Administration
Simmons College was chartered in 1899 in accordance with the will of John Simmons. In 2017, in recognition of the comprehensive nature of its programs - bachelors, masters, and doctoral - Simmons applied to and received approval from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to become Simmons University. The overall governing body of the University is the Board of Trustees. The Board is entrusted with the management of the business, property, and affairs of the University, including setting overall policy for the University, appointing the president and officers of the University, approving the granting of degrees and other academic functions, and ensuring the responsible use of its assets for the long-term health of the institution.
Board of Trustees
Simmons Trustees are the ultimate fiduciaries of Simmons University. They oversee all of Simmons's institutional affairs in accordance with the University's charter, bylaws, evolving statements of mission and purpose, and strategic plan. The Board of Trustees is responsible for governance of the University and for monitoring the implementation of its policies, as distinguished from its day-to-day management or administration, which is the responsibility of the President and other administrative officers of the University.
The President
The President is appointed by the Board of Trustees and is the chief executive officer of the University, responsible for academic and financial administration in accordance with policies established by the Board. The president acts as a liaison between the Board of Trustees and the faculty, works with members of the Board and the Simmons community to plan and budget for future needs, and fosters an open, collegial environment for faculty, staff, and students. In addition, the president works closely with alumnae/i, business, government, foundations, educational associations, and other external constituencies and ensures that Simmons University plays an active role in Boston-area community relations and higher education on a national level.
Lynn Perry Wooten, a seasoned academic and an expert on organizational development and transformation, became the ninth president of Simmons University on July 1, 2020. She is the first African American to lead the university.
Specializing in crisis leadership, diversity and inclusion, and positive leadership—organizational behavior that reveals and nurtures the highest level of human potential—Dr. Wooten is an innovative leader and prolific author and presenter whose research has informed her work in the classroom and as an administrator. She first joined a university faculty in 1994 and has served in administrative roles since 2008. Dr. Wooten came to Simmons from Cornell University, where she was the David J. Nolan Dean and Professor of Management and Organizations at the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management.
With leadership at the core of her work, Dr. Wooten's research has ranged from an NIH-funded investigation of how leadership can positively alleviate health disparities to leading in a crisis and managing workforce diversity. She is the author of two books, Positive Organizing in a Global Society: Understanding and Engaging Differences for Capacity Building and Inclusion (2016) and Leading Under Pressure: From Surviving to Thriving Before, During, and After a Crisis (2010). Sharing her work at nearly 60 symposia and conferences, she also is the author of nearly 30 journal articles and more than 15 book chapters, as well as managerial monographs and numerous teaching cases.
Dr. Wooten earned a BS in accounting in 1988 from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, a Historically Black College, where she graduated as valedictorian; an MBA from the Duke University Fuqua School of Business in 1990; and a PhD in business administration from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business in 1995. She received a Certificate in Advanced Educational Leadership from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education in 2018.
Starting her career as assistant professor of management at the University of Florida Warrington College of Business, Dr. Wooten returned in 1998 to the University of Michigan, where she served on the faculty of the Ross School of Business for nearly 20 years. There she taught undergraduate, graduate, and executive education courses and served as Co-Faculty Director of the Center for Positive Organizations as well as Co-Faculty Director of the Executive Leadership Institute. She became engaged in student life as an associate dean, ultimately serving as Senior Associate Dean for Student and Academic Excellence. She left Michigan in 2017 for the deanship at Cornell.
Provost
Dr. Stephanie Cosner came to Simmons in 2018 as Dean of the College of Social Sciences, Policy and Practice and served in that position until September 2021. The Vice Provost is primarily responsible for the execution of strategic priorities including: the Online Degree Completion program for adult learners; the Simmons Experience Program, supported by Gallup; supervision of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and the Career Education Center; establishment of Carnegie Foundation Elective Classification in Leadership; and other priorities as determined by the Provost or other senior leadership and strategic planning. In addition, the Vice Provost collaborates and partners with the Provost and works directly with the Deans and other members of the Provost's staff on, including but not limited to, curricular and personnel issues, on strategic academic plans and policies, and on the effective implementation of the Faculty Policy Manual. Prior to her arrival at Simmons, served as Assistant Dean for the Doctoral Program at the Boston College School of Social Work. Her most recent book was published by Oxford University Press, Innovation From Within: Redefining How Nonprofits Solve Problems (2018). Dr. Cosner graduated cum laude from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, earned her MSW from Columbia University, and a PhD from the School of Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley.
