Ready To Lead

A trio of higher education professionals, all with extensive experience and impressive accomplishments, recently joined CSU to help shape the bold plan for the university’s future.

Laura Bloomberg, Ph.D.

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Laura Bloomberg was previously professor and dean of the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Over her 24-year academic career at the university, her research has focused on community-based leadership, program evaluation, public value creation, cross-cultural dialogue and educational policy.

She holds a doctoral degree in educational policy and administration from the University of Minnesota, master’s degrees in psychometrics and educational psychology from Cornell University, and a bachelor’s degree in special education from St. Cloud State University.

Dr. Bloomberg and her husband Jon, an environmental attorney, are the parents of two adult children, Elisabeth and Andrew.

Phillip “Flapp” Cockrell, Ph.D.

Vice President for Campus Engagement, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Flapp Cockrell is an experienced thought leader in advancing student success and championing diversity, equity and inclusion. He comes to CSU from the University of Toledo, where he served for 5 years.

Dr. Cockrell is responsible for leading and integrating CSU’s student-facing support services including Residence Life, Health & Wellness Services, Counseling Center, Disability Services, Multicultural Student Affairs, Veterans Center, LGBTQ+ Student Services, the Mareyjoyce Green Women’s Center, the Office of Institution Equity and the Office of Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement.

David Jewell 

Senior Vice President of Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer

David Jewell, a higher education finance executive with extensive experience at large research universities, previously served as deputy vice president for finance at the University of Wyoming, that state’s flagship university. 

Raised in New Richmond, Ohio Mr. Jewell holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management and a bachelor’s degree in human and organizational development from Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development. He and his wife Shelley have three children, daughters Madelynn and Frances and son Shep.