We're all Lynn

Lynn University could have chosen the path most traveled. While many universities cultivate every leadership role directly out of the higher education industry, President Kevin M. Ross says Lynn decided very early on that it would do things a little bit differently.

"We're willing to test, willing to not know a few things and willing to learn from experts," said Ross. "We hire leaders who bring best practices from other industries and are great at what they do."

Today, nearly half of Lynn's cabinet spent most of their careers outside the higher education industry and offer a wealth of knowledge to the university:

• Michael Antonello, general counsel: 25 years in communications and media
• Kristell Lowe, vice president for campus operations: 19 years in hospitality
• Thomas Rooney, chief financial officer and treasurer: 20 years in several industries
• Sherrie Weldon, chief marketing officer: 18 years in technology marketing

That's over 80 years of diverse professional industry experience that Lynn students can depend on when they choose Lynn.

General Counsel Michael Antonello brings his wealth of knowledge in the entertainment industry to provide legal counsel, risk management, contract review, and advice on policy and compliance. He previously represented American Media, Inc. (AMI), a leading publisher of celebrity and health and fitness media brands. He's also worked for book publishers and television talk shows for Fox and Disney.

When asked what skill set he brings to the table to help Lynn on a day-to-day basis, Antonello smiles. "Media never sleeps. But neither do our students …"

Lynn is more than just a place for classes. Campus is always open­, and there's always something in the works. "My experience in the entertainment industry has allowed me to build a very accessible department at Lynn that's willing to provide guidance in a very practical manner instead of a theoretical one," said Antonello. "From a legal perspective, I help determine what's a priority for my peers, and then I get out of their way as soon as it's not. It's important to do that, especially at a place that's so nimble and efficient."

When Kristell Lowe, vice president of campus operations, arrived in 2022, she brought a new perspective to Lynn's day-to-day operations.

A native of France and hospitality veteran, Lowe drives the level of service and engagement needed to help Lynn's students obtain the best experience possible. Her tried and tested blueprint for Lynn was acquired from years of invaluable luxury hotel management experience in Accor Hotels located in Paris, The St. Regis in New York City, Carillon Miami Wellness Resort and the W South Beach in Miami Beach.

"I'm using my golden rule at Lynn … No matter the ask, 'how can we help?'. That's the culture of service and dedication that I try to infuse into our campus operations team," said Lowe. "I'm here to help create the most optimal environment for students, faculty and staff to reach their full potential. We are here to serve them."

Building a stellar hospitality engine within the premises of the university is a tall order—and one that Lowe takes seriously as she enhances a culture of service with her veteran roster of employees. Together, the campus operations team represents over 820 years of service to the university.

"A campus is very similar to a hotel property—we have food service, events, guest services, beds and daily programs," explained Lowe. "In a hotel you discuss breakdowns; you discuss very openly what goes wrong daily to learn from one guest to the next. We do that here as well. We pay attention to satisfaction surveys and what the students and employees are saying­. And, in turn, there's a relentless commitment to fixing the root causes of dysfunction and breakdowns. It's our winning recipe to take campus operations at Lynn to the next level."

It's a numbers game for Thomas Rooney, the university's chief financial officer and treasurer, who is responsible for the long-term fiscal health of the organization. Rooney brings diverse financial and leadership experience to Lynn, allowing him to quickly grasp industry nuances and business drivers to develop a sound financial strategy.

"President Ross has built out a strong and passionate leadership team of experts in their respective arenas," said Rooney. "We lean on each other and trust each other to build sustainable strategic and financial plans for Lynn. In my arena, the main goal is to build a strong financial profile in a fragile higher education landscape."

Rooney began his career at Norwest, which became Wells Fargo after a whopping 120 acquisitions in his 10 years with the firm. He also helped Polaris grow from a $1 billion to a $2 billion organization by expanding its international footprint and product lines in seven years. Thanks to his leadership and financial acumen, he's held three CFO titles in nonprofit higher education, served in five board leadership roles and was selected to participate in three leadership development programs, including the Leadership Boca Class of 2022.

"Our number one asset on our balance sheet is our employees here at Lynn. We work 7 by 24 by 365 for our students. I thrive on developing future financial leaders of this world while growing Lynn's collective financial acumen." said Rooney. "The various professional roles I've had allow me to lend my financial and leadership wisdom to quickly help us solve any situation we are presented. The goal at the end of the day is to develop up-and-coming leaders and create sustainable financial plans while advancing Lynn's amazing mission for generations to come."

Building a successful Lynn brand is at the forefront of every decision Sherrie Weldon makes.

As chief marketing officer, Weldon brings an arsenal of corporate communications and marketing agency experience acquired in New York, London and Silicon Valley. Her experience with companies like Sony, Phillips, HP, FTI and Xerox places the university in a strong position when it comes to executing brand guidelines and communicating engaging messages to a local or global audience.

"When I first came into the higher education industry, I was surprised to see how each individual college or department tends to do its own marketing without collaborating to deliver an overarching brand promise. This can hinder a university's ability to build a coherent reputation," said Weldon. "For a small organization like Lynn, we have to work together to build our brand."

Weldon knows that treating students as valued consumers and creating a coherent college experience requires rigorous discipline across the institution.

"Previously in my career, I had the opportunity to work with companies that built consistent brands across 30 different countries," said Weldon. "If they could do that, I knew that at Lynn we could get 30 departments to agree on what our brand should be and to wear the same team colors. We're all Lynn."

Ross challenges the cabinet—and all employees—to look for opportunities to improve the organization. Whether they encounter marketing, service functions or academics, the student should recognize the university's mission: to provide an innovative, global and personalized education that enables students to realize their potential.

"We want to create a valuable educational experience and bringing experts from various practices allows us to take the best from each industry and improve how we serve our students. We learn from tech how to test an idea … from financial leaders on fiscal responsibility … from media on how to move efficiently … from hospitality how to better serve," said Ross. "That's how we define innovation."