With 14 campuses, almost 44,000 students, more than 3,400 faculty and 4,800 staff members, Northeastern stands out among higher education institutions. But to govern a globally growing university, President Joseph E. Aoun can’t work alone.
Below Aoun — who assumed his role in 2006 — are seven vice presidents who form his senior leadership team. The team runs the most critical offices that manage academics, research, legal matters, communications, finances and university advancement.
Like a Broadway production, all eight people on the leadership team play crucial roles in ensuring the “show” runs smoothly.
Here’s a look inside the playbill of “The Northeastern Show,” outlining the individuals making the decisions that impact every student on campus.
Director: The president
The director is the visionary whose ideas are brought to life by the members of the cast and crew. Similarly, the president of a university sets the agenda for the university’s present and future.
The president of Northeastern serves as the leader of the university’s academic and research endeavors. Widely known by students and faculty as the face of the university, the president sets Northeastern’s short and long term goals.
Part of the president’s responsibilities include speaking at important events, such as convocation and commencement. Announcements to the Northeastern community are often signed and attributed to the president, such as updates on the university community and statements on national and international events.
This position is currently held by Joseph E. Aoun.
Northeastern media relations did not respond to a request to speak with Aoun.
Playwright: Provost and senior vice president for academic affairs
The playwright is the author of the play — their job is to write character dialogue and provide stage directions. Like a playwright, the provost oversees the facets of Northeastern that make it unique: its academic programs and research pursuits.
The provost heads initiatives related to academics and research, including the implementation of the university’s official academic plan, “Experience Unleashed,” which outlines Northeastern’s goal to continue providing quality education to students and “emphasizes creating impact in the world through experiential education and research.”
Northeastern released an overview of the “Experience Unleashed” plan in 2021. It focuses on Northeastern’s experience-based teaching approach and is based on five pillars: “build on the power of diversity,” “erase boundaries,” “the power of experience maximized,” “create new currents for discovery” and “deepen our immersion with the world.” The extended version of the plan, also known as Beyond 2025 Academic Plan, was released and signed by Aoun, but the plan itself is carried out by the provost.
The Office of the Provost consists of the provost and deans from each of the university’s 10 colleges and schools, as well as the administrators who work together to execute the efforts of the provost’s office.
The provost’s office centralizes and maintains the foundational documents, protocols and guides that support and inform students, faculty and staff on university policy and procedure. That includes the Faculty Handbook and university policy documents as well as guides on how to write an inclusive syllabus and other university-related topics.
Currently, Beth Winkelstein holds this position.
Northeastern media relations did not respond to a request to interview Winkelstein about her role for this article.
Stage manager: Chancellor and senior vice president for learning
The stage manager ensures that all actors in a play are exactly where they are supposed to be when they need to be there. Similarly, the chancellor and senior vice president for learning keeps the different academic programs within the university aligned, making sure the “production” runs cohesively.
The chancellor oversees all learning and teaching initiatives at Northeastern, including expanding the university’s global and experiential learning network. The position encompasses overseeing internationalization and learner mobility, innovation in learning, student life, enrollment management and strategic partnerships.
The chancellor also heads specific organizations and institutions within the university, including the Roux Institute, a research institution based at Northeastern’s satellite campus in Portland, Maine. Along with the provost, the chancellor also helps oversee the university’s Office of Belonging, formerly the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
There are five vice chancellors who work under the chancellor, heading several divisions including the student life, enrollment management and education innovation departments.
Kenneth Henderson currently holds this position.
Northeastern media relations did not respond to a request to speak with Henderson.
Lights coordinator: Senior vice president for external affairs
In a show, the lights coordinator puts the spotlight on certain actors or parts of the stage, highlighting what they want the audience to pay attention to about the storyline.
Similarly, Northeastern’s senior vice president for external affairs puts the spotlight on university updates, community and city engagement and announcements the university wants to push out to the public. Like the Office of the Chancellor, the Office of External Affairs has five vice presidents who work under the senior vice president, focusing on these specific areas: marketing, federal relations, external affairs, communications as well as city and community affairs.
Along with these externally focused roles, the senior vice president for external affairs also works closely with the president and plays a “central role in crisis management.” They also advise the president on internal and external issues related to the university’s marketing and communications strategy.
Part of the external affairs office is the “Brand Center,” which details the core tenets of Northeastern’s identity as an institution: experience, global opportunities, research without boundaries and innovative partnerships. This division of the external affairs office focuses on how Northeastern’s education is designed to enhance student experiences by focusing on making an impact, which according to the Brand Center website is a “unique model for higher education.”
