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.

President Dr. Matthew J. Draud is a distinguished academic leader with over 20 years of administrative experience in higher education, Draud began his career as a full-time faculty member at Long Island University in 1997, achieving tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2003 and becoming Chair of the biology department, a position he held for 10 years. Promoted to Professor in 2009, Draud has published extensively in animal behavior and ecology. In 2013, he became a tenured Professor and Department Head at Armstrong State University, supervising a large faculty and student body. He later served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Siena Heights University and, in 2020, became Vice President for Academic Affairs at McMurry University. He has overseen significant growth and innovation, established new academic programs, and played a key role in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. He has also been instrumental in securing substantial gifts to support student success. Draud received a Doctor of Philosophy from Lehigh University, a Master of Science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and a Bachelor of Arts from Thomas More University, all within the Department of Biology. He has been involved in leadership development with the Future Presidents Intensive Educational Advisory Board, engaged in service, and has been published in several articles and a book.

Presidential Advisor, Capital Campaign Chair, Board Chair Emeritus 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.

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 Administration Suzie Fischer is the Vice President of Administration. She is responsible for the operations of the University, including marketing and communications, residence life, facilities, and information technology. She also supports institutional research, contract review, legal support, and strategic planning. Fischer holds a Bachelor of Arts from Morningside College and a Masters in Management in Leadership from Briar Cliff University.

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.