Laura Travis

Laura Travis has been appointed the next president of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Dickson. Travis is currently TCAT Dickson’s executive vice president of academic affairs and compliance. She joined the college staff in 1998 as health affairs coordinator. Travis became the academic affairs coordinator in 2015, the college’s vice president in 2020, and assumed her current position in 2021. Prior to joining TCAT Dickson, she worked as a registered nurse and team leader at Homecare Solutions in Dickson and previously as a registered nurse at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville. She earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing and a master of science in nursing administration, both at Tennessee Technological University.

David Howse

David C. Howse has been selected as the 10th president of the California College of the Arts (CCA). He comes to CCA from Emerson College in Boston, MA, where he worked in various positions since 2015, as the vice president in Emerson’s Office of the Arts, the executive director of Arts Emerson, and as special advisor to the president. Howse earned a B.A. in Music from Bradley University, a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, and an Executive Leadership Certificate from Harvard University. Additionally, he holds certificates from the Institute for Nonprofit Practice at Boston University and the Emerging Leaders program at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

Mirta Martin

Ferrum College has confirmed Dr. Mirta Martin to the campus community as its 13th and first Hispanic president after serving as interim president since January 2, 2023. Martin also served as president of Fairmont State University from 2018 to 2022 and Fort Hays State University from 2014 to 2016. Prior to Fort Hays, she served as the dean of Virginia State University’s Reginald F. Lewis School of Business from 2009–2014. A native of Havana, Cuba, Martin uses her interpersonal and cultural expertise to promote access to affordable educational opportunities. Martin holds bachelor’s degrees in psychology and political science from Duke University, an MBA from the University of Richmond, and a doctorate in strategic management and leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University.