Melissa Dutton Schaffer is a new senior associate general counsel at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Most recently, Schaffer was deputy director of the Administrative Law Practice Group in the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety. Earlier in her career, she was associate general counsel at the College of New Jersey.
A graduate of Rutgers University-Camden, Schaffer received her juris doctorate from Widener University’s Delaware Law School.
Amy Latzer is the new chief operating officer at American Jewish University in Los Angeles, California. Her background includes nearly two decades of executive leadership experience. Prior to her new role, Latzer was chief operating officer of 211 LA, an information and referral system for Los Angeles County.
Latzer received her bachelor’s degree in public sector management from California State University, Northridge.
Hillary Procknow has been named vice provost for undergraduate education at the University of Nevada, Reno. She comes to her new role from the University of Texas at Austin, where she has served in a variety of leadership roles for over a decade. During her tenure, she served as the university’s director of general education and college readiness and chief of staff for academic affairs.
Dr. Procknow holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in architectural studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She earned her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Louisiana State University.
April Robinson was appointed chief financial officer at Tennessee State University. With nearly two decades of experience in financial leadership, Robinson most recently led the New York state market for Diageo North America. She also has extensive experience in accounting, audits, mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, and global risk management.
Robinson received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Tennessee State University and her MBA in global leadership from St. John’s University in New York City.
Sharon Cooksey is the new media relations director for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She brings over 15 years of experience in strategic communications leadership to her new position. Most recently, she founded and led the media relations department for the Kidde brand, a company that manufactures fire safety products.
Cooksey holds a bachelor’s degree from Salem College in North Carolina, a master’s degree from Purdue University in Indiana, and an MBA from Elon University in North Carolina.