President & Cabinet

Alex Hernandez

Biography

Alejandro (“Alex”) Hernandez was born to a family of public educators in Stockton, CA. His parents journeyed from Mexico and the Philippines, and, at each step of the way, education brought opportunity-through skilled trades, nursing certificates, education credentials and degrees. These experiences shaped Alex’s belief that career-focused education can change lives and help communities thrive.

Hernandez comes to Champlain College from the University of Virginia, where he served as the Dean of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) and Vice Provost of Online Learning. At UVA, Hernandez championed access, affordability, and opportunity through its bachelor’s completion, professional certificate, and graduate programs. Alex helped SCPS enroll its largest undergraduate class in school history, launch its first master’s degree, and pursue a strategy that combined in-demand digital skills with the human skills needed for long-term career success. He also taught undergraduate courses in entrepreneurship (SCPS) and education innovation (School of Education and Human Development).

Before joining UVA, Hernandez worked for the Charter School Growth Fund, a national education foundation, where he built the nonprofit’s Innovative Schools practice, one of the largest efforts in the country focused on personalized learning and career readiness. Hernandez began his education career teaching high school mathematics in South Los Angeles. He later became an administrator for Portland Public Schools in Oregon and then an area superintendent for Aspire Public Schools in California. Prior to entering the field of education, he worked at Steamboat Ventures, Disney’s venture capital arm, and at J.P. Morgan. Hernandez has an MBA and MA in Education from Stanford University and a BA from Claremont McKenna College. He is a moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network and a Pahara Institute fellow.

Alex is married to Michelle Moore Hernandez and is the proud father of twin boys, Akari and Mekhi.

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Leslie Averill

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Monique Taylor

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Sarah Andriano

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Danelle Berube

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Kathleen Ehlers

Biography

Kathleen A. Ehlers is a high-impact, results-driven senior college management professional with over 20 years of experience in higher education. Renowned for her innovative thinking and commitment to enhancing educational opportunities, Kathleen excels in identifying and leveraging untapped opportunities to improve services, streamline operations, and reduce costs without compromising academic quality. She combines business acumen with a deep devotion to education, ensuring responsible budget management, effective policy establishment, and compliance with legal mandates.

Kathleen has a proven track record of driving significant improvements in key performance metrics. Under her leadership, admissions applications increased by 169%, and total traffic grew by 141% over one academic year. She developed and implemented a highly effective admissions team, introduced cutting-edge lead management tools, and launched successful digital advertising campaigns, achieving click-through rates of 15.75% and conversion rates of 6.32%. Her strategic initiatives have consistently exceeded enrollment and registration goals, securing substantial grants and deepening community partnerships.

Throughout her career, Kathleen has demonstrated exceptional strategic leadership in traditional, online, graduate, and professional studies, resulting in notable enrollment growth. She successfully reduced operational expenses by $500K through strategic evaluations and implemented new intake sessions to expand enrollment opportunities. Kathleen’s efforts have consistently led to increased retention rates, higher student satisfaction, and remarkable revenue growth.

Kathleen’s relentless dedication to education and strategic leadership have driven consistent success in her career. She remains a transformative force in higher education, championing diversity and inclusion while improving processes and outcomes for students and institutions alike.

What are your hobbies?

Travel, read, spend time with family, Rotary member and community advocate.

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Christa Montagnino

Biography

Chris Montagnino is Vice President of Champlain College Online. Chris has experience in building successful teams, executive leadership, launching and scaling online programs, marketing, and enrollment management. Additionally, Chris has taught online courses in political science and gender studies, while serving on multiple education and social justice, non-profit boards in New York and Rhode Island.

Chris is most passionate about building teams that will maximize student success by delivering high-quality, online programs to those often under-served in traditional higher education. She believes that online higher education is life changing for students, leading to greater educational, economic, and social equity.

Prior to joining Champlain College Online, Chris worked as a Vice President of University Partnerships with Academic Partnerships, the Vice President of Strategic Enrollment Management and Vice President of Extended Education at Excelsior University, a regional Vice President for Herzing University, and a Campus Director at University of Phoenix. Chris earned a B.A. and M.A. in Political Science from the University of Texas at El Paso, and a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from University of Phoenix.

What are your hobbies?

Ballet, Ballroom dancing, Tap, Jazz, Bellydancing, Dressage and Yoga

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Diana Matot

Biography

Diana Matot is a dedicated, long-time Champlain College employee with over 30 years of experience. She began her career with Champlain in the on-campus enrollment area and due to her love of systems moved to the Information Systems team where she is now the Vice President and CIO.

Having grown up in Vermont, Diana has always felt a strong connection to the local community and its values. After completing her education at Champlain, her career began in the insurance industry and after a few years her journey led her back to the College, where she found a dynamic environment that aligns with her commitment to excellence and innovation.

Outside of her professional pursuits, Diana enjoys exploring the natural beauty of Vermont in her Jeep Wrangler with her husband and spending time with family and friends camping, all with her camera in hand capturing the moments.

What are your hobbies?

Photography, Jeep Adventures and Camping.

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

Loves being on the back roads of Vermont on any of the many jeep adventures with family and friends.

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