Three finalists have been named in the search for Miami University’s assistant vice president for Online Learning and Professional Education. Each candidate will have a 45-minute virtual open forum. 

Miami partnered with executive search firm Storbeck Search and Associates during the process. 

Carrie Berger

Dec. 17, 10:45-11:30 a.m.

Open forum link
Candidate feedback

After serving as interim dean of the Purdue Polytechnic Institute in 2021, Carrie Berger assumed the role of executive director for academic affairs at Purdue University Online. In her current role, Berger leads the development of strategic new programs to address workforce needs such as artificial intelligence. Berger led the teams that developed and are delivering Purdue University’s first pan-university programs, the online M.S. in Artificial Intelligence and the online M.S. in Data Science.

In 2014, Berger joined the Purdue Polytechnic Institute and served as the associate dean for research for six years. In 2020, she was named the Polytechnic executive associate dean leading the research impact areas and development of the framework for diversity, equity, inclusion, and equity work in the Polytechnic.

Blake Faulkner

Dec. 18, 10:45-11:30 a.m.

Open forum link
Candidate feedback

Blake Faulkner currently serves as the president and founder of InnovateHEd Associates, where he and his colleagues have provided consultation to colleges and universities in the United States and Canada in strategic planning and vision building, strategic academic program review, new program market research, institutional accreditation matters, online and hybrid program strategy and implementation, strategic enrollment management, international and corporate partnerships, and building collaborative and adaptive high-performance organizational cultures.

Faulkner began his career as a faculty member before serving in numerous leadership positions that included athletic director, VP of enrollment management, VP of strategic initiatives, VP of international affairs, provost/chief academic officer, interim VP of academic affairs/dean of faculty, and president. Faulkner has more than 20 years of successful senior leadership and consulting experience in online education.

Pamela Wimbush

Dec. 19, 9:45-10:30 a.m.

Open forum link
Candidate feedback

Pamela Wimbush is the associate dean, program success and organizational excellence. She is a notable scholar, researcher, practitioner, and educator in online, continuing and professional education. Her career is indicative of the desire to provide wider access to adult learners and social mobility through quality education in various modalities.

Wimbush has more than 20 years of experience working in higher education, which includes oversight and leadership at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Northern Virginia Community College, Johns Hopkins University, Hampton University, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Wimbush's notable contributions to higher education include pioneering innovative approaches to validate adult learners' skills and knowledge through microcredentials, alternative credentials, and digital badges, and advancing opportunities for workforce development.