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Ryan Britton
Vice President for Government Relations and Economic Development

Ryan Britton brings over two decades of education and government affairs experience to �Թ���. Ryan served as a Legislative Fellow in the �Թ��� House and as a public high school teacher in the Kanagawa Prefectural School System of Japan and in his native state of �Թ���. An ability to pursue public service at the federal level brought Ryan to Washington, D.C., where he worked as a legislative aide on Capitol Hill and began attending law school at night. After returning to �Թ��� and finishing law school, Ryan began working at �Թ���, where he currently serves as the Vice President for Government Relations and Economic Development as well as the Director of the Office of Public Policy Events. Ryan is a graduate of the University of �Թ��� where he received a B.S. in Business Administration and a B.S. in Health Science Education, as well as the Nova Southeastern Shepard Broad College of Law.

Ken Dawson-Scully, Ph.D., M.Sc., FRES, FNAI
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Ken Dawson-Scully serves as �Թ���’s Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, providing leadership for the Division of Academic Affairs. He oversees the university’s 10 colleges, more than 180 degree programs, and key university-wide units that support academics and the student experience including the Office of Undergraduate Studies, Enrollment Management (which includes Undergraduate Admissions, Financial Aid, and the University Registrar), University Libraries, and the Office of Information Technology. Prior to joining �Թ��� Atlantic in this role, Dawson-Scully served as Associate Provost and Senior Vice President for Research at Nova Southeastern University, where he led the Division of Research and Economic Development across research strategy, infrastructure, compliance, technology transfer, clinical research operations, and faculty and student research support. Under his research leadership, NSU elevated from R2 to the Carnegie Classification of “R1: Very High Research Activity.” Dawson-Scully previously served �Թ��� Atlantic for 13 years (2008–2021) in multiple leadership roles, including Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Director of the FAU Max Planck Honors Program, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, and Associate Director of the FAU Brain Institute. During that period, he also served as Head of Institutional Partnerships at the Max Planck �Թ��� Institute for Neuroscience and led initiatives that increased National Merit Scholar enrollment. A Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and the Royal Entomological Society, Dawson-Scully is a Professor of Biological Sciences in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and has published extensively in leading scientific journals, with expertise spanning translational neuroscience, neuroprotective compounds, stress physiology, and commercialization of academic research. He earned his Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Toronto’s College of Medicine.

Larry Faerman, Ph.D.
Vice President, Student Affairs

Larry Faerman, Ph.D. joined �Թ��� Atlantic in 1999 as Area Coordinator for Housing and Residential Life and has served the university in many roles over the years. In 2016, he was named Dean of Students and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs. As Vice President for Student Affairs, he oversees all aspects of student life, promoting a campus culture that embraces student success through academic excellence, leadership development and civic responsibility. He oversees the Division of Student Affairs , which provides a wide array of programs and services to FAU’s student body. Faerman received a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Science and a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from �Թ��� State University. He earned his Doctorate of Educational Administration and Leadership from �Թ��� Atlantic. ��

Gregg Fields, Ph.D.
Vice President for Research

Gregg B. Fields, Ph.D., received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry from the University of �Թ��� and �Թ��� State University, respectively, and was a Postdoctoral Scholar with Professor Ken A. Dill at the University of California at San Francisco. Dr. Fields joined the faculty at the University of Minnesota in 1991 as an assistant professor. He was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 1995 and then achieved the rank of full professor of chemistry & biochemistry at �Թ��� in 1997. In 2008, Dr. Fields became a Robert A. Welch Foundation Distinguished University Chair in Chemistry in the Department of Biochemistry at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Fields relocated to the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies in 2011, where he was a Full Member, Vice President of Research, and Distinguished Chair of Metalloproteinase and Multiple Sclerosis Research. Dr. Fields joined FAU in 2014 as a Full Professor and the Chair in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the Director of the Center for Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (CMBB). In 2019 he was appointed as Executive Director of the Institute for Human Health & Disease Intervention (I-HEALTH) at FAU and in 2021 became the Co-Director of the Memorial Cancer Institute �Թ��� (MCIFAU) Cancer Center of Excellence. Dr. Fields is an elected Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He has authored or coauthored more than 300 scientific publications and has presented more than 190 invited lectures.

