This academic year, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts welcomed three new vice presidents to its executive team: Joseph DaSilva, vice president of administration and finance; Richard Glejzer, vice president of academic affairs; and Jeannette Smith, vice president of student affairs.  

 

The three new vice presidents were hired after a search process that included multiple interviews and open meetings for campus community members including students, faculty, and staff.  

 

"I'm excited to have three highly experienced vice presidents join our campus community at this pivotal moment in higher education," said MCLA President James F. Birge. "They're already offering new perspective and thinking about ways to continue to carry out our mission of providing an affordable, high-quality education to our students." 

 

Joseph DaSilva, vice president of administration and finance 

 

Joseph DaSilva joined MCLA in June 2021. He has worked in public higher education for more than 28 years of which the last 21 years were at Springfield Technical Community College in Springfield. During his tenure as vice president of administration and chief financial officer, DaSilva provided executive-level vision, leadership, planning, direction, and managed/oversaw all aspects of fiscal operations, facilities management, Campus Police, information technology, Student Financial Services, and Human Resources/Employee Benefits and Operations Center. 

 

DaSilva holds a bachelor's of art from Western New England University, Springfield and a master's degree in higher education administration from Bay Path University, Longmeadow. DaSilva represented the STCC in numerous community-based activities, on various organization boards and in many community-based efforts. 

 

Richard Glejzer, Ph.D, vice president of academic affairs 

 

Richard Glejzer joined MCLA in July 2021. He was most recently the interim dean of graduate studies at Muhlenberg College, and previously was provost and dean of faculty at Marlboro College for 10 years. Prior to joining Marlboro, Glejzer was professor and chair of English at North Central College, and chair of the college's academic programs and policy committee. Among his other institutional duties, Glejzer served on the college's steering committee and the Dean's Academic Advisory Committee. He was a faculty liaison to the board of trustees. Earlier in his career at North Central, Glejzer revised the composition program as the director of writing. 

 

Glejzer received his bachelor's and master's degrees in English from the University of New Hampshire and his doctorate from University of Missouri at Columbia. 

 

Jeannette Smith, Ph.D., vice president of student affairs 

 

Jeannette Smith joined MCLA in June 2021. She is a scholar-practitioner with 16 years of work experience in higher education having worked most recently as the associate dean of student affairs and engagement at Evergreen State College in  Olympia, Wash. Smith was employed prior at Truckee Meadows Community College and University of Nevada, both in Reno, and Elmhurst (Ill.) College. Her practice areas of experience include student unions, residence life and dining, academic advising, financial aid, shared governance, and student employment. Her scholarship areas of interests include policy, equity, financial aid, and student development. 

 

Smith earned her bachelor in journalism/marketing, and her master and doctorate in Higher education administration/educational leadership from the university of Nevada at Reno.