Episode 169- Navigating Higher Ed Leadership with Lisa Lambert and Jody Fournier

Office Hours with John Gardner

Dr. Lisa Lambert was appointed Interim President at Chatham University in 2025. After joining Chatham in 1985 as a faculty member in biology, she was promoted to Professor of Biology in 2012. While at Chatham, Dr. Lambert has served as Chair of the Science Department, founding Program Director for MS Biology, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Assistant Vice President of Undergraduate Learning, and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. While serving as Provost, Dr. Lambert participated in the Gardner Institute’s CAO Innovation Community project. She has done sabbaticals at the University of Pittsburgh, Duke University, and Harvard University School of Public Health while pursuing her research interests in the molecular evolution of iron homeostasis. Dr. Lambert earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Furman University, where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, and a Ph.D. in Genetics from Indiana University-Bloomington.

Dr. Jody S. Fournier, a developmental psychologist and professor of psychology with over 25-years of higher education experience, previously served as provost and vice president of learning at Capital University, where his responsibilities encompassed the roles of chief academic officer, chief student affairs officer, and recently - chief enrollment officer. Dr. Fournier will serve as the president of Baker University beginning July 1, 2025.

As part of a national partnership project to Transform the Foundational Post-Secondary Experience to improve student outcomes, Dr. Fournier designed a Student Success Initiative, which realigned strategic planning, academic practices, and business operations to improve student retention and persistence. As part of this initiative, using collaborative, data-informed decision-making, and he integrated Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Enrollment Management into a single divisional unit, and implemented numerous action items to raise first-to-second year retention from a low of 71.5% to 79.1%, and fall-to-spring retention to a record 92.5%. Implementation realized record four-year graduation rates, improved transfer student enrollment and success, and neutralization of first generation, Pell Grant recipient, and underserved/underrepresented statuses as predictors of attrition. New enrollment strategies and tactics led to a 23% increase in first-time in college student enrollment.

His work, especially in conjunction with the Gardner Institute and the Ohio Department of Higher Education, serves as an example of the thought leadership needed to inspire educational access and forge collaborative relationships across all sectors – public and private, large and small, two- and four-year.

In collaboration with faculty governance, Dr. Fournier led a cross-divisional strategic enrollment initiative that revised existing academic programs and the development of new degree programs in Law, School Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Social Work, Public Health, Applied Behavioral Analysis, Chemical Dependency Counseling, Sport Business, Art Therapy, Data Analytics, and Nursing. This work involved partnerships with businesses and agencies in the community to provide customized employee-based education. Using an advisory board model, community leaders worked with the University team to tailor curricula to meet their workforce needs. This led to new lines of students, new sources of expert instructors, new emphases on career development, and new advancement opportunities.

A recipient of the Praestantia (excellence in teaching) and Cotterman (excellence in service to students) awards, Dr. Fournier earned his Bachelor of Arts in psychology, Master of Science in child development, and Ph.D. in developmental psychology from The Ohio State University. He and his wife, Debbie, have three children and enjoy attending campus and community events.