Additionally, the Office of External Affairs manages Northeastern Global News, or NGN, the university’s official media outlet. Notably, NGN updates Northeastern’s various FAQ pages about current events, including the “Federal Landscape: Frequently Asked Questions” page which is “intended to share real-time information about the impacts of the new [presidential] administration and the university’s response.” Formerly titled “Navigating a New Political Landscape,” the Q-and-A-style article has been the primary way the university has updated the community on how it’s adapting to President Donald Trump’s second term.
Mike Armini currently holds this position.
Northeastern media relations did not respond to a request to speak with Armini.
Set designer and builder: Senior vice president for global network and strategic initiatives
The set designer and builder of a Broadway production creates and maintains the set pieces on which the actors perform. The senior vice president for global network and strategic initiatives helps build Northeastern’s global network of campuses where students take classes, determines where and how the university should set up each new campus and establishes programs that expand classroom opportunities.
This position also oversees the Office of Global Network and Strategic Initiatives, or GNSI, which focuses on Northeastern’s global growth and campuses in the U.S., U.K. and Canada.
As part of Northeastern’s ambitious expansion and development goals, GNSI also manages the Planning, Real Estate and Facilities, or PREF, Department. PREF helps maintain Northeastern’s facilities and grounds, including fulfilling work requests made by community members. PREF’s work “[helps] Northeastern meet the goals and aspirations needed to advance itself and remain a leader in global experiential learning,” according to PREF’s website.
Business Services is another branch of GNSI which encompasses University Mail Services, Dining Services, the University Bookstore, laundry, parking, printing and childcare center.
Mary Ludden currently holds this position.
Northeastern media relations did not respond to a request to speak with Ludden.
Casting director: Senior vice president for university advancement
A casting director works to bring talented actors together and gathers resources to add monetary value and storytelling to the stage. The senior vice president for university advancement mirrors a casting director because of their knowledge about the inner workings of the university and their work to ensure the community is equipped with the resources and services it needs to move forward as an institution.
The office of the senior vice president for university advancement focuses heavily on philanthropy and giving back through various programs and initiatives. It works closely with all parts of the university, including the 10 schools and colleges and athletic departments to spearhead effective fundraising initiatives.
This position also works with alumni, families, parents and friends of the university to enhance Northeastern’s philanthropic goals.
One of the philanthropic initiatives overseen by the senior vice president for university advancement is the “Women Who Empower” program, which supports women innovators through entrepreneurship initiatives, scholarships, mentorship and events. The program awards grants to 31 people annually.
Diane Nishigaya MacGillivray currently holds this position.
Northeastern media relations did not respond to a request to speak with MacGillivray.
Producer: Senior vice president for finance and treasurer
The producer oversees the production’s budget and coordinates investors. Like a producer, the senior vice president for finance and treasurer ensures the university is financially stable and organized.
This position heads Northeastern’s Finance Division and oversees its financial affairs and portfolios, including finance, audit and advisory services and treasuring; additionally, it oversees the university’s endowment, which as of June 2024 totals approximately $1.83 billion.
The Finance Division works to support and “amplify the impact” of the Education Unleashed academic plan. The office ensures the university has enough resources to meet the needs of students, faculty and staff, as well as the vendors located on campus like Dunkin’ and Saxbys, according to the division’s website.
The division is comprised of nine departments, including the Accounting Office, responsible for all financial reporting, and the Controller’s Office, which prepares the university’s financial statements.
By managing the financial assets of the university, the department ensures that the university can continue to meet its goals and advance its academic plan.
Currently, Thomas Nedell holds this position.
Northeastern media relations did not respond to a request to speak with Nedell.
Choreographer: Senior vice president and general counsel
The senior vice president and general counsel is Northeastern’s choreographer, stepping in to manage the university’s legal moves.
The Office of the General Counsel focuses on all things law. With experience as an attorney, the senior vice president and general counsel acts as the chief legal, compliance and risk officer for Northeastern. They direct the Offices of Labor Relations and Public Safety, ensuring that all legal matters, including subpoenas, labor relations and associated topics, run smoothly.
The office represents Northeastern as an institution. The attorneys can also represent Northeastern employees in university-related legal matters.
The General Counsel has 32 areas of practice, spanning student conduct to business affairs to academic licensing.
“By virtue of the size and the sophistication of the University’s activities, many of our attorneys provide advice on a variety of legal issues,” the general counsel website reads. “In certain instances, we seek additional advice and representation from outside firms.”
Mary Strother currently holds this position.
Northeastern media relations did not respond to a request to speak with Strother.
