OUR TEAM

LEADERSHIP

**BRIAN WEINBLATT, PH.D.**
Brian Weinblatt, founder of Higher Ed Consolidation Solutions, specializes in college mergers, drawing on his experience from the University of Toledo's merger with the Medical University of Ohio. His expertise, rooted in doctoral research on decision-making in university mergers, positions him as a sought-after consultant and media expert in this field.

**KEVIN CAVANAGH**
Kevin is the HCS managing director and an experienced Chief Enrollment Officer in higher education, having played key roles in the Bloomfield College/Montclair State University and Mercy College/College of New Rochelle mergers.

SENIOR CONSULTANTS

**MARK B. DEFUSCO, PH.D.**
Mark, with a diverse career in education, has held roles as college president, Wall Street banker, and education researcher, notably leading Bay State College and engaging in significant educational transactions.

**GUILBERT HENTSCHKE, PH.D.**
Gib is a former senior adviser at EY-Parthenon and is dean emeritus of the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education.

**BETSY HOFFMAN, PH.D.**
With extensive university administration experience, Betsy notably managed the strategic 2004 consolidation of the University of Colorado at Denver and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center as president of the University of the Colorado System.

**DANA G. HOYT, PH.D., CPA**
Dana retired as the thirteenth president of Sam Houston State University, led merger efforts as the Vice President at the University of Colorado at Denver, and led developments to add an osteopathic medical school at Sam Houston State University.

**LLOYD A. JACOBS, MD**
Lloyd A. Jacobs, as President of the University of Toledo, played a pivotal role in the transformative merger with the Medical University of Ohio, creating a new educational and healthcare landscape.

**BONITA JACOBS, PH.D.**
Bonita Jacobs spearheaded the merger that formed the University of North Georgia, serving as its founding president. Her prior roles included Executive Director at the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students and Vice President for Student Development at UNT. She has also authored works on higher education mergers and serves on significant educational boards.

**KRISTINE SOUTHARD, PH.D.**
Kristine is a seasoned leader in higher education with nearly 30 years of experience, including executive roles in both non-profit and proprietary institutions, specializing in accreditation, mergers, and operational consulting.

CONSULTANTS

**ROBIN BOWLUS**
Robin has 25+ years of higher education leadership experience, specializing in external relations, fundraising, marketing, and communication. She most recently served as vice president for Advancement and Enrollment at Bluffton University.

LAURA DE VEAU, ED.D.

With extensive experience in higher education administration, Laura De Veau specializes in mergers and closure management, serving as the VP of Student Affairs during Mount Ida College's closure.

**DAVID F. DONNELLY, PH.D.**
David, a seasoned higher education leader, played a pivotal role in the complex consolidation of The College of New Rochelle with Mercy College.

**JOHNNIE L. EARLY, PH.D.**
Dr. Johnnie L. Early is a renowned higher education leader with over 36 years of experience in academic and administrative excellence, significant budget and diversity advancements, and numerous prestigious awards.

**MARTINO HARMON, PH.D.**
Martino, currently the vice president for Student Life at the University of Michigan, played a key role in the University of Toledo's 2006 merger with the Medical University of Ohio.

**DONALD E. HELLER, ED.D.**
Don Heller is the retired Provost and VP of Academic Affairs at the University of San Francisco and played a crucial role in negotiating three potential university acquisitions.

**AUBREY HINKSON**
Aubrey, a seasoned marketer in higher education, played a key role in branding and marketing strategies during the Augusta University merger and health system unification.

**ANDY JHANJI**
Andy’s career experience includes executive leadership at multiple flagship universities, including Florida State University and the University of Colorado at Denver, where he was instrumental in merging the Denver and Health Sciences Center campuses.

PETER LAIPSON, PH.D.

Peter, an experienced higher education leader, has held roles such as Provost of Bard College at Simon’s Rock and now oversees the affiliation of Fort Hays State University with two Kansas technical colleges.

**CINDY MCDANIEL**
Cindy is an experienced Financial Officer in higher education and is currently the Controller at St Peter's University. She was key in the Bloomfield College/Montclair State University merger, serving as Bloomfield's CFO.

**TRAVIS SMITH**
Travis, an athletic compliance administrator, specializes in NCAA membership requirements and understands the reclassification process in higher education mergers and institutional changes.

**MARK WAGONER**
Mark Wagoner, a former Ohio Senator and current legal professional, played a crucial role in the legislative process of the 2006 merger between the University of Toledo and the Medical University of Ohio.

SHEILA WOOTEN

Sheila Wooten is Dean of Students and Director of Athletics at Bloomfield College. She has been highly influential in the success and direction of Bloomfield Athletics, where she guided their successful entry into the NCAA.

JONATHAN WEXLER, ED.D.

Dr. Jonathan Wexler, vice president for enrollment management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, leads enrollment strategies and financial aid oversight, focusing on increasing diversity and institutional growth.

Our Team

OUR TEAM

LEADERSHIP

SENIOR CONSULTANTS

CONSULTANTS

RESEARCH & ADMINISTRATION