Senior Leadership Team

Colby-Sawyer College's Senior Leadership Team is composed of the president, the vice presidents, and representatives from the faculty and staff. Together, they review all academic, administrative and financial issues associated with the institution and work closely with the Board of Trustees to fulfill the college's mission of preparing students to thrive in, and make a positive impact upon, a dynamic, diverse and interdependent world.

Dean G. McCurdy

President and Professor of Arts and Sciences
Volanakis Family Presidential Chair 

Dean, who became Colby-Sawyer's 10th president in June 2025, has been an innovative leader at small private liberal arts colleges and community colleges. Most recently, he served as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Ivy Tech Community College, the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide system. Previously, he served as chancellor for the system’s Kokomo campus. In his roles, Dean spurred record enrollment and boosted student achievement through experiential education and workforce development. He also led a successful campus comprehensive campaign, managed a campus redesign and established employer-based tuition assistance programs. At Kalamazoo Valley Community College, as associate vice president for instruction, he developed and launched a new health-focused campus and oversaw programs in math, sciences, food systems and healthcare. At Albion College, Dean was the A. Merton Chickering Professor of Biology and an award-winning researcher working on marine systems in Nova Scotia, Maine and Suriname. He also directed the college’s honors program, chaired the biology department and taught courses in biology, honors and the first-year experience. Early in his career, he was a visiting professor of biology and field manager of the Coastal Studies Center at Bowdoin College. Dean holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in biology from Acadia University and a doctoral degree in biology from Carleton University. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.  

Karen I. Bonewald

Vice President for Finance and Administration

Karen Bonewald was named vice president for finance and administration and treasurer of the college in May 2018 and oversees Financial Services, Facilities and Dining Services. Karen was hired as assistant controller in 2001, promoted to business manager in 2002 and to controller in 2004. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from New Hampshire College and an MBA from Plymouth State College. Karen enjoys volunteering as a trustee at Proctor Academy, spending time with her family, practicing yoga and walking the campus with her two Bernese Mountain Dogs, Rudy and Ridge.

Mike Clark

Director of Business Process and Automation

Mike Clark began his career at Colby-Sawyer College in 2006 as an admissions counselor and held a series of leadership roles in Admissions, including assistant director, associate director, enrollment marketing manager and director of enrollment marketing. During his tenure, he led the implementation of the college’s first customer relationship management (CRM) system and contributed to several institutional initiatives through his service on the Strategic Planning Committee, Brand Stewardship Committee and Wesson Honors Advisory Group. With more than 15 years of experience in enrollment management, marketing and technology adoption, Mike spent two years at Capture Higher Ed, a leading ed-tech company, where he served as a graduate solutions specialist. He returned to Colby-Sawyer in 2023 and now serves as director of business process and automation in Information Technology. In this role, he supports cross-campus efforts to streamline operations, enhance data-informed decision-making and align technology solutions with institutional priorities. Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Saint Michael’s College and lives in Sutton, New Hampshire, with his wife and two children.

Robin Burroughs Davis

Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students

After a brief period as interim vice president for student development and dean of students, Robin Davis was named the permanent chief student development officer in November 2016. Robin oversees Athletics, the Baird Health and Counseling Center, Student Activities, Campus Safety, Citizenship Education, the Hogan Sports Center, Residential Education and Student Success and Retention. Robin has served the college since 1996 and held the roles of director of citizenship education and associate dean of students. Robin also serves as the Title IX coordinator and holds certifications as a Title IX investigator and in advanced Clery Training. She has also been an adjunct instructor for writing and taught a first-year seminar course on leadership for many years. Robin received a B.A. in English education and an M.S. in college and community counseling from Longwood University, and she earned a J.D. from Northwestern California University School of Law. Outside of work, Robin supports our students at any number of events as well as completing road races and baking her famous treats.

