Meet Our Leadership
Passion. Experience. Commitment. Our leaders bring a breadth of knowledge from diverse backgrounds to redefine the education space and make a college degree accessible for all learners. Meet the team that is paving the way for your education.

Paul Pastorek
CEO & President
Paul Pastorek was appointed Chief Executive Officer and President of the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) in February 2021. Prior to that, he served as Interim CEO and President, overseeing UAGC’s acquisition and transition of Ashford University in 2020. An advocate for students’ educational access and success throughout his career, Paul previously served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Loyola University New Orleans. Paul served as Louisiana’s Superintendent of Education from 2007 to 2011, leading the overhaul of New Orleans’ public schools after Hurricane Katrina, and achieving notable and sustainable gains in academic improvement statewide.

Katie Scheie
Chief Operations Officer
Katie Scheie has been with Ashford University, now UAGC, since 2007. As the Chief Operating Officer, Ms. Scheie provides leadership for the day-to-day and long-term operations of the university including admission and matriculation, student affairs, career services, policy implementation, strategic partnerships, marketing, communications, and institutional effectiveness.

Lisa Kemp
SVP, Chief Financial Officer
Lisa Kemp, CPA is the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at UAGC. Lisa first joined UAGC as a financial consultant in January 2022, bringing more than 25 years of progressive experience focused on transformational financial solutions and business practices that deliver measurable enterprise results – nearly 20 of those years leading finance and budget operations at institutions of higher education.

Sarah Steinberg
Provost and Senior Vice President
As Provost and Senior Vice President, Dr. Steinberg is a senior strategic leadership advisor/mentor with a focus in a variety of areas related to the transformation of adult education, including organizational development, innovation in retention and degree completion, workforce development, national and international academic programming, and the intersection of technology and education at the forefront of online and onsite adult education. Prior to becoming the Provost and Senior Vice President, she served as Chief of Staff in the Office of the President and continued in that role as she began serving as the Interim Provost in early January 2022.

Christine Hardy
SVP, Enrollment
Christine brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education to UAGC. Most recently, she oversaw admissions operations at Southern New Hampshire University for both their campus and online programs. Prior to that, she also served in admissions roles at Intercoast Career Institute, Premier Education Group, and Career Education Corporation.

Tommy Screen
General Counsel & Chief Legal Officer
Tommy joined UAGC in April 2021. In this role, he serves as the University’s Chief Legal Officer, where he provides legal, regulatory, and compliance guidance and counsel to the board, the president, the administration, and the faculty.
University Leadership

College of Arts and Sciences
Allison Rief, EdD
Department Chair - Associate Professor

College of Arts and Sciences
Barbara Zorn, PhD
Associate Vice President, Graduate Studies & Professional Accreditation - Professor

Dr. Bryan Aylward
Senior Director - Academic Operations

Cole McFarren
Associate Director - Academic Technology and Innovation

Monique Cook
Vice President of Human Resource -

Morgan Johnson
Vice President - Academic Innovation & Operations

College of Arts and Sciences
Newton Miller, PhD
Program Chair - Associate Professor

Forbes School of Business and Technology®
Rob Shah, MBA, CPA, CMA
Faculty - Instructor

College of Arts and Sciences
Sandra Rebeor, PsyD
Program Chair - Associate Professor

Dr. Teresa Kuruc
Associate Vice President of Faculty Affairs -

College of Arts and Sciences
Denise Maxwell, EdD
Assistant Dean - Associate Professor

Iris Obille Lafferty, Ed.D.
Senior Vice Provost of Academic Affairs and Accreditation Liaison Officer -

College of Arts and Sciences
Jennifer Robinson, Ph.D.
Program Chair - Associate Professor

Forbes School of Business and Technology®
Maja Zelihic, PhD
Dean - Professor

Tom Bourgeois
Chief Information Officer -

College of Arts and Sciences
Tony Farrell, PhD
Dean - Professor

Tricia Lauer
Vice President, Office of Assessment & Curricular Affairs -