Credo is excited to welcome new Vice President for Strategy, Jennifer M. deCoste, Ph.D.
Jennifer utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to build partnerships and affect growth from within higher education. Jennifer’s experience truly does transcend discipline. With expertise in finance, advancement, admissions, and strategic planning, Jennifer looks forward to how her collaborative, integrative approach to strategy planning will empower Credo and our partners in independent higher education.
Jennifer’s most recent leadership position was Assistant Chancellor for Institutional Strategy, Planning, and Diversity at the University of Wisconsin – Platteville. At Platteville, she oversaw the University’s diversity initiatives, including coordinating underrepresented faculty recruitment and retention, preparing diversity grants, implementing hiring procedures for strengthening the diversity of candidate pools, and maintaining oversight on the access and equity components of the Strategic Plan. Additionally, Jennifer led cross-functional planning initiatives across campus, as well as advancement efforts including major gifts, annual giving, and capital campaign implementation.
With a passion for re‐envisioning departments in crisis and experience chairing various university‐level departments, Jennifer has developed a penchant for creating safe spaces for meaningful dialogue. A strength she is most proud of is her ability to roll up her sleeves to facilitate and encourage even the most difficult conversations around the best strategies for individual, team, and institutional growth. An engaged and compassionate diplomat in challenging situations, Jennifer is proud to say her career is laser-focused on innovation.
“I have devoted my career to innovation, working in an interdisciplinary fashion in all that I do; focusing on the importance of leadership in higher education; and developing and utilizing research and data throughout my leadership. I am passionate about the importance of higher education and work hard to stay abreast in my field.”
Jennifer holds a dual‐title Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction and Women’s Studies from Penn State University; an M.S. in Counseling from the University of Hartford; and a B.Mus. in Music Education from the Hartt School of Music.
Learn more about Jennifer from her Credo bio and find out about Credo's Strategic Planning & Implementation services here.