About the Authors

Debra Townsley has a bachelor’s degree from the American University, an MBA from George Washington University, and a Ph.D. from The University of Vermont; Assistant Professor of Business at Marymount University; Assistant Division Chair for Accounting and Data and Assistant Professor of Business at Northern Virginia Community College; Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Management Studies and Assistant Professor of Business at St. Michael’s College; Dean of Academic Affairs at Nichols College; President of Nichols College; President of William Peace University; and Interim President of Laboure College. In addition, Dr. Townsley was appointed Visiting Scholar in Occupational Safety and Public Health by Harvard University. Prior to entering academia, Dr. Townsley worked as a Senior Consultant and Project Manager at Booz Allen and Hamilton and Marketing Support for IBM.

She chaired major committees or was an officer for these national and state organizations: Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, USA South Athletic Association, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Massachusetts, and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Dr. Townsley has received these awards: State Recognition Membership by the Governor of North Carolina, Honorary Doctorate from William Peace University, Woman of the Year Award from Triangle Business Journal, Women’s Leadership Award from Vermont Women in Education, Marketing Support Representative of the Year IBM.

She has made major presentations for the: Massachusetts Association Colleges and Universities; National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, National Association of College University Business Officials, and the Eastern Academy of Management. Her accomplishments also include books and articles on: college management, banking, strategic planning, leadership of large organizations, retail management in Asia, and many more.

Michael Townsley holds a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University, a Masters of Arts from the University of Delaware, and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. Townsley was the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice-President at Wilmington College (Wilmington University) in New Castle, Delaware. Next, he was President of the Pennsylvania Institute of Technology in Media, Pennsylvania and a Full Professor of Business at Becker College in Worcester, Massachusetts.  He currently is a Senior Consultant at Steven Strategy, LLC.  Dr. Townsley has authored: Crisis in Higher Education, Financial Strategy for Higher Education, Weathering Turbulent Times, The Small College Guide to Financial Health Beating the Odds. Recently, he published a biography of Steve Hannagan, a pioneer in marketing and public relations. In addition, he has contributed chapters and numerous articles on finance, management, IT systems for financial management, and higher education marketing.