The Board of Trustees is made up of a group of community leaders and individuals appointed to help advise, manage, and govern the 501c3 nonprofit organization that is Briar Cliff University. 

The President's Cabinet includes the university president along with an administrative group of vice presidents governing academic affairs, finance, university advancement, university relations, admissions, and athletics.

Interim President Steve Freeman ('69) is a formerly retired business professional with experience in higher education and pharmaceuticals. Freeman served on Briar Cliff's Board of Trustees for 12 years and as Chair from 2018 to 2022. A 1969 Briar Cliff alumnus, he received the University Medal in 2022 and was recognized as Board Chair Emeritus in 2023, both in honor of his service to Briar Cliff and his unwavering dedication and contributions to the University.  Freeman retired from ConnectiveRx in Bedminster, NJ, as the Senior Vice President of Special Projects. He was previously Senior Vice President, Institutional Advancement, for Caldwell University, Caldwell, New Jersey. Other positions he previously held were Managing Partner of the Centricity Group, Group Director and a member of the Board of Directors of The McCallan Group, and former President of Cardinal Health, Healthcare Marketing Services. He also served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Boron, LePore and Associates, Inc; Vice President, Marketing and Sales for Knoll Pharmaceuticals; Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Boots; Executive Vice President, General Manager at McCann Healthcare, Inc.; and Senior Vice President, Managing Director of Sieber & McIntyre, Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Briar Cliff University and a Master of Science in Industrial Psychology from the University of Nebraska.  Freeman is a former member of the Board of Trustees for Caldwell University, serving from 1999 to 2008, including as chair from 2005 to 2008. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Briar Cliff University and a Master of Science in Industrial Psychology from the University of Nebraska.

Interim Provost & Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs Mark joined Briar Cliff University in 1984 as an Adjunct Professor. Most recently, he has served as a Tenured Professor, Department Chair of Business Administration, and Faculty Senate Chair. He holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Creighton University and a  Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Illinois State University.

Vice President of Finance  John Robertson is the Vice President of Finance at Briar Cliff University. John provides leadership and manages financial services, including the business office. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Belmont University and a Master of Science in Strategic Finance from Bellevue University.

Vice President of University Advancement Cori Koopman is the Vice President of University Advancement. Cori joined Briar Cliff in 2024 and has expertise in various facets of development, including capital campaigns, cultivation and stewardship, annual events, and more. She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska with a bachelor's degree in human development and family services. She also serves as a Sioux City Chamber Ambassador.

Vice President of University Relations & Chief Strategy Officer Suzie Fischer is the Vice President of University Relations & Chief Strategy Officer. She is responsible for marketing, communications, public relations, and community relations. She also oversees the print and mail services at the University. As Chief Strategy Officer, she co-chairs the development of the University's strategic plan and assists leadership with developing goals and key performance indicators.

Vice President of Enrollment Management Matt Thomsen is the Vice President of Enrollment Management. Since Matt joined Briar Cliff as Executive Director of Enrollment in September 2017, he has been instrumental in the development of new admissions strategies. Matt is responsible for coordinating and executing the day-to-day operations of the admissions department, this includes all undergraduate and graduate admissions.

Use the Organizational Chart attached to see a graphical representation of an organization hierarchical structure.

View Organizational Chart

Learn from the best! Briar Cliff University is blessed by talented faculty with real-world experience in their field of study. 

Meet the Team

For over 90 years, Briar Cliff has been blessed with talented staff to support the academic and operational progress of the University. 

Meet the Team

Briar Cliff emphasizes providing a quality, value centered, education for its students. With intention toward those values, in 2004 the University declared its adherence to principles of “shared governance and collaborative decision making.”

The formation of a new Faculty Senate in 2017 and the appointment of the first lay chair of the Board of Trustees in 2018 have been steps in the direction of meeting that commitment. Shared governance is an ideal peculiar to academia, one perhaps impossible to realize fully, but the University expects all of its members shall strive toward this ideal.

Council Responsibilities

Briar Cliff University’s three governance bodies include the Board of Trustees, Faculty, and Administration. In accordance with the document entitled “A Vision of Shared Governance for Briar Cliff University”, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A, the Council will review the primary shared decision-making processes of the institution’s governance bodies (budget, assessment, and strategic planning) and make recommendations for improvement to the campus community.

Representative Restrictions

A Board of Trustees cannot simultaneously serve as Chair or Vice-Chair of a Board Committee. The Faculty cannot simultaneously serve as a Faculty Senator. The Administration cannot be the President or a Vice President; must be a Director-level or above employee, and the Student Representative will be the Student Body President for that year.

Terms

2 Years with the following exceptions, the current BCU Student Body President will automatically serve as Student Representative, to allow for alternating term years, first-cycle nominations (Fall 2020) for the Board, Administration, and Faculty, a representatives will include one 1.5 year term (3 semesters) Member and one 2.5 year term (5 semesters) Member 

As a Briar Cliff University employee, you will be a part of either the staff assembly or the faculty senate. Your elected leader will represent your department/division during monthly staff or faculty meetings. They will act as an advocate and representative serving to actively facilitate communication to and from the group as a whole. 

These meetings are meant to provide an avenue for all employees to use the strength of their collective voices to be an agent for change and communication. The goal of these meetings is to facilitate understanding, transparency, and allow employees to unite behind common goals.  

Staff Assembly

The staff assembly consists of all BCU employees that do not have regular teaching duties. Each division is permitted one elected representative for every ten staff members. 

Faculty Senate

The faculty assembly consists of BCU employees who have regular teaching duties. Each department is represented through faculty who they have elected to the Senate.