CV
CURRICULUM VITAE
Michael R Graham, Ed.D.
President
Phone: (872) 320-8115
Email: mr.graham@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-richard-graham/
Formal Education
Ed.D., Higher Education Leadership 2022
National Louis University, Chicago, IL
Dissertation: Institutional Satisfaction with Online Program Management
MA, History 1993
Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH
BA, History 1991
Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH
Personal Executive Attributes
Experienced higher education leadership with over 25 years of service in the academic enterprise, focused on the economic model of education with a deep commitment to student success.
Experienced executive skill in directing operations for colleges and universities, specific experience leading University Operations, Information Technology, Student Advising, Enrollment, Financial Aid, Student Life, Facilities, and Career Services.
Completed groundbreaking doctoral research on Online Program Management (OPM) which is a multibillion-dollar part of higher education.
Hold a valuable understanding of outsourcing and vendor management.
Maintains a reputation as a decisive and effective operational leader, delivering results in crisis management, operation, and recovery.
Unique vision with research experience into new economic models in higher education.
Skilled in devising nimble, creative solutions to complex problems, capturing increased efficiency and productivity.
Ability to visualize broad situations and execute focused strategies through exceptional leadership, with a command of the details necessary to ensure the successful resolution of complex issues.
Implementation of business planning processes while developing strategies to meet future challenges.
Passionate leadership of major initiatives focused on growth and improved collaboration and internal process improvement and efficiency.
Demonstrated record of success, marked by a series of positions of substantial influence, authority, and accountability.
Valued as a key contributor who consistently delivers strategic planning and execution results.
Proven success in improving institutional outcomes in various educational environments (both brick and mortar and online) resulting in satisfaction across constituencies.
Demonstrated record of accomplishment of improving institutional outcomes in various educational environments.
Involved community partner that implements timely research-based strategies for policy-relevant questions fostering productivity, cultural responsiveness, and creativity.
Engaging mentorship, offering guidance to undergraduate and graduate students focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Academic Administration Experience
Valley College, Martinsburg WV, Beckley WV, & Cleveland Ohio (1800 student FTE) 2023-Present
President
Selected to help Valley College, a multi-state institution, transition from for-profit to non-profit status as part of a non-profit consortium. Responsible for building a leadership team capable of sustaining the institution through the transition, developing operational efficiency, increasing enrollment, and improving academic outcomes in professionally focused programs in healthcare, business, and information technology.
Leadership
Developed the college's first leadership team, to replace the for-profit owner who made most decisions at the institution before the sale.
Re-engineered college enrollment team separating marketing and enrollment disciplines to create more focus on enhanced enrollment which resulted in a 6% year-over-year enrollment increase.
Created enrollment responses to immediately deal with decreasing enrollment trends, limit damage, and quickly restore enrollment growth ultimately resulting in protecting operational revenue.
Finance
Launched a debt repayment plan to reduce the outstanding debt and attempt to re-enroll student stop-outs to reduce the bad debt at the college which has been growing at harming the financial picture of the institution.
Reduced outsourcing contracts by 25% (approximately $300,000) by evaluating contract deliverables, renegotiating terms, and terminating various agreements while maintaining current service levels.
Reduced operating expenses by 5%.
Budget development and realignment to a new fiscal year that follows the parent organization's budget cycle.
Academics
Focused the institution on Academic Excellence. Restructured academic affairs and enhanced staff to enhance the student experience in the classroom for on ground and online programs
Initiated program redesign for the Medical Assistant program to allow for greater accountability and enhanced academic support.
Successfully completed Practical Nursing reaccreditation in Ohio.
Completed all requirements for of initial Associate Degree in Nursing accreditation and expect full accreditation March 2025.
Launched the college’s first strategic planning process.
Initiated processes to improve NCLEX pass rates with initial results improved by 10% YOY.
Operations
Worked with the marketing team to achieve 8% increase in lead flow.
Process changes in Financial Aid have resulted in 23% more students being packaged by the first day of the semester, which is significant at an institution that has a start every 3 weeks.
Developed retention metrics and processes at each campus. Established goals for each campus director to measure success at each campus as well as online.
Launched business intelligence at the College and began developing operational metrics for use by each division of the college as well as dashboards and reports to the College’s Board of Trustees.
National Louis University, Chicago, IL Overall 2011 – Present
Vice President of Operations and Technology 2016 – Present
Fulfill a critical role as a member of the President's leadership team responsible for university operations.
Lead the university’s remote operations through the Covid-19 Pandemic instituting a COVID-19 operations team, which resulted in an increase in online learning enrollment growth by 120% during the crisis.
Direct new university initiatives and innovation, including leadership of the Kendall College campus during the merger with National Louis University, leadership for NLU Online, and in developing a university certificate division.
Cultivate the rebuilding of the NLU’s Career Services department, which included hiring a new executive director to lead and establish new vision, and processes that align with best-in-class support.
