Dr. Shanda L. Gore Appointed Vice President for Institutional Innovation and Economic Development at Union Institute & University

President Karen Schuster Webb, Ph.D., has announced the appointment of Shanda L. Gore, Ed.D., as the first Vice President of Institutional Innovation and Economic Development at Union Institute & University. Dr. Gore will work with the leadership team to develop long-term revenue strategies for enrollment growth, new market access, and targeted funding sources.

“Union Institute & University is recognized as a student-centered academic leader. I believe in Union’s mission to serve students across the nation. Union’s commitment to social justice addresses the concerns for today. The opportunity to lead the university in institutional innovation and economic development is exciting and I look forward to working with Union’s faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners,” said Dr. Gore.

Dr. Gore has held several roles in higher education including associate vice president, chief diversity officer, and an executive director for 15 years at the former Medical College of Ohio Foundation and the University of Toledo (UT). A seasoned fundraiser, she has raised funds through events, donor relations, and grants totaling more than $2 million in the last six years. She has also taught at undergraduate and graduate levels and served on dissertation committees. As an administrator, she created and directed the regional UT Minority Business Development Center and was recently awarded additional funding to enhance its virtual capabilities worldwide.

“We are honored to have Dr. Gore join Union as the university defines its future,” said President Webb. “Her vast experience and knowledge will be an asset as we increase strategic partnerships, enhance our work within our communities across the nation, and provide diverse educational opportunities to engage, enlighten, and empower adult students with the education they need to transform lives and communities.”

In the private sector, Dr. Gore has been a trainer, marketing coordinator and specialist for regional and national firms. She is the president and founder of Mays and Associates, LTD, a strategic planning and consulting company serving clients across the United States. She has served as the president of the Ohio Diversity Officers Collaborative, State of Ohio Coordinator of the American Association of Access, Equity, and Diversity, and currently serves as State co-chair and executive board member for the American Council of Education (ACE) Women’s Ohio Network.

She has published and presented at competitive conferences, including the Higher Learning Commission, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the National Diversity Council Leadership Conference, and the Annual National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education. Recognized as an African American Legacy Emerging Leader of Excellence, she is the recipient of the Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union Community Appreciation Award. She recently completed workshops for Big 10, MAC, and Mid Atlantic NFL officials on team building strategies.

Dr. Gore is a graduate of Bowling Green State University from which she earned three degrees: a Bachelor of Communications degree, a Master’s of Communication with a study emphasis on minority communities in the Greater Toledo Ohio area, and a Doctor of Education in Leadership Studies. Her research area was involvement behaviors and minority medical student retention.

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