Staff Profile: Dr. Edward R. MacKay
Vice Chancellor and Treasurer
ed.mackay@usnh.edu

Ed MacKay is vice chancellor and treasurer of the University System of New Hampshire. He has served as a vice chancellor since 1987, with initial responsibilities for preparation of the operating and capital budgets for the system; the system policy analysis function; and oversight for development of campus master plans, management information systems and related technology investments. He subsequently assumed responsibility for all finance functions, including reporting, purchasing, investments, risk management and major contracts.

He earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics and completed graduate work in mathematics and educational leadership programs, including a doctorate from Vanderbilt University. Notable among Ed's professional activities was his involvement with the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), serving as chairman of the board. Within New Hampshire, he is the chair of the Higher Education Savings Trust ("529") Commission and the New Hampshire Higher Education Loan Corporation, and a member of Havenwood-Heritage Heights Trust Fund board.

Staff Profile: Ronald F. Rodgers
General Counsel and Secretary
ron.rodgers@usnh.edu

Ron Rodgers provides the full range of legal services to the University System of New Hampshire, its Board of Trustees and component institutions and affiliated organizations, including legal advice and counsel; document drafting, negotiation and review; and representation in litigation before all levels of local, state, and federal courts and administrative agencies. Ron also maintains, certifies and provides access to the University System's corporate records.

Prior to his appointment as general counsel in 1988, Ron was a senior assistant attorney general and chief of the civil bureau for the State of New Hampshire. Ron is a member of the American and New Hampshire Bar Associations and serves on the New Hampshire Right-to-Know Oversight Commission as well as the NH Supreme Court’s Commission on the Status of the Legal Profession. Ron received his B.A. from the University of Delaware in 1978 and J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1981.

Staff Profile: Kathleen K. Salisbury
Associate Vice Chancellor for Government Affairs
kathleen.salisbury@usnh.edu

Kathy Salisbury serves as the first point of contact for the Chancellor and Board in all government relations matters. Focusing primarily, but not exclusively, on state relations, the Government Affairs Office provides internal administrative support for the presidents and the campuses through a Council for Government Affairs (CGA). Presidents appoint liaisons to this council in order that legislative events and other advocacy activities might be planned seamlessly system wide. Much of the Board of Trustees’ government-related activity is coordinated in concert with the trustee Executive and External Affairs Committees.

Through a tracking, monitoring and reporting procedure, an average of 80 bills are “covered” by the Government Affairs office each year. Advocacy activities and the planning of strategies surrounding numerous bills (including budgets) is based out of the Government Affairs office with direction by the Chancellor and Trustees. There is significant coordination with business, alumni, faculty and student leaders as well.

Kathy served as President and CEO of the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce (1985- 1989) and Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce (1989-1993) and remains involved within the business community on behalf of USNH. She is a former sixth grade teacher and has served on numerous boards, government authorities and commissions. She received a BS in child development from the University of Maine in Orono and completed several courses at the University of Delaware's Institute for Organizational Management while carrying out her chamber responsibilities. She has served on the chancellor's team since 1993 as Associate Vice Chancellor.

Staff Profile: Joan M. Tambling
Director of Human Resources
joan.tambling@usnh.edu

Joan Tambling is responsible for the University System's human resources office and has been in the position of director of human resources since 1989. Responsibilities include development of policy and practice initiatives to support the principles and infrastructure for the delivery of effective human resources at USNH institutions. The primary areas of responsibility include benefits design and administration, compensation and classification structures, oversight of human resourse compliance with legal requirements, human resource information systems and labor and employee relations. Joan's credentials include a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in business administration, 7 years of experience in human resources for a Fortune 500 company, and 25 years in higher education. Joan has received several awards for HR competence including the Ford and Dickerson awards, and has served in leadership roles on several boards for professional associations including the College and University Personnel Association and the National Center for the Study of College Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions.

Staff Profile: Dr. Mary Ellen Fleeger
Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Planning
me.fleeger@usnh.edu

Mary Ellen Fleeger is the director of research and planning and joined the system office in 2003. She is responsible for research, assessment and issue analysis in support of Board activities, priorities and initiatives; collection, analysis and general reporting for fact book and other reports; support for System Academic Planning Council (SAPC) and academic program review; support for Board of Trustees Programs and Services committee and for student affairs sub-committee; and support for USNH-CCSNH partnerships, including the Joint Management Committee and the joint Transfer and Articulation workgroups.

Prior to joining USNH in 2003, she was Vice President for Research and Communication at Southern Oregon University. Prior to becoming vice president, she was dean and professor of nursing. She brings extensive experience to the University System as a professor and researcher. Her administrative experience includes creating a campus assessment team, working with all campuses and the system to develop performance indicators for the University System, developing business-education partnerships, conducting a needs assessment and planning seamless education delivery with Oregon and California higher education institutions. She helped plan, fund and still teaches research methodology in a master's of management program delivered at the Universidad de Guanjuanto, Mexico.

Mary Ellen holds a bachelor's degree in nursing from Mankato State University in Minnesota, a masters degree in public health nursing from the University of Minnesota and a PhD in higher education administration from the University of Oregon.

Staff Profile: Matthew B. Cookson
Associate Vice Chancellor for External Relations
matt.cookson@usnh.edu

Matthew Cookson is a senior-level communications professional with over 20 years of experience in higher education, government, and business. His areas of expertise include media relations, strategic and corporate communications, government and community relations, and event planning and management. He has served as Associate Vice Chancellor for External Relations at the University System of New Hampshire since 2995. In this capacity, he manages promotional, public relations, and communications efforts for the System office and the Chancellor.

Cookson previously served as Legislative Director for the Department of Health and Human Services, the largest state agency in New Hampshire. For several years, he was the Director of Public Affairs for PC Connection, Inc., where he was responsible for developing and managing all of the Company’s internal and external communications. He also ran a start-up company owned by PC Connection called En Technology. Prior to that, he worked in higher education and government in Connecticut and Washington, DC.

Cookson is an active member of the community, is a 2003 Leadership New Hampshire Associate, and currently serves on the boards of Network New Hampshire and the New Hampshire High Technology Council, where he chairs its new Education Committee. He is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of New Hampshire in Manchester, where he teaches public relations. He lives in Bedford, NH with his wife and two sons.