Central Administration

Our University's officers, the Central Administration, are business and educational leaders with national reputations in various endeavors and fields. Together, they share a profound professional and personal commitment to ONE Northwood.

Keith A. Pretty, J.D.
President and CEO

The President and Chief Executive Officer is responsible to the trustees of the University for the implementation of their governance directives. He serves as the primary strategist and external relations officer, manages the other officers and affairs of the University, and serves as a major fund raiser.

Keith Pretty joined Northwood University as President and CEO on October 2, 2006. He came to Northwood from Walsh College where he served as President for seven years. Prior to Walsh, he was Vice President for external affairs, general counsel at Western Michigan University and President and CEO of the Western Michigan University Foundation. In the private sector, Pretty held governmental affairs positions with Amoco Corporation and became senior Washington representative. Former Michigan Governor John Engler appointed Pretty to design a state department of Career Development that matched Michigan's educational resources to its business needs. He earned a bachelor of science degree in education from Western Michigan University and a juris doctor degree from Thomas Cooley Law School in Lansing.

Kristin Stehouwer, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer

Dr. Kristin Stehouwer joined Northwood University in 2009 and serves as the executive vice president and chief academic officer.

Dr. Stehouwer came from Macomb Community College where she was the Executive Director of Research and Planning and assumed the additional duties of Vice Provost for Arts and Sciences in 2007. Prior to joining Macomb Community College, she served as Director of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center and Special Advisor to the President at Northwestern Michigan College. She also worked on special assignment to the U.S. Department of Commerce at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and worked in the area of global manufacturing competitiveness which included a national speaking tour of over 20 cities.

She earned her doctorate from Northwestern University in Political Science and International Relations. Her graduate studies included International Law at the University of Strasbourg as a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar. Her scholarly work has focused on political and economic cooperation. She also earned a B.A. and M.A. from Northwestern University. She has published numerous articles and made many national presentations. She has worked with organizations in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa and speaks six languages. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at a number of colleges and universities.

Dr. Stehouwer has extensive experience in facilitating and deploying strategy in many types of organizations including in the financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, education, and service sectors. Dr. Stehouwer has entrepreneurial experience and business management experience with large and small organizations including family businesses. She has specialized in the areas of strategic management, performance excellence, process improvement, and organization/leadership development. She serves as a senior examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and as an AQIP Systems Appraiser for the Higher Learning Commission.

Stehouwer and her husband, Dr. David Rausch, both Michigan natives, enjoy spending time in northern Michigan.

William (Bill) Bateman, D.B.A.
Provost, Michigan Campus

The Provost is the leader and chief operating officer of the Michigan campus and of other area activities of the University.

Dr. Bateman has been an Associate Professor and Manager of Blended Platform Programs for Northwood University's Richard DeVos Graduate School of Management since 2007. He teaches finance and strategy, and was the lead Integration course faculty. Previous to teaching, he had a career in commercial banking with Comerica Bank and SunTrust Bank that spanned nearly 25 years. He had been a branch manager, field auditor, national internal operating unit manager, and finished his banking career as a Vice President of Commercial Lending. Bateman has ten years of college/university teaching experience at City College of Fort Lauderdale; Keller Graduate School of Business in Miramar, Florida; Tidewater Community College in Virginia Beach, Virginia and Walsh College in Troy, Michigan.

He received his Doctorate of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Bateman worked with the Ken Blanchard Companies (of One Minute Manager fame) to complete his dissertation research on the relationship between a sense of humor and leadership style. He is a graduate of the Center for Leadership Studies in Escondido, California where he studied with Dr. Paul Hersey, the co-author of the Hersey/Blanchard Situational Leadership Model. Bateman has conducted research and published in the areas of motivational theory and generation Y in the workplace. He is also a graduate of Walsh College where he received his MSM degree and Western Michigan University where he received his BBA. He is an accomplished public speaker and is a past member of the instructional support team for Dale Carnegie courses.

Dr. Bateman has always had an interest in civic and charitable service. His record of service to the community includes the following: Board Treasurer, Disability Network of Mid Michigan, Midland, Michigan; Vice Chair, City Planning Commission. Royal Oak, Michigan; Chair, Professionals for Children's Harbor, Davie, Florida; Member of the Year, Service to Mankind (SERTOMA), Norfolk, Virginia.

Bateman grew up in Royal Oak, Michigan where he lived for over 30 years. He has also lived and worked in Grand Rapids, South Florida, and Virginia Beach. He currently resides in Midland, Michigan with his wife of 22 years, Kim; and their English Pointer, Kirby.

Arnold D'Ambrosio
Vice President of University Advancement

Arnold D'Ambrosio has been named vice president of university advancement coming from vice president, major and planned gifts, at the Beaumont Foundation.

Mr. D'Ambrosio joined the Beaumont Foundation of The William Beaumont Hospitals in July 2006 as vice president, major and planned gifts, with responsibilities including the cultivation and solicitation of major gift prospects with potential to contribute a minimum of $100,000. He was chief development officer of Geisinger Health System Foundation in Danville, PA from 2003 to July 2006, where he planned and initiated a system-wide, $75 million comprehensive campaign and managed a department of 18 development professionals, securing significant gifts at the $1 million and higher level.

