He previously served as the Director of Development and Alumni Relations at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
What do you love most about Purchase?
The people here. The students, alumni, faculty and staff have such pride in Purchase and demonstrate their commitment to the Purchase community everyday. With such a talented, artistic, and dedicated group of people, it is impossible not to share in that pride.
What are your goals for your first year in this position?
To help further the strategic plan for Purchase and provide opportunities for alumni, students, faculty and staff to connect with each other and to the overall mission of Purchase.
What’s a fun fact about you that people may not know?
I once drove a racecar at 140 MPH.