Arcadia University has an esteemed history of accomplished, engaged, and dedicated alumni committed to their communities, their professions, and their alma mater. On June 1, two such alumni, J. Lynne Cannon ’68 and Kevin Shollenberger ’88, began their tenures as co-chairs of the Board of Trustees.

Cannon and Shollenberger look forward to bringing double the leadership power while working closely with the University community to develop and enact the Arcadia2030 Adaptive Strategy.

“Kevin and I can capitalize on our strengths and differences,” Cannon adds. “We will lead, and follow, with courage, loyalty, and trustworthiness.”

“Having co-chairs is a new approach, and I am excited to collaborate with my fellow co-chair, Lynne,” Shollenberger says.

Cannon is a well-respected global pharmaceutical and healthcare senior executive and consultant. She has served as board chair of RWJ Barnabas Healthcare Corps. at Hamilton, trustee of the American Hospital Association Committee on Governance, trustee of 1st Constitution Bancorp, and vice chair of Mercer County Community College Foundation. She holds many awards for her leadership roles, most notably the New Jersey Hospital Association Trustee of the Year award. She joined Arcadia’s Board of Trustees in 2016.

Shollenberger, who joined Arcadia’s board in 2020, is Vice Provost for Student Health and Well-Being at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. His professional experience includes leadership positions at several universities in roles that focused on student affairs, management of critical academic services, and other non-academic aspects of university life. Shollenberger is a frequent presenter at the national level on student success in higher education.

To ensure a smooth transition, Cannon and Shollenberger began meeting regularly last spring with their predecessor, John Rollins, and developed a collaborative cadence for sharing their points of view. The pair has read the book, “Co-Leaders: The Power of Great Partnerships,” by David A. Heenan and Warren Bennis. It is a book that Cannon gave to Shollenberger.

The co-chairs delight in listening to each other’s perspectives. T heir co-leadership will be based on celebrating Arcadia, fostering togetherness, balancing power, and building the board as a team.

T his collaborative effort aligns with the University’s valuesbased approach to decision making. Arcadia emphasizes a shared governance system that includes the Faculty Senate, Staff Council, Student Government Organization (SGO), Board of Trustees, and University Administration, working together to develop and implement policies. This approach ensures that diverse perspectives are considered across all aspects of university life.

Both Cannon and Shollenberger say they will lean on their own college experiences as they lead the board. They believe their generational differences also bring value to their co-chair roles.

Both attended Arcadia when the University was still named Beaver College. For Cannon, the college was not yet co-ed. That came a few years later in 1972. “The women of the Class of 1968 were amazing. Several of my classmates made a difference in my life, either directly or as inspirations,” Cannon shares.

Cannon also has fond memories of serving as vice president of the SGO.

Of his Arcadia experience, Shollenberger’s favorite memories reflect the genuine care and dedication shown by the faculty. Shollenberger fondly recalls a professor who drove several hours to visit him in rural Pennsylvania, checking on a research project and staying to have lunch with his parents. Another professor helped him secure an internship at the London Zoo, a pivotal experience.

Like Cannon, Shollenberger served on the SGO and as a resident assistant and orientation leader.

“Arcadia prepared me not just academically, but personally and professionally,” Shollenberger says. “The skills I gained have fueled my 36-year career in higher education and continue to shape how I approach leadership today.”

Now, Cannon and Shollenberger will together lead the Board of Trustees, the University, its alumni, and students.

“As alumni, we are looking forward to making an impact on the University community that we hold so dear,” Cannon says.

“We will leverage our combined vision, integrity, and experiences to engage the entire Arcadia community for continued success,” Shollenberger says.