The Board of Directors COPLAC of  are pleased to announce that Jeanine Belcastro Went, PhD, will be COPLAC’s next Executive Director starting on 3 February 2025. She will succeed current Executive Director, Dr. Cole Woodcox, who plans to retire at the end of February 2025. Dr. Went’s experience with higher education consortia and her vision for the impact of COPLAC in the future were compelling to the search committee.

“We are at a remarkable point in time as we look at education in this country, specifically higher education. As public colleges and universities, the role of COPLAC institutions is becoming more substantive and impactful as we endeavor to provide all students with experiences that lead to successful lives and engaged citizenship,” commented COPLAC President Dr. Tuajuanda C. Jordan. “Jeanine Went understands the landscape and has the experience, cache and gravitas to lead the consortium during this transformational time. I am thrilled she will be joining us and excited to partner with such a visionary and inspirational leader.”  

Dr. Went brings extensive experience in higher education leadership, multi-campus collaboration, and strategic initiatives to COPLAC. As the founding director of the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts (HECCMA) for 11 years, she assembled 55 communities of practice, managed consortial programming, and oversaw cross-registration, bidding, and procurement processes. Dr. Went also built strong relationships with elected officials, forged key partnerships with city offices, the state emergency management association, and regional nonprofits, and secured grant funding to develop HECCMA’s strategic plan. Her leadership enhanced collaboration and strengthened ties across HECCMA’s 11 member institutions.

Looking toward her future with COPLAC, Dr. Went stated: "I am honored to be joining COPLAC at such a pivotal time in the landscape of higher education. The mission of COPLAC – to provide students with an education that fosters critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and a sense of civic responsibility – has never been more important. I look forward to working with COPLAC’s member institutions to further the cause of public liberal arts colleges and to ensure that they remain a vibrant and essential part of the higher education ecosystem."

During a comprehensive national search, Dr. Went emerged as the leading candidate in a highly competitive pool. Her record of managing multi-campus initiatives and messaging the value of multidisciplinary education were important factors in her selection. As Executive Director, Dr. Went will guide COPLAC through the crafting and implementation of its next strategic plan and shape new collaborations to engage and benefit its members.

"Dr. Went’s years of work with HECCMA, as well as her vision for the prevailing strength of a public liberal arts education, ground the historic purpose of COPLAC to amplify and expand the value of high-quality, public liberal arts education. I look forward to working with her,” said James Birge, PhD, President of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and President-Elect of the COPLAC Board of Directors.

Dr. Went received her PhD from Colorado State University in Education and Human Resource Studies, with a specialization in Higher Education Leadership, a master of music in vocal performance from Boston University, and a bachelor of music in music education degree from SUNY Potsdam. She has a record of conference and workshop presentations on such topics as Infusing LEAP outcomes in learning communities; ethnography; policy analysis; and educational research methods. She has taught at both public and private universities in California, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts as well as co-creating an afterschool program in Rwanda called One Health for Kids. In addition, Dr. Went has performed widely as a singer and actress. 

Founded in 1987, COPLAC enhances collaboration and initiatives among its 30 member colleges and universities across the USA and Canada.