SEASON 1, Ep. 13 Brian Bruess & Kara Kolomitz, Joint President and COO of The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University
04/16/24 • 51 min
In this episode, Dr Brian Bruess, the inaugural joint president, and Dr. Kara Kolomitz, the inaugural joint COO of The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, share insights into devising a unified leadership structure for both institutions. They delve into their high-impact journey in Catholic higher education, emphasizing the significance of liberal arts, the tradition of Benedictine values, and the critical role of strategic planning.
About Brian Bruess, Ph.D
Dr. Brian J. Bruess, Ph.D., assumed the historic role of president of both the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University in 2022, marking a distinguished career in academia. Prior to this groundbreaking appointment, he served as the 8th president of St. Norbert College, where he achieved remarkable milestones, including record enrollments and fostering a diverse student body. With a background spanning 22 years at St. Catherine University, Dr. Bruess excelled as the executive vice president and chief operating officer, earning accolades such as the 2017 Presidents’ Steward Award. He holds degrees from St. Norbert College and Ohio University, specializing in college student personnel and research.
Read more on the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University website.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-bruess-41a39964/
About Kara Kolomitz, Ed.D
Dr. Kara Kolomitz is the inaugural Chief Operating Officer of The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. With over 25 years of experience in Catholic higher education, she previously served as COO at Regis College from 2016 to 2022, overseeing internal operations and strategy for the institution's 3,400 students. Dr. Kolomitz's leadership facilitated enrollment growth and implemented initiatives addressing systemic racism, earning recognition for diversity excellence. She bolstered athletic participation and improved retention rates by implementing innovative student support systems. Dr. Kolomitz holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Johnson & Wales University, a Master’s in Higher Education from Providence College, and a Bachelor’s in Communication Arts and Philosophy from Regis University. Her dedication to mission-driven leadership and commitment to student success make her a valuable addition to the CSB and SJU community.
Read more on the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University website.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karakolomitz/
This podcast is sponsored by Viv Higher Education
About Viv Higher Education
Viv Higher Education is a Boston-based, female-owned comprehensive marketing agency specializing in higher education. With expertise in strategic planning, creative asset development, and media campaigns, we focus on enrollment-centric initiatives. Our approach is grounded in industry best practices, ensuring precision in reaching target audiences. We have extensive experience in marketing to diverse groups, including high school students, Hispanic, military, LGBTQ+, international students, and online learners. Navigating the complex landscapes of university environments is second nature to us, and we prioritize fostering collaborations that yield mutually beneficial outcomes. With a personable, nimble, and highly responsive approach, we deliver tailored solutions to empower organizations to achieve their objectives.
Website: https://vivhied.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/viv-higher-ed/
In this episode, Dr Brian Bruess, the inaugural joint president, and Dr. Kara Kolomitz, the inaugural joint COO of The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, share insights into devising a unified leadership structure for both institutions. They delve into their high-impact journey in Catholic higher education, emphasizing the significance of liberal arts, the tradition of Benedictine values, and the critical role of strategic planning.
About Brian Bruess, Ph.D
Dr. Brian J. Bruess, Ph.D., assumed the historic role of president of both the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University in 2022, marking a distinguished career in academia. Prior to this groundbreaking appointment, he served as the 8th president of St. Norbert College, where he achieved remarkable milestones, including record enrollments and fostering a diverse student body. With a background spanning 22 years at St. Catherine University, Dr. Bruess excelled as the executive vice president and chief operating officer, earning accolades such as the 2017 Presidents’ Steward Award. He holds degrees from St. Norbert College and Ohio University, specializing in college student personnel and research.
Read more on the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University website.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-bruess-41a39964/
About Kara Kolomitz, Ed.D
Dr. Kara Kolomitz is the inaugural Chief Operating Officer of The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. With over 25 years of experience in Catholic higher education, she previously served as COO at Regis College from 2016 to 2022, overseeing internal operations and strategy for the institution's 3,400 students. Dr. Kolomitz's leadership facilitated enrollment growth and implemented initiatives addressing systemic racism, earning recognition for diversity excellence. She bolstered athletic participation and improved retention rates by implementing innovative student support systems. Dr. Kolomitz holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Johnson & Wales University, a Master’s in Higher Education from Providence College, and a Bachelor’s in Communication Arts and Philosophy from Regis University. Her dedication to mission-driven leadership and commitment to student success make her a valuable addition to the CSB and SJU community.
Read more on the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University website.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karakolomitz/
This podcast is sponsored by Viv Higher Education
About Viv Higher Education
Viv Higher Education is a Boston-based, female-owned comprehensive marketing agency specializing in higher education. With expertise in strategic planning, creative asset development, and media campaigns, we focus on enrollment-centric initiatives. Our approach is grounded in industry best practices, ensuring precision in reaching target audiences. We have extensive experience in marketing to diverse groups, including high school students, Hispanic, military, LGBTQ+, international students, and online learners. Navigating the complex landscapes of university environments is second nature to us, and we prioritize fostering collaborations that yield mutually beneficial outcomes. With a personable, nimble, and highly responsive approach, we deliver tailored solutions to empower organizations to achieve their objectives.