Dean of the Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Dr. Ammina Kothari is the Dean of the Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Her background in media and communications includes extensive academic leadership and research experience – particularly as it relates to AI and implications for journalism and communication. She is adept at developing and implementing cutting-edge undergraduate and graduate curriculum and building industry partnerships. She works closely with the five Ifill department chairs to support student learning and success.
Dr. Kothari's scholarship has a global reach and includes research on timely issues, including artificial intelligence and its implications for journalism and communication, social media and its impact on mental health, and issues affecting minority communities in the U.S. and around the world. She has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and presented at national and international conferences, and her research has been supported by federal and foundation grants. Dr. Kothari holds a Ph.D. in mass communication from Indiana University, a master's degree in communication and society from University of Oregon, and a bachelor's degree in English and print journalism from North Central College.
Dean of the School of Library and Information Science
Dr. Sanda Erdelez is a Professor and Dean of the School of Library and Information Science. She received her LL.B. and LL.M degrees from the University of Osijek Law School (Croatia) and a Ph.D. in information transfer from Syracuse University. She was also a faculty member at the University of Missouri, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Osijek.
Dr. Erdelez is a former Fulbright Scholar and recipient of the Texas Excellence Teaching Award and the ALISE Pratt-Severn Faculty Innovation Award. Her research interests include human information behavior, human-computer interaction, and usability evaluation in online environments. She has been internationally recognized for her pioneering research in the areas of information encountering and opportunistic discovery of information. Her research has received funding from both corporate and government sources including Dell Inc., SBC Communications, Texas State Government, IMLS, and NSF. She is an active member of the Association for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T), where she has served in numerous leadership roles including the chair of the Special Interest Group on Information Seeking and Use (SIG USE) and member of the Board of Directors.
In 2015, Dr. Erdelez received the Outstanding Contribution to Information Behavior Research Award from SIG USE and also became a member of the SIG USE Academy of Fellows. From 2022-2024 she served as the chair of the iSchools Organization, an international consortium of about 130 universities with a common interest in research and teaching about information. In 2024, Dr. Erdelez was recognized by the Croatian Women's Network as a Croatian woman of influence in science and technology.
Dean of the School of Management
Dr. Astrid Sheil is the Dean of the School of Management. Dr. Sheil has a passion for women’s-centered business education and a strong vision for how Simmons can leverage its rich history, leadership, and expertise in this area.
A collaborative leader and a creative thinker, Dr. Sheil has expertise in a variety of key areas – including fundraising and philanthropy and the development of creative enrollment strategies that include non-traditional and first-gen students, partnerships with local community colleges, and speed-to-complete programs, among others. She brings a unique perspective to Simmons and is deeply committed to diversity, equity, social justice, and inclusion. Before joining Simmons in July 2024, Sheil was the Dean at Shenandoah University's School of Business for five years, where she led all aspects related to that school’s operations, strategic planning, communications, fundraising, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. She also guided Shenandoah University’s business faculty through a dynamic re-envisioning of the institution’s undergraduate and graduate curricula – considering everything from purpose and mission, to content, assessment, and delivery modes – to create a student-centric, future-focused business school skilled in offering pathways to 21st century careers.
Dr. Sheil also has extensive private sector experience. She previously served as president of Sheil & Associates, providing strategic communication, public relations, and project management services to a variety of government, academic, and private sector clients. In addition, she worked in various roles for Kemira Oyj and Resolute Forest Products. and purpose, and strategic plan.
Dean of the School of Nursing
Dr. Heather Shlosser has over 25 years of nursing expertise, with a rich background spanning clinical, leadership, and academic domains. Her extensive career encompasses full-spectrum clinical practice, holding national board certifications as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). Her clinical focus revolves around integrated behavioral medicine within primary care, psychopharmacology, addictions medicine, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness therapy. Dr. Shlosser has played a pivotal role in pioneering the creation and implementation of integrated behavioral health programs in both primary care and specialty medicine for multiple healthcare organizations. She continues to practice in addictions medicine as well as providing psychiatric consultations via telemedicine for underserved areas across the U.S.
