Leaders for Our Shared Future

Dear Colleagues:

Last week, Provost Socarides and I shared news about the talented academic leaders who will help us achieve the “Academic Innovation” strategic goals in Extraordinary Emerson 2030, our College’s strategic plan for the next five years and beyond. Today, I am pleased to announce permanent appointments for several key positions that support two other strategic priorities: “Operational Excellence to Ensure Effective Performance and Financial Strength,” and “Collaborative Connections to Develop and Cultivate Stronger Relationships and External Partnerships.”

Richard A. (Rich) Madonna, Jr., will join Emerson in August as our new Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Rich is a CPA and a proven financial leader with the experience and skills to guide us through uncertain times and secure Emerson’s financial stability. He has a demonstrated history of leading transformative change in senior leadership and chief financial roles at Connecticut College, Union Theological Seminary, and the American Museum of Natural History. He started his career in university finance with 10 years at Yale University, where he was a co-founder and advisor of the Yale Entrepreneurial Institute. Rich and his family are excited to be moving back to New England!

The economic uncertainty facing higher education requires steady financial leadership. Rich will provide this at Emerson as we move forward with thoughtful collaboration and communication on financial decisions and strategy. As Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Rich will oversee all financial matters, including finance, budgeting and planning, treasury services, risk management, accounts payable, business intelligence, payroll, contracting, and procurement. He will help us to modernize our financial operations to enhance service, develop new revenue streams, and foster greater cross-unit collaboration and partnerships.

My deepest gratitude goes to Robert Butler for his steady leadership in managing our finances during this year of uncertainty as interim Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Rob and our entire finance team have skillfully navigated this year of transition, and I’m pleased that Rob will continue to work closely with me and Rich as our Senior Associate Vice President for Finance.

Brian Basgen has been appointed Vice President for Physical and Digital Infrastructure on a permanent basis after serving as interim since the beginning of the year. I value Brian’s vision and leadership, as well as his ability to guide us toward our strategic goals of efficiency, sustainability, and innovation. His work is essential in developing and reimagining our infrastructure—digital, physical, and technological—that supports your work and our students’ experience.

Brian will continue overseeing Information Technology (IT), Media Technologies and Production (MTP), Web and Digital Services, Facilities, Business Services, and WERS. He is managing our upcoming Master Planning initiative and Emerson’s initiative to expand our institutional research, data, and analytics. Brian’s ongoing thought leadership on our growth and capital investments in technologies, such as XR studios and artificial intelligence, will be essential as he and his team build the backbone of a modern, agile academic environment.

Paola M. Ferrer has accepted the new role of Executive Director of Government and Community Affairs, overseeing this consolidated portfolio under the guidance of our Vice President and General Counsel, Carolina Avellaneda. Paola, who will also join us in August, is a respected attorney and community leader with more than 20 years of experience in philanthropy, nonprofit management, and state government. She has held senior leadership positions at organizations including United Way of Massachusetts Bay and the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, where she led major initiatives in legislative affairs, stakeholder engagement, and public policy.

Alongside her public service career, Paola has built a vibrant 20+ year journey as a stage actress, performing with various Boston-area theater companies. A dedicated advocate for social change, Paola has been widely honored for her service and leadership. She has received numerous awards, including honors from the Boston City Council, La Alianza Hispana, and recognition as one of the 50 Most Influential Puerto Rican Women of Massachusetts. Her expertise in public policy and her record in advocacy and coalition building will be vital to our work.

These announcements are more than staffing updates. They are part of a larger effort to help Emerson remain resilient during a difficult period in higher education. With the uncertainty of shifting enrollment trends, outside pressures, and evolving student needs, we need the right people in the right roles. These new leaders will enable us to move faster, stay true to our values, and continue supporting the creative, meaningful work that defines this community.

Finally, I note three recent departures of leaders who will be missed. Tim Chang left his role as Associate Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of Emerson Los Angeles in July for a new opportunity, and we appreciate his many years of leadership and management at ELA. Chad Hagan Myers, Assistant Dean of Students at ELA, has temporarily taken on Tim’s responsibilities as interim Chief Operating Officer while we search for the inaugural Dean of the Emerson Los Angeles campus and consider how best to align our operational and administrative work at ELA.

Margaret (Peggy) Ings recently retired as Vice President of Government and Community Relations after a long, impactful career at Emerson. I am very thankful for Peggy’s guidance, institutional knowledge, and dedicated work on behalf of Emerson. I am also pleased that she will continue to advise our leadership team and me as a senior consultant.

Please join me in congratulating Rich, Brian, and Paola on their new appointments and thanking Rob, Carolina, Chad, and everyone on these teams for their ongoing dedication and hard work during these transitions. We also extend our gratitude to Tim, Rebekah, and Peggy for their dedicated service and wish them all the best in their next chapters.

Thank you for supporting these new leaders and all Emersonians in our efforts to create an extraordinary future together.

Sincerely,

Jay Bernhardt
President