Michaele Whelan, President
Ph.D., M.A., Harvard University
Bachelor of Arts, Cornell University

Michaele Whelan is the ninth President of Wheaton College and is a leader in higher education administration and a scholar of modern and postmodern American literature with a focus on gendered narratology. Whelan took office on Jan. 1, 2022, coming to Wheaton from Emerson College, where she served as provost. Through her work as an academic leader, Whelan has developed a reputation as an innovator in the development of new educational programs and for increasing academic and inclusive excellence and equity through a broad array of initiatives with faculty, staff and students. If you would like to contact President Whelan or the Office of the President, please use the contact information provided below.

Phone: 508-286-8244
Email: president@wheatoncollege.edu

Gene Begin, Vice President for Marketing and Communications
M.B.A., Babson College
B.S., University of Rhode Island

Gene Begin is the Vice President for Marketing and Communications and provides strategic leadership and direction for the college’s marketing, communications, web strategy and branding priorities and objectives. He is responsible for advancing the college through brand awareness, brand adoption, and brand advocacy to support Wheaton’s overall mission as well as partnering on the college’s enrollment, retention and advancement goals. If you would like to contact Gene Begin or the Marketing and Communications division, please use the contact information provided below.

Phone: 508-286-8235
Email: info@wheatoncollege.edu

Walter Caffey, Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admission & Student Aid
M.P.A., Northeastern University
B.A., Rhode Island College

Walter Caffey is the Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions & Student Aid. Caffey leads the college’s admission and recruitment of prospective students and their families, both locally and globally. He also oversees Student Financial Services (SFS), providing assistance with student accounts and payment options, loan/debt counseling, recommendations about financing options, and additional financial aid guidance. The office also handles student employment. If you would like to contact Walter Caffey, the Office of Admission or SFS, please use the contact information provided below.

Phone: 508-286-8251
Email: admission@wheatoncollge.edu; sfs@wheatoncollege.edu

Merritt Crowley, Vice President for College Advancement
B.A., Tufts University

Merrit A. Crowley is responsible for providing leadership and strategic vision for all aspects of the college’s fundraising activities and constituent relationships and oversees the division of advancement, which currently includes, alumni relations, the Wheaton Fund, advancement operations, major gifts, gift planning, corporate and foundation relations, advancement communications and donor relations. If you would like to contact Merrit A. Crowley or the Advancement office, please use the contact information provided below.

Phone: 508-286-8226
Email: alum@wheatoncollege.edu; wheatonfund@wheatoncollege.edu

Touba Ghadessi, Interim Provost
Ph.D., M.A., Northwestern University
B.A., Trinity University

Touba Ghadessi enacts the mission of her office by overseeing the academic affairs division. This includes the faculty, the curriculum, various academic affairs offices (Academic Advising, Career Services, Center for Global Education, Institutional Research, Marshall Center for Intercultural Learning, Office of the Registrar, Wallace Library), innovation spaces, arts programming, Elisabeth Amen Nursery School and the Beard and Weil Galleries. The Provost works collaboratively within and outside academic affairs to promote, enrich and support a student-centered liberal arts experience based on innovative and integrative education. If you would like to contact Provost Ghadessi or the Provost’s Office, please use the contact information provided below.

Phone: 508-286-8212
Email: provost@wheatoncollege.edu

Shaya Gregory Poku, Associate Vice President for Institutional Equity and Belonging
M.S., Northeastern University
M.A., Lesley University
B.A., Agnes Scott College

Shaya Gregory Poku is responsible for leading the college’s institutional efforts, priorities and vision around equity and belonging. She oversees Wheaton’s new Office for Institutional Equity and Belonging that operates as a linchpin for increasing accountability, transparency, and partnerships to help Wheaton fulfill its equity mission and vision. The office coordinates DEAL, the Network for LGBTQ+ Inclusion, Support, and Advocacy, and the First-Gen and Low-Income Task Force. If you would like to contact Shaya Gregory Poku or the office, please use the contact information provided below.

Phone: ​508-286-3375
Email: equityandbelonging@wheatoncollege.edu.

Darnell T. Parker, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Ed.D, Widener University
M.S.W., B.S.W., Syracuse University

Darnell T. Parker is responsible for overseeing the Student Affairs division. The Student Affairs Division includes: Campus Life (Residential Life and Student Activities, Involvement and Leadership – SAIL), Campus Safety, Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, Center for Social Justice and Community Impact, Counseling Center, Health Services, Sexual Misconduct and Assault Resource Team (SMART) Office, and Dean of Students Office. Students may come to the Dean of Students Office for a number of reasons. They might be seeking assistance with a difficult personal or academic situation, or like an objective point of view or perhaps mediation with other students or faculty. If you would like to contact Dr. Parker or the Dean of Students Office, please use the contact information provided below.

Phone: 508-286-8218
Email: deanofstudents@wheatoncollege.edu

Roger Stackpoole, Vice President for Finance and Administration
M.B.A., Georgetown University
B.S., Le Moyne College

The Finance and Administration Division provides a wide range of services to the entire college community through the following offices: Business Services, Conference and Event Services, Finance Office, Information Technology, Human Resources, Campus Safety and Physical Plant. If you would like to contact Phil Shapiro, please use the contact information provided below.

Phone: 508-286-3440
Email: financevp@wheatoncollege.edu