Administration

Craig D. Swenson, PhD

Throughout his career in education, Dr. Swenson has adhered to a “student first” philosophy. His insights and experience with adult learners across North America have proven successful as he has maintained high standards of academic excellence while managing fast-growing organizations.

"For many years, I have personally shared Argosy University’s goals of improving academic quality in higher education while at the same time exploring new avenues of educational access for students,” says Dr. Swenson.

Prior to joining Argosy University, Dr. Swenson served as provost and vice president of academic affairs for Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah. He also has held the position of provost and senior vice president for academic affairs for the University of Phoenix system, originally joining that organization as a practitioner-faculty member while serving as a vice president and director of marketing at First Interstate Bank. Dr. Swenson serves on the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), advising the U.S. Secretary of Education on matters related to accreditation and to the eligibility and certification process for institutions of higher education.

He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism/Mass Communication from the University of Utah; a Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Communication from Brigham Young University; and, a PhD in Education/Adult and Organizational Learning from Walden University.

He is a member of the U.S. Army Education Advisory Committee and a consultant/evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Dr. Swenson is a former non-federal negotiator for the U.S. Department of Education Negotiated Rulemaking Committee and has been a member of the U.S. Army Distance Education and Training Subcommittee for Accreditation. He has published frequently in the areas of higher education, organizational management, distance education, and faculty development.

Dr. Swenson has provided consulting services for such organizations as American Express, American Association of Retired Persons, and GE Capital Assurance.

John T. South III

John T. South III was appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Argosy University in 2006.

He is active in many civic activities, including having served on the Board of Directors of Memorial Health University Medical Center, Board of Directors of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors of SunTrust Bank of Savannah, the Board of Directors of the State of Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan, the campaign cabinet of the United Way of the Coastal Empire, and Board of Directors of the downtown Rotary Club. South is also a member of the Atlanta 10 Young Presidents’ Organization and the World’s Presidents’ Organization.

South is a former artillery officer in the United States Army having served as a First Lieutenant. He received a bachelor of science degree in Finance from the University of Tennessee.

Kristin Benson, PsyD

Kristin Benson, PsyD serves as the Dean of the College of Health Sciences of Argosy University and the Vice President of Academic Affairs at the Twin Cities campus. Dr. Benson has been with Argosy University since 2001.

Dr. Benson served as the Dean of the College of Health Sciences at the Twin Cities Campus. Prior to that she was the Director of Academic and Student Affairs at the Medical Institute of Minnesota and was a faculty member in general education. Dr. Benson has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Gustavus Adolphus College, and Master of Arts and Doctorate degrees in Counseling Psychology from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Thomas Vonk, PhD

Tom Vonk became Argosy University’s Dean of the College of Business in 2007 after having served as associate dean at Case Western Reserve University, the University of Maryland University College, and American University.

Tom earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Kalamazoo College (1977), his MBA from the University of Michigan (1981) and in 1994 became the first graduate of Northwestern University’s joint Ph.D. in Sociology and Organization Behavior. In between his degrees, Tom held a variety of operating management roles in heavy industry culminating with a two-year assignment as part of the team of the first cold-rolling steel mill in Indonesia.

Cynthia Kuck, PhD

Dr. Kuck brings 35 years of experience in education with 18 years in higher education focused on new program development, certification and accreditation.  She was Dean of the College of Education at Concordia University.  Dr. Kuck earned a Ph.D. from University of Illinois at Chicago in Public Policy Analysis, School Administration, and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Concordia.  Her career in higher education at Concordia included roles of dean and chair of the Department of Leadership, program coordinator of three graduate programs, urban school’s facilitator, and professor of science education and school leadership.  In addition, she has been a leader in numerous research studies and has authored numerous articles on education and learning.

Jack O'Regan, PhD

Dr. O’Regan has over 25 years experience as a psychologist, educator, and administrator. He is a licensed psychologist and experienced clinician. His expertise is in personality, particularly personality styles, and their impact in functioning.

Dr. O'Regan combines his interests in psychology and management. He has appeared on television and radio as a guest expert in human relations. Dr. O'Regan teaches Psychology and Management, developing students’ skills with leadership development, employee selection, team-building, communication training, and personal development.

Dr. O'Regan is past president of the Minnesota Psychological Association and is a Diplomate in Counseling Psychology with the American Board of Professional Psychology. He received his PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Nanette Pearson, PHR

Nanette joined the university in December, 2007 with a progressively expansive background in Human Resources roles.  Previous to joining Argosy University, Nanette was the VP, Human Resources at Western Governors University where she supported rapid growth of the university with 35% expansion in the employee base throughout 30 states. She previously served as VP, Human Resources for UCN, a publicly-traded high-tech company and consulted for an International HR Consulting firm, where she worked with various organizations in the hospitality, medical and fortune 500 markets. Prior to consulting, Nanette worked in human resources with PageNet and Arch Communications.  Nanette earned a B.S. in Speech Communication with an emphasis in Negotiation from the University of Utah, and is nearing completion of an MBA from Western Governors University.