From 1999 to 2003, he was director of development at the Glickman Urological Institute at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation where he had responsibility for all aspects of the development program for the Institute. He established a comprehensive fundraising program for the Institute while initiating a $35 million capital campaign. From 1997 to 1999, he was director of major and planned gifts for the American Heart Association (AHA) in Cincinnati, responsible for creating and managing a major gift and planned giving program. Prior to AHA, he held various positions focusing his work on significant gifts, campaign management and charitable estate planning. Earlier in his career he was a junior high school English and Social Studies teacher in Hamilton City Schools where he developed a specialized educational program and taught delinquent junior high students in an alternative school setting.

Mr. D'Ambrosio earned a BA in Philosophy and History from Gannon University in Erie, PA and a BA in English and secondary teaching certificate from Madonna University in Livonia, Mich. He also earned a Fellowship in Institutional Advancement by completing a training program in fundraising in which he created and directed the fundraising program for the Cincinnati Center for Developmental Disorders, an affiliate hospital of Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati.

D'Ambrosio and his wife, Elizabeth, have four children.

Kevin G. Fegan, Ed.D.
Provost, Texas Campus

The Provost is the leader and chief operating officer of the Texas Campus and directs other University activities.

Kevin Fegan began his Northwood career as head women's volleyball coach in 1986 while teaching business education and coaching in the Midland Public Schools. He joined Northwood as a staff member in 1987 as Assistant Director of Academic Computer Services and an instructor on the Midland campus. In 1988, he became Registrar for the Midland campus and in 1990 was named Director of Registrar and Academic Counseling. In 1994, he left the traditional program and joined the staff of the Adult Degree Program serving as Associate Dean. In 1998, he was named Dean of the Adult Degree Program. In May 2000, he was elected Provost of the Adult Degree Program and an officer of the college by the Board of Trustees. In May of 2003, Dr. Fegan started in his current role as Provost of the Texas campus. Dr. Fegan was named a Northwood University Outstanding Alumni (1996), recognized by the International Who's Who of Professionals and Who's Who Among American Colleges and Universities, and is a member of Delta Mu Delta, Honorary Business Fraternity. Dr. Fegan holds a B.B.A. in marketing and management from Northwood University, an M.A. in educational administration from Central Michigan University and an Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction from Wayne State University.

"The fundamental beliefs and values of The Northwood Idea, accentuated by the curricular philosophy and variety of instructional delivery approaches, provide the opportunity for Northwood to educationally address the needs of a variety of learners who understand and value the importance of education and lifelong learning."

Timothy G. Nash, Ed.D.
David E. Fry Endowed Professor & Vice President of Strategic and Corporate Alliances

Timothy Nash joined Northwood in 1980 and received a B.B.A. from the university, an M.A. in Economics from Central Michigan University, and an Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction with his cognate in business administration from Wayne State University. He is an associate professor of Economics and Business for the undergraduate program and is an associate professor of Economics and Public Policy at the DeVos Graduate School. His travels and research have taken him to over 20 countries from China and Hong Kong to Poland and Norway where he also participated in academic colloquiums. Dr. Nash is an adjunct scholar with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland and the former State Director of Economic Education for the clergy for the State of Michigan. Dr. Nash has co-authored three books and conducted research and consulting for a number of Fortune 500 companies, GM UAW PEL, and the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). He serves on the boards of the Free Enterprise Institute (FEI) in Houston, Texas, the Midland Academy of Advanced & Creative Studies, Junior Achievement of Central Michigan, Inc., and the Midland Area Chamber of Commerce.

"In fulfilling the obligation of an incubator for enterprise and character, Northwood University prepares its graduates at all levels to compete in a complex and dynamic global economy. The philosophy, values, and management core contained in all Northwood degree programs serve our graduates well throughout their ever-changing careers."

Karl Stephan
Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer

Karl Stephan will be responsible for all financial functions at the multi- state university including: accounting, taxation and compliance, information technology, financial aid, budgets, auxiliary services, physical plant, and human resources. He earned his undergraduate degree at Yale University and his master's degree in business administration in finance from the University of Chicago.

Stephan came to Northwood University after a long career in senior management for the Sears Holding Corporation and Kmart Corporation. He was at Arthur Andersen & Co. and Blue Shield of California prior to Sears.

Stephan, his wife, and two sons recently relocated to Midland from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

John Young
Vice President, Marketing & Enrollment Management

Vice President Young is responsible for the marketing, communications and creative staff, the coordination of public relations, enrollment management, sports information and the chair of the Web Executive Committee. Most recently John Young served as vice president, chief marketing, enrollment and government relations officer at Walsh College for eight years, and prior to that had 17 years of experience in leading the comprehensive marketing functions of various healthcare organizations in southeast Michigan including Oakwood Healthcare System and St. Joseph Mercy.

Young received his bachelor of business administration degree in marketing from the University of Michigan in 1982 and his master of business administration from Wayne State University in 1984 where he was also a graduate assistant and continued to teach in an adjunct role until 1999.

He is currently vice chair of the Farmington Hills Planning Commission, immediate past chair of the Farmington Area Arts Commission, and secretary of the Michigan School of Professional Psychology. He has served on boards of Henry Ford Bi-County Hospital, United Way of Oakland County, Palmer Drug Abuse Program, American Marketing Association - Detroit Chapter, and the Farmington Area Chamber of Commerce.