Denver — Regis University’s board of trustees has named Shawna Cooper Whitehead, Ed.D., as the university’s 29th president. When Cooper Whitehead assumes the presidency on July 1, she will be the first female president in the university’s nearly 150-year history.
“Shawna Cooper Whitehead brings an exceptional record of student-centered leadership and a deep commitment to educational equity that aligns beautifully with our Jesuit mission,” said Derek Scarth, chair of the university’s board of trustees. “The board is proud to welcome the first female president in Regis University’s history and is confident that under her leadership, Regis will continue to grow as a beacon of Jesuit Catholic higher education in the Rocky Mountain West and beyond.”
Cooper Whitehead has built a career spanning more than two decades across Jesuit and Catholic universities, top-tier research institutions and professional schools, with expertise in enrollment management, strategic planning and community engagement. She has also been a consistent voice on issues of student formation, restorative justice, and mission-centered leadership at Jesuit institutions.
“I just can’t wait to be a part of this community,” Cooper Whitehead said. “It is a blessing to have the opportunity to serve the mission and the incredible people that make up Regis University. My experience in Jesuit higher education has brought out the best in me professionally and personally, and I hope to give that same gift to all our students, faculty, staff and everyone in the Regis community.”
She comes to Regis University from Boston College, where she has served since 2021 as vice president of student affairs. During her tenure, she raised more than $20 million in philanthropic support for student affairs as part of the university’s $3 billion Soaring Higher capital campaign.
Prior to Boston College, she served as vice president of student services at Seton Hall University, where she was a member of the executive cabinet and provided leadership and guidance to facilitate decision-making in all matters related to student welfare.
Previously, Cooper Whitehead served as assistant provost at Loyola University Chicago. She also held roles as dean of students at the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago, director of African American Student Affairs at Northwestern University, assistant director of the Student Activities Office at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and assistant dean of the School of Communication at Loyola University Chicago.
Cooper Whitehead earned a Doctor of Education from Boston University, a Master of Education degree from National Louis University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois.
