Media Room

The Board of Trustees for University of the Rockies has announced the appointment of Dr. Dawn Iwamoto as the University’s president and chief executive officer. Dr. Iwamoto will begin her tenure as University of the Rockies president and CEO on September 14, 2015.

Dr. Iwamoto comes to University of the Rockies with more than 30 years of experience in a broad range of educational settings. Most recently, she served as executive vice president and chief academic officer for Education Corporation of America, a privately held company that operates proprietary colleges across the United States. In this role, she was principal advisor to the chief executive officer on all academic matters and strategic initiatives covering 81 programs, 34 campuses, and 15,000 students. Previously, Dr. Iwamoto was the senior vice president/interim provost at University of Phoenix, where she was responsible for the academic oversight of the University’s associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral programs. She also was a founding dean of the University’s School for Advanced Studies.

“I welcome Dr. Dawn Iwamoto with the greatest of enthusiasm and look forward to working with her as the new president and CEO of University of the Rockies,” said Carolyn Baker, chair of the University of the Rockies Board of Trustees. “Throughout the selection process, Dr. Iwamoto demonstrated a deep understanding of and passion for University of the Rockies, and her outstanding leadership skills will assure a bright future for the University. Her presidency is a significant moment in our history, and the Board looks forward to working in partnership with Dr. Iwamoto to sustain University of the Rockies’ progress.”

Currently, Dr. Iwamoto serves as a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, as well as the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. She is a consulting editor for the peer-reviewed International Journal of Special Education and has experience with programmatic accreditation in the areas of education, technology, business, nursing, and counseling. Dr. Iwamoto also has significant faculty experience teaching students online and in the classroom.

Dr. Iwamoto holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education from Michigan State University, a master’s degree in education from Northern Arizona University, and a doctorate in education from Northern Arizona University.

“Dr. Iwamoto is the right person at this moment in University of the Rockies’ history to build on its mission and academic momentum to lead it to even greater achievements,” said Baker.

About University of the Rockies

University of the Rockies is a leading graduate school of the social and behavioral sciences that offers programs for students seeking their PhD, PsyD, or Master of Arts degree. Students may take classes at a state-of-the-art instructional site in downtown Denver, Colo., or work toward degrees online from anywhere in the country. Whether face-to-face or online, University of the Rockies students enjoy the same access to industry professionals, research, and publishing opportunities. For more information, please visit www.rockies.edu/, www.facebook.com/UniversityoftheRockies, www.twitter.com/URockies, or call Shari Winet, Vice President of Public Relations, at 866.621.0124 x11601.