Website: https://vivhied.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/viv-higher-ed/
Previous Episode
SEASON 1, Ep. 12 Jefferson Blackburn-Smith, Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Otterbein Enrollment Management Division, Otterbein University
Understanding the student life cycle, increasing diversity and inclusion the importance of curiosity in creating change are some of the topics Jefferson Blackburn-Smith, Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Otterbein University, discusses on the Higher Ed Leaders Podcast.
Blackburn-Smith shares his wisdom from 12 years in higher education and has a strategic, inclusive and thoughtful approach in higher education, aimed at successful outcomes for all students.
He talks about how the focus should be on understanding the entire life cycle of a student, from high school to post-graduation, integrating services, and making strategic partnerships.
Blackburn-Smith shares how at Otterbein, through targeted initiatives like meeting all financial needs of Pell-eligible students, they increased diversity and successfully eliminated the success gaps between students of different backgrounds. They also changed focus from discount rates to net revenue, using a methodical approach to convince skeptics of the effectiveness of their strategies by showing successful outcomes.
Jefferson Blackburn-Smith
Jefferson Blackburn-Smith is the esteemed Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives within the Enrollment Management Division at Otterbein University. With a tenure since 2012, he brings a wealth of experience from his prior 17-year leadership at The Ohio State University, where he spearheaded transformative recruitment and strategic planning endeavors.
At Otterbein, Jefferson's visionary leadership is marked by a steadfast commitment to expanding access and affordability for underserved students. His innovative approaches have led to remarkable outcomes, including a 140% surge in enrollment of students of color and the elimination of retention achievement gaps. Notably, under his guidance, Otterbein welcomed its most diverse cohorts in seven consecutive years.
Jefferson's advocacy extends beyond enrollment, as he champions Integrated Enrollment Management, fostering collaboration between Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Enrollment Management to enhance student success. His efforts have significantly boosted retention and graduation rates.
An alumnus of The Ohio State University, Jefferson's diverse background includes teaching, managerial roles, and prolific authorship. He is a sought-after voice in the media, contributing insights on access, affordability, and enrollment management.
Read more on the Otterbein University website: https://www.otterbein.edu/profiles/jefferson-blackburn-smith/
This podcast is sponsored by Viv Higher Education
About Viv Higher Education
Viv Higher Education is a Boston-based, female-owned comprehensive marketing agency specializing in higher education. With expertise in strategic planning, creative asset development, and media campaigns, we focus on enrollment-centric initiatives. Our approach is grounded in industry best practices, ensuring precision in reaching target audiences. We have extensive experience in marketing to diverse groups, including high school students, Hispanic, military, LGBTQ+, international students, and online learners. Navigating the complex landscapes of university environments is second nature to us, and we prioritize fostering collaborations that yield mutually beneficial outcomes. With a personable, nimble, and highly responsive approach, we deliver tailored solutions to empower organizations to achieve their objectives.
Website: https://vivhied.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/viv-higher-ed/
Next Episode
SEASON 2: Trailer - Higher Ed Leaders: The Entrepreneurial Campus sponsored by Viv Higher Education
Welcome to Higher Ed Leaders, the podcast for college and university professionals looking for real tools and real talk to amplify their impact. If you believe that higher ed is unparalleled in its ability to transform individual lives and society as a whole, you've come to the right place. On this show, you'll hear from presidents as well as VPs of enrollment, advancement, strategy, academic affairs, student affairs, finance, and more about their higher ed journeys and what they're doing to lead at their respective institutions.
This season, we're focusing specifically on entrepreneurial leadership. We'll explore how to:
- Pick up the pace: Navigate the complexities of higher education with greater speed and agility.
- Make decisions with imperfect data: Learn to make informed choices in an environment of uncertainty.
- Say no to initiatives that don't align: Focus your efforts on the most impactful opportunities for your institution.
Join us as we delve into the challenges and opportunities facing higher education leaders today and discover how to lead with innovation, impact, and a focus on the future.
This podcast is sponsored by Viv Higher Education
About Viv Higher Education
Viv Higher Education is a Boston-based, female-owned comprehensive marketing agency specializing in higher education. With expertise in strategic planning, creative asset development, and media campaigns, we focus on enrollment-centric initiatives. Our approach is grounded in industry best practices, ensuring precision in reaching target audiences. We have extensive experience in marketing to diverse groups, including high school students, Hispanic, military, LGBTQ+, international students, and online learners. Navigating the complex landscapes of university environments is second nature to us, and we prioritize fostering collaborations that yield mutually beneficial outcomes. With a personable, nimble, and highly responsive approach, we deliver tailored solutions to empower organizations to achieve their objectives.
Website: https://vivhied.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/viv-higher-ed/
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