Hilbert College has appointed John S. Olszowka, PhD, as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Olszowka brings extensive experience in academic leadership, strategic planning, student success initiatives, and program innovation in higher education. He most recently served as Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Mercyhurst University, where he worked closely with university leadership to advance institutional strategy, strengthen academic programming, and support long-term sustainability.
Throughout his career, Olszowka has held leadership roles including Vice President, Associate Provost, Dean, and Department Chair. His experience includes oversight of curriculum development, faculty recruitment and mentoring, accreditation, assessment, and academic program review. He has also led initiatives focused on enrollment growth, retention, and degree completion.
Dr. Olszowka’s arrival at Hilbert College coincides with the college successfully emerging from its strategic realignment of people and resources. This process has reinvigorated Hilbert College, established a sound and sustainable financial foundation, and leaves them poised to take advantage of a rapidly changing higher education landscape.
At Mercyhurst, Olszowka collaborated with faculty and administration to reorganize academic structures, launch new academic offerings, and strengthen shared governance processes. As Dean of the Tom Ridge College of Intelligence Studies and Applied Sciences, he helped lead enrollment growth initiatives across multiple departments. He also supported the expansion of graduate education programming, contributing to sustained enrollment increases over several years.
In addition to his academic leadership experience, Olszowka has directed several externally funded initiatives focused on workforce development and applied learning. His work includes securing grant funding for programs in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data sciences, as well as expanding partnerships that provide students with internship and experiential learning opportunities.
Olszowka said he was drawn to Hilbert’s mission and commitment to student-centered education.
Michael Cornell, Interim President of Hilbert College, said Olszowka’s experience and leadership style make him a strong fit for the institution’s future.
“John’s career is defined by action. From scaling intelligence and data science programs to securing critical workforce grants, he has consistently demonstrated the ability to turn bold ideas into institutional reality. He is exactly the leader Hilbert needs so that our programs continue to prepare students to shape their future in an increasingly complex world. He understands that the future of higher education belongs to institutions willing to innovate without losing sight of their mission,” Cornell said. “He brings the strategic vision, collaborative leadership skills and academic expertise to ensure that The Hilbert Experience leads to great jobs in meaningful careers for our graduates.”
As Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Olszowka will oversee the College’s academic operations and work collaboratively with faculty and campus leadership to advance Hilbert’s academic mission and strategic priorities.
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