Ann Fournier

Associate Professor, School of Nursing & Health Sciences

Ann Fournier joined the Colby-Sawyer faculty in 2019. She has been an educator since 2004. She holds a Ph.D. from Rutgers University, an M.S. in health care administration from New England College, an MSN with a specialty in acute care from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions and a B.A. in French and Spanish from Saint Anselm College. Ann has developed courses for, and teaches in, the B.S. in nursing, MSN, DNP and liberal education programs. In 2024, she received the Jack Jensen Award for Excellence in Teaching, the college’s highest teaching award. She is a deeply committed holistic educator who trusts in the process and product of the mutual work of engaged pedagogy. Her teaching and learning, research and practice occur in academic, community and clinical settings. She appreciates opportunities to collaborate with colleagues and community groups. She is a lover of flowers, the water, the color blue, flamenco guitar and shared gatherings, and is a mother of seven (six boys and one girl) who wishes she had time to learn to sew. 

Valerie LeClair

Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing

Valerie Leclair joined Colby-Sawyer College in January 2023 as vice president for admissions and financial aid. Valerie is tasked with designing and implementing a holistic strategic plan for Colby-Sawyer’s long-term enrollment success to include a growing number of graduate programs and pre-professional tracks that complement its undergraduate offerings. Valerie, who has more than 20 years of experience in higher education enrollment, previously served as the executive director of undergraduate and graduate admissions at Rivier University in Nashua, New Hampshire. Prior to Rivier, Valerie spent nearly a decade as the director of admissions at Hesser College in Salem, New Hampshire, and three years in the same role at The Salter School in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. She holds a Master of Science in higher education administration from Southern New Hampshire University and a Bachelor of Arts in theater from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Valerie lives in Windham, New Hampshire, with her husband and two children.

Jen McKillop

Director of Athletics

Jen McKillop joined Colby–Sawyer as director of athletics in June 2024. She has more than 20 years of experience in higher education that spans coaching, teaching and administrative leadership. Her broad background shapes her collaborative approach to advancing student success. Jen is well regarded for building strong campus partnerships and developing shared strategic visions that support student-athletes and athletics staff. Before she joined the Chargers, for eight years, Jen oversaw NCAA compliance, sport supervision, program evaluation, policy development, budget planning and fundraising initiatives at Franklin Pierce University. She holds a bachelor’s in anthropology from the University of San Diego and a master’s in education from East Stroudsburg University. Jen is a doctoral candidate at New England College; her research is focused on student retention in higher education. 

Daniel B. Parish

Vice President for College Advancement

Dan Parish joined Colby-Sawyer in August 2017 as vice president for college advancement to lead Alumni Relations, Development and community partnerships programs. Dan has more than 25 years of experience in higher education. He began his career in undergraduate admissions and has worked at Connecticut College, Phillips Exeter Academy and Dartmouth College. After serving as the director of admissions recruitment at Dartmouth College for a decade, Dan was the inaugural director of the Dartmouth for Life program in the Office of Alumni Relations. In this role, he was a member of the advancement management team and coordinated a number of alumni initiatives. Dan earned his A.B. in history at Dartmouth College and an Ed.M. in administration, planning and social policy from Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Dan grew up hiking and camping with his family, and he loves to get outside as often as he can to hike, run and ski.

Hilary Williams

Interim Academic Vice President and Dean of Faculty

Hilary Williams was appointed interim academic vice president and dean of faculty in 2025. Since joining Colby-Sawyer in 2012, she has served in several roles, including as the inaugural dean for the School of Arts & Sciences, the chair of the Department of Fine & Performing Arts and an associate professor of graphic design and digital media. In 2016, she earned the college’s highest teaching honor — the Jack Jensen Award for Excellence in Teaching. Hilary has participated in leadership development programs with the American Academic Leadership Institute, the American Conference of Academic Deans, the American Council on Education, the Council of Independent Colleges, IDEO U, Leadership NH and National Outdoor Leadership School. Her writing about academic leadership has been published in The ACAD Leader and The Department Chair, and her graphic design work has been recognized in regional, national and international design competitions. Hilary earned an MFA in studio art: graphic design from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a bachelor’s in studio art and environmental studies at Williams College, where she received the Robert F. Rosenburg Award for Excellence in Environmental Studies. An outdoor enthusiast, Hilary enjoys camping, hiking, biking and paddleboarding with family and friends.