Before advancing to the role of an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), she served as a Registered Nurse (RN) in diverse fields, including Home Health & Hospice, High-Risk Maternal Child Health, Public Health, Pediatrics, and NICU. Her diverse experience extends to the development of a PACE program without walls in Vermont, as well as establishing worksite wellness centers across the United States. Dr. Shlosser also held leadership positions as the Director of Public Health and within a Home Health and Hospice organization.
Dr. Shlosser has taught and held leadership roles in higher education for over 15 years. She has developed several PMHNP Master's programs and consulted on the development and revision of FNP and DNP programs. She is passionate about trauma informed curriculum and interprofessional healthcare education.
Dr. Shlosser holds an Associate's Degree in Liberal Arts from Greenfield Community College, a BSN from the Elms College, a MSN from Frontier Nursing University, a Post Master's Certificate from the University of Virginia and a Doctorate from the University of Virginia. She is currently working on a Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Leadership. She is an ELAN Leadership Fellow with the American Associations of Colleges of Nursing.
Dean of the School of Sciences and Health Professions
Dr. Geisler was a certified and licensed athletic trainer for 36 years before retiring his credential. Dr. Geisler has worked as a volunteer Athletic Trainer for the 1988 McDonald's International Gymnastics Cup, the 1994 FIFA World Cup, and the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games. As an early innovator in golf medicine and human performance, Dr. Geisler founded the HealthSouth Sports for Golf and KineticGolf programs in Orlando, FL, rising to the National Director of HealthSouth Sports for The HealthSouth Corporation based out of Birmingham, AL.
Dr. Geisler entered academia at Georgia Southern University in 1998 to lead and develop the athletic training education program, successfully attaining initial accreditation and building the blocks for the program that excels today, and earned his doctorate in education before moving on to Ithaca College. In leading the nationally renowned AT program to greater heights and accomplishments, he was awarded four faculty excellence awards for his achievements in teaching, scholarship, service, and DEI initiatives. Dr. Geisler is credited with over 180 national and international presentations and publications in sports medicine and health professions education areas. In addition to numerous book chapters, Dr. Geisler has one published book with Peter Lang Publishing, and two original manuscripts have won awards from publishing journals.
Dr. Geisler has received the Athletic Trainer Service Award, the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, and the Sayers “Bud” Miller Distinguished Educator Award from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. In September 2021, Dr. Geisler joined Simmons University as Professor of Health Professions Education and Associate Dean of Health Sciences in the College of Natural, Behavioral, and Health Sciences. In January of 2022, he was appointed Interim Associate Dean of Natural and Behavioral Sciences within the College. In January 2024, Dr. Geisler was named interim Dean of the School of Sciences and Health Professions and became Dean with tenure on July 1, 2024.
Dean of the School of Social Work
Michael C. LaSala, MSW, PhD is a licensed clinical social worker in three states and is currently the Dean at the School of Social Work at Simmons University. Dean LaSala began his social work career in child welfare, children’s mental health, and family therapy practice, and served in several clinical, supervisory, and agency administrative roles before attaining his Ph.D. and entering the academy. Prior to this position, Dean LaSala had served as Director of the Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) program at Rutgers University for 7 years and Director of their Masters of Social Work (MSW) Program for 6 years. He has also served on the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) task force for the Doctorate of Social Work Accreditation Standards. Dean LaSala has won several awards for innovation in teaching. He is a recipient of the American Family Therapy Academy’s 2017 Distinguished Contribution to Social Justice Award and has been recognized by Sage Journals as One of the Most Impactful Contributors to Social Work Journals. He has been a clinical teacher/trainer for over 35 years and has taught family therapy and clinical practice with LGBT families nationally as well as in Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Italy, and China. His research and clinical specialties are the couple and family relationships of gay men and lesbians and the role of family influences on the sexual behaviors of gay and bisexual youth. Dean LaSala’s first book entitled: Coming Out, Coming Home (Columbia University Press) describes the findings and practice implications of a National Institute of Mental Health funded qualitative study of 65 gay and lesbian youth and their families. He is also the author of the recently published: Clinical Social Work with Individuals, Families, and Groups: The Power of Healing Relationships (Routledge). Other examples of Professor LaSala’s work can be found in over 30 journal articles. Dean LaSala has maintained an active presence on social media and his social work related posts can be found on Facebook: Michael C. LaSala, Ph.D., LCSW; Twitter: @MichaelLaSala11; and Instagram: drmichaellasala. Other examples of Professor LaSala’s work can be found in his blog for Psychology Today (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/gay-and-lesbian-well-being).