Monte E. Perez
Dr. Monte E. Perez has been named president of East Los Angeles College (ELAC). Dr. Perez brings a distinguished record of higher education leadership, having previously served as president of Los Angeles Mission College for a decade and, most recently, as interim president of East Los Angeles College. He also served as president of Moreno Valley College within the Riverside Community College District. Earlier in his career, Dr. Perez held senior leadership roles at Golden West College and also served in several education and leadership roles with national education and workforce organizations. Dr. Perez holds a Doctor of Philosophy and a Master of Public Policy, Planning, and Administration from the University of Southern California, as well as a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Los Angeles.
Carol Kim
Carol Kim will assume the role of vice president of enrollment management at the University of Southern California (USC) on February 25, 2026. Kim joins USC from New York University, where she served as vice president of global recruitment, admissions and financial aid. Prior to joining NYU, Kim served as senior vice provost for enrollment management and strategic partnerships and as senior vice president for global partnerships at The New School. Kim’s 25-plus-year career in higher education includes several inaugural positions, including vice president of international relations at the California Institute of the Arts and vice president of planning and communications for YueCheng Education in Beijing. Kim holds a Doctor of Education from the University of Pennsylvania and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from NYU. She is a graduate of Harvard University’s Institute for Management and Leadership in Education.
Kent Syverud
Kent Syverud, president of Syracuse University, has been named the 16th president of the University of Michigan, effective July 1, 2026. Before serving as chancellor and president at Syracuse for the past 12 years, Syverud was dean of the School of Law at Washington University in St. Louis and the Ethan A.H. Shepley Distinguished University Professor. Prior to Washington University, Syverud was dean at Vanderbilt University Law School. Syverud earned his bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, his Juris Doctorate from Michigan Law (1981) and his master’s in economics from the University of Michigan (1983).
Laine Norton
Laine Norton has been appointed senior vice president for development and alumni affairs at Hofstra University, effective on February 2nd of 2026. Norton has recently served as vice president for advancement at Ithaca College. She previously served as assistant dean for advancement at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Earlier, Norton worked for the University of Nebraska Foundation development team on behalf of the Jeffrey S. Raikes School for Computer Science and Management and the College of Business. Norton holds a degree in journalism and history from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
