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Morgan State University (MSU) has appointed new leadership to oversee two critical areas supporting the advancement and growth. Ryan Maltese, J.D., Ph.D. and Nehemiah Yisrael, were hired as associate vice president of Student Success and Retention and as director of Procurement and Property Control, respectively. The two new hires bring extensive years of experience and expertise to their specific roles and both will be instrumental in contributing to the University’s overall evolving needs, specifically as it relates to the areas of academic excellence and business administrative operations.

In its execution of a new 10-year strategic plan, the University has undergone a progressive transformation, leading to three consecutive years of record student enrollment and an expected increase in operational and business demands.

“As the university continues to grow, we must be proactive in addressing the needs of our students and remain committed to their academic success and well-being. Equally important, we also must continuously explore the best practices in business operations to accommodate that growth,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. “I am confident that with the appointments of Dr. Maltese and Mr. Yisrael, the University will be positioned to adapt to the ever-changing environments in higher education, ensuring our institution remains competitive nationally.”

As associate vice president for the Office of Student Success and Retention, Dr. Maltese is responsible for providing support for students from admission to graduation while managing a complementary system of continuity across the undergraduate life cycle, to continuously increase the university’s retention and graduation rates. As a component of his responsibilities, he oversees the Center for Academic Success and Achievement, supervising academic advising, orientation, summer/transition programs, and the alumni mentoring programs. He also serves on multiple committees and manages several grant initiatives through the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Success.

Before joining the staff at Morgan, Dr. Maltese served as the primary architect for the development of Georgia State University’s National Institute for Student Success (NISS). In his role as director of operations and business development he managed the institute’s client development opportunities across all sectors of higher education, engaging in NISS’s high-touch consulting services. In addition, he oversaw all business operations, including employee development, hiring processes, training, and professional development, while coincidingly managing the NISS grant portfolio of approximately $35 million in operational funding.

Additionally, during his tenure at Georgia state University, Dr. Maltese served as a University Innovation Alliance Postdoc Fellow managing various projects focused on student success programs, including College-to-Career initiatives, financial management, and student support and progression through AI-enhanced technologies. He also served as interim assistant vice president for Student Affairs before joining NISS. Prior to this experience, Dr. Maltese spent more than a decade in student affairs at North Carolina A&T State University, serving as executive director for University Events and Student Activities. In this role, he oversaw campus programs, student organizations, Greek Life, student government, and student/staff leadership development.

A licensed attorney, with a background in contracts and business services, Dr. Ryan Maltese holds a law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law and has been a member of the Georgia Bar for more than 20 years. He also earned his bachelor’s in Sociology from Oberlin College, a master’s degree in Conflict Management from the University of North Carolina Greensboro and a Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies from Georgia State University, where his research explored access to postsecondary education for undocumented and DACA students.

In higher education, the Procurement department plays an important role in supporting research initiatives and revenue generation. The State of Maryland Procurement Regulations require that certain commodities, services, and maintenance agreements be obtained through competitive bidding methods such as price quotes, verbal bids, and sealed bids. All goods and services purchased on behalf of the University must be procured according to Maryland law and Morgan State University Procurement policies and procedures. Over the years, procurement roles and responsibilities have become more complex and strategic as they involve state and federal funding. Recent studies conducted by consulting firm McKinsey & Company reveal outdated and ineffective administrative operations (including finance and facilities) can directly affect an institution’s reputation as they are vital in helping the university fulfill its mission. To meet this growing need, new leadership was brought in.

As director of Procurement and Property Control, Nehemiah Yisrael is responsible for leading all aspects of the department’s operations, including developing and implementing procurement programs, systems, and processes to improve cost, efficiency, quality, and customer responsiveness. Under his leadership, he will guide the business decision-making process of procuring supplies, materials, equipment, and services for all departments and oversee the Minority Business Enterprise and Small Business Reserve programs. He is also responsible for ensuring the oversight and accountability for University property. Mr. Yisrael will work closely with other departments within the university to enhance their understanding of procurement procedures and policies and make recommendations to develop and implement revised or new policies, procedures, and programs as needed.

Before he arrived at Morgan, Yisrael served as the director of Procurement at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) in Alexandria, VA. He also spent two decades working directly with the military and federal civilian agencies in procurement in various leadership positions, supporting their vision of delivering services quicker, faster, and better. Yisrael is also the recipient of two “Meritorious Civilian Service Awards” for leadership from the United States Navy.