Oversee the Service Blueprinting team reviewing all university enrollment and student service processes to improve the student experience with the administrative offices of the institution.
Coordinated the efforts of the Redevelopment Team that innovated a competency-based framework for the undergraduate program, sparking initial enrollments that surpassed targets by 67% in a program that provided four-year degrees tuition-free to students with zero Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
Achieve outstanding results, growing the Online Division by 120%.
Past Accomplishments
Pioneered the adoption of adaptive learning and data-driven analytics systems across online and blended programs.
Increased student retention through the combination of predictive analytics and proactive strategies.
Orchestrated the vision, strategy, and execution for all facets of operations of the Kendall Campus.
Led the integration of the Kendall culture into NLU, helping the employees of Kendall understand the way NLU operated.
Facilitated the data integration with the Kendall acquisition which involves being onsite and responsible for the success of Student Advising, Enrollment, Financial Aid, Student Life, Facilities, Technology, and Career Services.
Vice President of Information Technology 2011 – 2016
Directed computing, network, and communication services for academic and administrative users, while defining all formal Division of Information Technology policies, procedures, strategies, and best practices.
Transitioned the university from Blackboard CE8 to Desire2Learn, leading faculty development and training.
Safeguarded critical systems and confidential student information by building a robust information security program from the ground up.
Implemented GDPR processes and procedures.
Strengthened marketing and enrollment processes by implementing Salesforce CRM.
Generated $1M in savings by renegotiating the key terms and conditions of an outsourcing contract with Ellucian without impacting the services' level.
Chief Information Technology Officer 2002 – 2011
McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA
Effectively managed all facets of information technology at this top public university, directing academic and administrative computing, electronic learning, marketing, long-range technology planning, and administering over $6M in budgets.
Recruited to bring solid structure and leadership to the IT organization.
Led migration from SunGard HE Plus to Banner and upgraded the campus network backbone from ATM to 10G.
Successfully planned and executed upgrades and conversions to pass audits with zero findings.
Provided technical guidance and direction to new capital construction projects.
Supported the Center for Teaching and Learning Technology launch, which serves as a resource for faculty seeking to implement pedagogical uses of technology in their teaching.
Skyrocketed the number of electronic learning courses from 54 to 377.
Empowered MSU to complete the Fall semester on time following Hurricane Rita, establishing a remote electronic campus, including email systems, Blackboard, and ERP platforms, that endured for three weeks.
Served on the executive team that completed reaffirmation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Contributed as a founding member and first Chair of the University of Louisiana System Technology Council, which delivered over $3M in first-year savings through shared resource projects.
Chief Information Technology Officer April through August 2008
Sungard HE/College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada
Responsible for consulting and advising on the College of Southern Nevada’s ERP planning process and personnel staffing requirements.
Chief Information Officer 2001 – 2002
Bethany College, Bethany, WV
Provided leadership in academic and administrative computing.
Administered training for faculty and staff in uses of new technology.
Oversaw the upgrade of all faculty computers on campus, including a conversion of 50% of all machines from Macintosh to Windows-based computers.
Upgraded both the hardware and software (Colleague 16) for the Datatel system.
Managed the completion of the campus network upgrade supported by Gigabit Ethernet.
Director of Media and Academic Computing 1998 – 2001
Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH
Acted as the line supervision of staff.
Monitored expenditures against budget for the department.
Served as the technical coordinator for distance learning implementation.
Oversaw all aspects of starting a new department at YSU, including hiring all staff, setting policies, and implementation of classroom management system for five colleges (WebCT).
Designed the technical component for the five-million-dollar Beecher Center for Technology in the Arts including the physical construction of the state-of-the-art Zona Auditorium, the museum network, and the visual design lab.
Developed the new digital television studio/postproduction facility for Youngstown State
University’s College of Fine and Performing Arts.
Helped with construction specifications for YSU’s College of Education.
Educator Experience
Adjunct Instructor 2021
National Louis University, Chicago, IL
Collaborated and engaged with peers and administrators to improve student learning and seek professional development opportunities.
Aligned instructional materials to the purpose of learning including linking lessons to student learning needs and using data to inform learning.
Adjusted instruction to address misunderstandings, assess learning, and complete formal and informal assessments.
Engaged students in high-quality learning by providing opportunities for students to take ownership of their learning.
Imparted accurate instruction to students while ensuring their comprehension, knowledge retention, and proactive engagement.
Encouraged frequent contact by being approachable and available.
Monitored student progress and completed outreach to struggling students.
Course Taught:
Introduction to Government
Instructor 2001
Bethany College, Bethany, WV
Prepared lessons based on course outline and readings.
Completed assessments of student learning based on learning objectives.
Monitored student progress and completed outreach to struggling students.
Provided a variety of learning materials and resources for use in educational activities based on real-world experiences and examples.
Evaluated homework, tests, and held office hours to ensure students understood course concepts.