Kathryn J. Tooredman, PhD

Dr. Kathryn Tooredman serves as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Argosy University.

Prior to her current position, she has served as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs of National Louis University. She previously served as Vice President for Human Resources, Vice Provost, Associate Dean of the National College of Education and Professor at National Louis University. While at National Louis, she also led its doctoral program in Education Leadership.

Earlier in her career, she served as an instructor and research associate for the Administration and Policy Studies program at Northwestern University.

She is an elected member of the Executive Board of the Illinois Academic Women’s Network, an affiliate of the American Council on Education Network, a national grassroots network of state organizations for women in higher education.

Dr. Tooredman is also a published author, speaker and has served as a licensed trainer, facilitator and mediator. She earned her PhD in Administration and Policy Studies, a Master of Arts in Educational Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Northwestern University.

Michael Falotico, PsyD, LCPC

Michael Falotico, PsyD, LCPC, was appointed Vice President of Academic Operations and Student Services for Argosy University in August 2007. He has served as Program Chair of the BA Psychology, BS in Business Administration, and EdD in Organizational Leadership programs at Argosy University’s Chicago, IL campus. Falotico first joined Argosy University in 2004, as an adjunct faculty in the Undergraduate Psychology program. In January of 2005, he was named Program Chair of Undergraduate Studies for the Chicago campus and later that year became Program Chair for the EdD in Organizational Leadership program. He has also served as Interim Chair for the Graduate Business Programs (MBA and DBA), Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs for the Chicago campus, Interim Online Program Director for Argosy University Programs and the Interim Director of Online Academic Operations for Argosy University's Online Programs. In addition to his many roles, he has also been serving as chair of the Chicago campus’ Higher Learning Commission accreditation committee.

Prior to joining Argosy University, Falotico worked in the field of forensic psychology where he served as a practitioner, providing treatment to violent offenders who were civilly detained in the Illinois Department of Human Services. He holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology degree and Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology degree from the Alder School of Professional Psychology. He also earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree from Central Michigan University.

Bob Ploszaj

Robert E. (Bob) Ploszaj currently serves as Vice President, Information Technology for Argosy University. Ploszaj joined Argosy University in 1999 as Director of Information Technology and was named to his current position in 2000.

Ploszaj oversees information technology development for Argosy University’s campus locations as well as Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, California and the Ventura/The Connecting Link operations in Ventura, California.

Prior to joining the University, Bob was Vice President of Information Technology for OSI Industries, Inc., a multi-national food processing company with its headquarters in Aurora, IL.

He is a graduate of DePaul University in Chicago, IL.

Ken Stevens, CPA, CMA

Ken Stevens, CPA, CMA, serves as Vice President of Finance at Argosy University.

Stevens previously served as Vice President of Finance of Sanford Brands North America, a world leader in office supplies and equipment including such brands as Papermate, Sharpie, Liquid Paper, and Accent products, a $1.6 billion firm.

Prior to joining Sanford Brands, he served as that company’s Director of Financial Planning and Analysis and other increasingly responsible roles. Prior to his current role, Ken worked with Stanley Works (Tools) and Newell Rubbermaid’s Mirro Aluminum division, and the accounting firm of McGladrey & Pullen LLC.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Iowa.

Walid Kaakoush

Walid Kaakoush serves as Group Vice President -West region for Argosy University.

Kaakoush is an experienced administrator and executive with a successful track record in global business and education having most recently served as vice president/director of University of Phoenix’s five learning centers in Hawai’i.

He also served as Director of the Pittsburgh campus for the University of Phoenix and served as Director of Enrollment at University of Phoenix Columbus (Ohio) campus. He earlier served as Chief Operating Officer of CRM, responsible for the company’s U.S. operation in Phoenix, AZ. In addition, Kaakoush worked as a Manager and Trainer for Matrix Marketing on the company’s American Express account.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Cultural Studies from Brigham Young University where he was a scholarship soccer player at BYU-Hawai’i. He later received an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

Carolyn Tucker

Carolyn Tucker is a 25-year veteran in corporate communications/public relations, serving in various positions within both the public and private sector.  Most recently, she was account director at Burrell Communications for McDonald’s Corporation, responsible for national African-American media relations and engagement marketing.

She was an account supervisor for Danielle Ashley Communications where she was the chief liaison for the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Dan Ryan and Kingery Expressway construction projects in Chicago; director of communications/operations for the Chicago Public Schools’ $3.6 billion capital improvement program; and served as press secretary for the City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations. 

Previously, she was director of public relations for Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, Great Lakes Naval Training Station Recreational Services, and R.J. Dale Public Relations.