Excelsior University welcomes new chair and members to Board of Trustees 

Excelsior University Board of Trustees chair Kent A.D. Clark

Albany, N.Y.  — The Excelsior University Board of Trustees has named Kent A.D. Clark as its chair and appointed six new trustees. The University’s governing body, the board consists of individuals from across the country who are leaders in the fields of business, education, and government. 

Clark, of Valrico, Florida, is president and chairman of the board for the Clark Advisory Group LLC and CAG Federal, a military veteran, and an Excelsior alumnus. Clark is an experienced chief executive officer certified in board and advisory work across the spectrums of cybersecurity, governance, finance, audit, strategic planning, and development for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. He has been a member of the Excelsior Board of Trustees since 2020, most recently serving as treasurer. 

“As a board member and alumnus, Kent Clark’s expertise, leadership, and commitment to Excelsior’s mission of educational access have had a profound impact on our university,” said David Schejbal, president of Excelsior University. “I look forward to working with Chair Clark and this remarkable group of trustees as we continue our growth as a comprehensive educational institution dedicated to creating opportunities for learners everywhere.”     

As a veteran of the U.S. Army, Clark held progressively senior ranks, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. During his service, he advised U.S. Armed Forces leaders across multiple geographical locations, both domestic and abroad, on strategy, logistics, and resource planning. He also specialized in the deployment of large overseas logistical operations during combat, working with allies, foreign militaries, governments, and inter-agency partners. 

He most recently held the position of CEO at AMVETS National Service Foundation in Lanham, Maryland, where he spearheaded the major transformation of the one of the country’s largest veterans service organizations with a complex organizational structure, providing clear direction and governance while upholding the highest levels of ethics and fiduciary care. Previously, he held the position of chief appropriations advisor/national security director in the office of U.S. Rep. C. W. Bill Young. 

“As a military student in need of flexible education, Excelsior helped set me on a path to success in both my Army and civilian careers,” said Clark. “It has been an honor to give back to the University as a trustee, and I am thrilled to step into the role of chair at this exciting time in Excelsior’s history.” 

New trustees appointed to the board include Diane Adams, chief learning officer of Mount Sinai Health System; Todd Greene, vice president of Work, Education, and Labor Division and executive director of WorkRise Urban Institute; Jessica Hinkle, senior vice president of Strada; Ruth Lown Turman, senior sales operations manager at Optum Serve of UnitedHealth Group; Jeff Metzler, partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP; and Tony Spearman-Leach, director of development and philanthropy at the National Academy of Public Administration.  

For the past ten years, Diane Adams has served a workforce of 50,000 people at the Mount Sinai Health System as chief learning officer. In this role, Adams creates and drives the organizational learning strategy, leading a team of talent development professionals implementing programs focused on areas such as leadership development, workforce capacity building, engagement, and patient experience.  

Todd Greene is a vice president of the Work, Education, and Labor Division (WELD) at the Urban Institute. He leads a team of K-12, higher education, workforce development, apprenticeship, and labor market experts who shape education and training that leads to lifelong success. He also serves as the executive director of WorkRise, a research-to-action network focused on jobs, workers, and mobility hosted by the Urban Institute.  

As senior vice president of strategic investments for Strada Education Foundation, Jessica Hinkle evaluates potential mission-aligned investments and manages Strada’s portfolio of direct minority investments and early-stage fund investments. Previously, Hinkle advised and supported Strada’s mission-aligned affiliates, leading product strategy and innovation for Strada’s commercial and products division. 

An active and engaged Excelsior alumna, Ruth Lown Turman was recently appointed president of the Excelsior University Alumni Leadership Council and will serve as an ex officio board member. Turman currently serves as senior sales operations manager at Optum Serve (UnitedHealth Group). Her experience spans health care, technology, and financial services, with a focus on proposal management, process design, and cross-functional leadership supporting complex federal and commercial programs.  

Jeff Metzler is co-leader of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP’s education group and is ranked by Chambers for Higher Education law. He has extensive experience handling complex civil litigation, investigations, and appeals for a diversity of clients. He also has significant appellate experience in New York state and federal courts and has served as trusted counsel to boards and senior leaders in government and nonprofits. 

As senior director of institutional advancement at the U.S. Congressionally chartered National Academy of Public Administration, Tony Spearman-Leach engages major philanthropists, corporations, and foundations, securing commitments that ensure long-term sustainability while expanding programs in good government and governance. An Excelsior alumnus, Spearman-Leach recently concluded his term as Excelsior Alumni Leadership Council president.  

For more information on the Excelsior University Board of Trustees and full biographies of each member, visit https://www.excelsior.edu/about/leadership/trustees. 

Media contact Excelsior University:
Jason Bonafide, jbonafide@excelsior.edu, 518-608-8446

About Excelsior University

Excelsior University is an accredited, not-for-profit higher education institution focused on helping learners complete their degrees and advance their careers. Excelsior contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971 in Albany, New York, Excelsior meets students where they are — academically and geographically — removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.

Excelsior is a not-for-profit university with a main campus in Albany, New York, and an educational site in St. Petersburg, Florida. Excelsior University’s academic programs are registered by the New York State Education Department, with additional licensing for Florida-based programs.

Licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education (License No. 12928). Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL 323099-0400, toll-free number: (888)-224-6684.