New Hampshire Women in Higher Education Leadership (NHWHEL)

Claire Van Ummersen

Vice President, Center for Effective Leadership
(202) 939-9376
Specialization: Equity, Faculty Career Flexibility, Gender, Leadership Development, Women in Higher Education

Claire Van Ummersen is vice president of ACE's Center for Effective Leadership, with responsibility for programs and initiatives in leadership development for higher education administrators throughout their careers, from department chairs to presidents, and grant initiatives on key higher education issues. From 2001-05, as vice president and director of the Office of Women in Higher Education she had was responsible for leadership programs for women, setting national agendas to support the advancement of women leaders and state networks, which operate to identify emerging leaders.

Van Ummersen is president emeritus of Cleveland State University, having served as president from 1993-2001. As a doctoral granting urban university, Cleveland State served its region with undergraduate and graduate education, research to support the state and regional economy and professional service to improve the lives and welfare of its residents.

From 1986-92, Van Ummersen was chancellor of the University System of New Hampshire, which served 29,000 students and had a $300 million operating budget. During Van Ummersen�s tenure in New Hampshire, she launched the Instructional Video Network to link all of the campuses as well as selected local schools. From 1981-86, she was with the Massachusetts Board of Regents of Higher Education. Her positions included vice chancellor for management systems and telecommunications and associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. Statewide planning and program review were critical components of her responsibilities.

At the University of Massachusetts, Van Ummersen served as assistant professor, then associate professor of biology and later served as graduate program director for biology, associate dean for academic affairs, and associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. Van Ummersen spearheaded the development of a strategic plan targeting three major program areas for development�environmental sciences, public policy and administration, and education�and culminating in her appointment as interim chancellor.

Van Ummersen earned her BS, summa cum laude, as well as an MS and a PhD from Tufts University. She has been awarded two honorary doctor of science degrees, the first from the University of Massachusetts in 1988 and the second from the University of Maine in 1991, and a doctor of humane letters degree from New England University in 2005. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi honorary societies.