Imparted accurate instruction to students while ensuring their comprehension, knowledge retention, and proactive engagement.
Course Taught:
History to 1865
Instructor 2000
Jefferson Community College, Watertown, NY
Developed routines and procedures to maximize learning time and provide a safe environment.
Provided assignment feedback in a manner that encourages students to reflect on their work and encourage critical thinking.
Perform with an open-door policy with my students.
Identified and selected different instructional resources and methods to meet students' varying needs.
Provided help and guidance to students to learn the course materials.
Prepared and assessed tests and assigned grades.
Incorporated storytelling to take stale material and make it more engaging.
Course Taught:
Introduction to Government
Instructor 1996 – 1999
Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH
Taught undergraduate and graduate courses in Communication and Education.
Set clear expectations and encouraged risk-taking, collaboration, and respect.
Responsible for preparing lessons based on course outlines and readings.
Assessed student learning based on learning objectives.
Incorporated lectures, demonstrations, group work, discussions and provided real-world experiences and examples.
Created course material around storytelling to bring the coursework to life.
Developed lessons that incorporate real-world experiences and examples.
Courses Taught:
Intro to Mass Communication
Video Production I
Video Production II
Directing
Technology for Teachers
Introduction to Government
Entrepreneurial Experience
Business Owner (partner) 2012 – Present
BM Hydrafab, Lake Charles, Louisiana
Responsible for operations and business development for the business.
Operate as the Co-owner and Chief Operations and Financial Officer for a business with 5 full-time employees.
Professional and Scholarly Presentations
Keynote Address 2021
Cohesion Conference
Institutional Satisfaction with Online Program Management 2021
Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Accelerate Conference
On-Line Curriculum Development and Delivery 2020
Central Association of College and University Business Officers (CACUBO)
The Role of the CIO: Is It Changed Forever Due To the Pandemic of 2020? 2020
Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Accelerate Conference
Disruptive Innovation in the Classroom 2019
Tulsa Area Schools Technology Symposium
Emerging Technologies and Digital Transformation 2018
2018 Technology Executive Club of Chicago
Trends in Higher Education 2016
The Registry for College and University Presidents
Disaster Planning and Recovery: The Campus Perspective 2009
Southern Regional Education Board Annual Educational Technology Cooperative Annual Meeting
Strategic Technology Purchasing 2007
University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors
Technology and Development 2000
Brooke County Chamber of Commerce
Technology 2000
Beecher Center for the Technology in the Arts Grand Opening
The Beecher Center for Technology in the Arts 1998
The Butler Institute of American Art Board of Trustees
Streaming Technology Uses 1998
VSoft Corporation partners meeting
The First Day of Battle at Gettysburg 1993
Missouri Valley History Conference
Articles and Research
Bouchey, B., Graham, M., Wilson, V., (2022): Equitable Outcomes in Online Programs through Wrap-Around Student Support. In S. Kumar & P. Arnold (Eds.), Quality in Online Programs: Approaches and Practices in Higher Education. Brill/AECT.
Graham, M., "Institutional Satisfaction with Online Program Management (OPM) Providers" (2021). Dissertations. 610. https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/610.
Peer Reviewer
From Silos to Solutions: Implementing a Collaborative Technology Procurement Approach in
Inspiring Change: Lessons for Leaders about Large-Scale Technology Implementation (2022)
Articles Cited In
Edward J. Maloney, E., Kim, J. (2022, February 17). 3 Questions for Michael Graham on his Dissertation on OPMs. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/learning-innovation/3-questions-michael-graham-his-dissertation-opms.
Memberships and Affiliations
Volunteer Northwest Settlement House 2022
Founding Member and Two-time Chair of the Council 2011
University of Louisiana System Technology Council, representing 8 universities and 70,000 students
Member of the Board of Directors
Southwest Louisiana Family and Youth Counseling Agency 2011
Fundraising and Grants
Department of Education Congressionally-directed Grant (Principal Investigator) 2007
$595,200 grant to McNeese State University to establish the Louisiana Academy
for Innovative Teaching and Learning
Ohio Board of Regents Distance Learning Grant (Co-author) 1998
$455,000 grant to help implement a distance-learning program
Ohio Education Television Grant (Co-author) 1997
$25,000 grant to upgrade digital video equipment
Professional Consulting Projects
Northwest Health Sciences University 2017
Orchestrated and executed a university technology assessment regarding personnel, infrastructure, academic and medical technologies.
Nomerel LLC 2017
Assisted the company with launching a Higher Education division and supported the CEO in negotiating and closing its first managed services agreement with a college.
Christine J. Quinn Inc. 2014
Consulted on web applications and technology acquisition for a higher education leadership firm.
Northwestern University 2009
Consulted with the CIO about technology infrastructure and planning for a Plus to Banner Migration.
State of Louisiana 2007
Served as the Chief Negotiator for higher education in Louisiana for a master software/services agreement with SunGard HE.
