Carroll University Appoints Dr. Eli Hestermann as Next Provost

Carroll University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Eli Hestermann as its next Provost effective Aug. 22, 2025. Dr. Hestermann brings a wealth of experience in strategic academic leadership, shared governance and innovative program development, poised to further strengthen Carroll’s commitment to academic excellence and student success.

"It's been exciting to see how everyone embraces and lives the Carroll University Ethos of respect, integrity and stewardship, said Dr. Hestermann. “I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve in this environment and to help write the next chapter in the impressive 180-year history of Carroll."

Proven Leadership in Higher Education
Prior to joining Carroll University, Dr. Hestermann served as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer at Concordia University Chicago. There, he demonstrated strategic vision through initiatives such as:

• Strategic Academic Leadership: He created and chaired an Academic Strategy Council that brought together senior leaders across academic affairs, student success, enrollment, and the faculty senate to coordinate efforts on curriculum innovation, co-curricular programming, and student retention.


• Accreditation Success: As the Accreditation Liaison Officer, Dr. Hestermann played a pivotal role in the ten-year reaffirmation process with the Higher Learning Commission, successfully completing the process in 2024.


• Collaborative Governance: He partnered with the university president, board members, and faculty leaders to implement updated policies for tenure and advancement, while also instituting a leadership development program that bridged academic, enrollment, and human resources initiatives.

In addition, Dr. Hestermann demonstrated a strong commitment to efficient resource planning and program innovation by spearheading the implementation of data-informed systems for continuous academic program review, addressing faculty salary equity in collaboration with HR and the CFO and securing $2 million in private foundation support for gerontology and nursing programs.

Trailblazer in Program Development and International Collaboration
Dr. Hestermann’s leadership in establishing new academic programs is marked by his role in forging partnerships with Chinese universities to develop joint degree programs in fields such as Art, Mathematics and Health Sciences. This initiative is projected to generate an additional $7.5 million in net tuition revenue to his former institution. Dr. Hestermann’s completion of that partnership demonstrates he possesses the insight, knowledge and valuable relationships necessary to uphold Carroll University’s reputation as a global innovator in higher education.

His previous roles further underscore his capabilities:

• As Dean of the College of Health, Science and Technology at Concordia University Chicago, Dr. Hestermann directed the founding of a newly organized college, which successfully integrated undergraduate and graduate programs and led transformative reorganization initiatives that enhanced communication and collaboration across campuses.


• At Furman University, as Executive Director of the Institute for the Advancement of Community Health, he significantly expanded the team, secured over 50% of the institute’s budget from external funding, and launched Furman’s first new graduate degree program in decades—the MS in Community Engaged Medicine.

Distinguished Academic Background
Dr. Hestermann earned his Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and an Honors Biochemistry Specialization from Purdue University. His academic prowess and research expertise lay a strong foundation for his role as a transformative educational leader.

Vision for the Future at Carroll University
“We are very fortunate to welcome Dr. Hestermann to Carroll. A distinguished scholar in his own right, he is also a proven academic leader who brings a breadth of experiences that will help guide Carroll’s academic program into the future,” said Dr. Cindy Gnadinger, Carroll University President. “His leadership of innovative programs in the health sciences and international programs are areas of opportunity for Carroll, and we are confident his leadership will be particularly impactful.”