Dr. Joel D. Herbst
Vice President, PK-12 and Pre-Baccalaureate Programs

Dr. Joel Herbst serves as Vice President for PK–12 and Pre-Baccalaureate Programs at �Թ���. With more than 35 years of experience in public education, Dr. Herbst leads innovative K–12 and early college initiatives that integrate university-level research, teaching, and learning. His leadership has advanced programs while fostering partnerships that connect K–12 education with higher education and industry, including service on Coca-Cola’s Council for Corporate and School Partnerships. Over the course of his career, Dr. Herbst has served as an Advanced Placement instructor, assistant principal, principal, director of school improvement, regional superintendent, and superintendent of schools. Under his guidance, FAU’s laboratory schools have achieved national recognition, including multiple designations as U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence. Dr. Herbst earned his doctoral degree in 2003 from �Թ���.

Jayson Iroff
Vice President, Financial Affairs
Chief Financial Officer

Jayson Iroff joined �Թ��� Atlantic ��in April 2023. He most recently served as Senior Vice Provost and Chief Financial Officer at Miami Dade College, the largest public college in the United States, which educates over 100,000 students annually across eight campuses and multiple outreach centers. Prior to Miami Dade, Mr. Iroff served in the same capacity at Broward College, �Թ���’s second largest college. At both institutions Mr. Iroff established an exceptional record of success, leading them in strategic financial planning and budgeting, financial reporting and analysis, financial operations management, student financial services, real estate, procurement and risk management. Additionally, he has served on numerous statewide policy and operations committees, most recently playing a key role in developing a new and equitable appropriations funding model for the college system that was codified into statute. Mr. Iroff is also highly regarded by peers for his experience and creativity in creating Public Private Partnerships (P3’s) to develop campus facilities and monetize land and real estate assets. Iroff received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of South �Թ���.

Cara Perry
Vice President for Communications

Cara Carlton Perry is the Vice President for Communications for �Թ���. She has enjoyed 23 years of service at �Թ��� Atlantic in a variety of communications and public relations roles. She has transformed communications strategies across multiple campuses and led key initiatives supporting the university’s growth and visibility. She has worked closely with �Թ��� Atlantic’s research enterprise to showcase how discoveries made on campus translate into solutions for Palm Beach County and beyond. Cara is a board member for the Alzheimer’s Association of Southeast �Թ���, Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast and St. Lucie Economic Development Council. She is also a member of Leadership �Թ��� and completed an appointed term on the �Թ��� Commission on the Status of Women. She received her bachelor’s degree in communication from �Թ��� State University and her master’s degree in university administration from the University of Central �Թ���. She is a proud fifth-generation �Թ��� native.

Todd Reid
Vice President and Chief of Staff

Todd Reid has spent over 20 years helping �Թ���’s leaders navigate the challenges and opportunities of one of the most diverse, dynamic, and complex states in the nation. For more than a decade, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff and State Director for U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, acting as the Senator’s top staffer in �Թ��� and overseeing all state operations, working closely with Washington-based staff to ensure �Թ���’s unique perspective was reflected in federal policy. Reid also led the Senator’s Constituent Services team, which supported hundreds of thousands of Floridians during Rubio’s first 11 years and responded to major crises, including eight hurricanes, significant overseas events, and some of the nation’s most tragic incidents. Their work was nationally recognized by the Congressional Management Foundation in 2019 as the Best in the Nation. Prior to his time with the Senate, Reid held senior staff roles in the �Թ��� House of Representatives as Communications Director, Director of the House Majority Office, and Deputy Chief of Staff, as well as in the state’s executive branch. He is a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College.

Joseph S. Van de Bogart
Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel

Joseph S. Van de Bogart joined the University’s Office of General Counsel in 2025. He is the former General Counsel at the �Թ��� Department of State. Prior to his government service, Van de Bogart founded and managed Van de Bogart Law, P.A., where he focused on commercial litigation and election law. Van de Bogart earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of �Թ��� and his Juris Doctorate from �Թ��� International University College of Law.

Stacy A. Volnick, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President for Administrative Affairs and Chief Operating Officer

Stacy A. Volnick, Ph.D. received her bachelor’s degree in communication and her master's and doctoral degrees in education leadership from FAU. She became a member of the University's administrative staff in 1991, advancing steadily through the ranks. In 2013 she was named Vice President for ��and Chief Administrative Officer. She oversees areas including Public Safety, Facilities Management, Environmental Health & Safety, Human Resources, Business Services, Emergency Management, Board of Trustee Operations, President’s Office Operations, the Eleanor R. Baldwin House (the President's on-campus residence) and the University Ombudsman. Additionally, Volnick administratively oversees the Offices of the Inspector General and University Compliance.

Brian White
Vice President and Director of Athletics

Brian White was named vice president and director of athletics in March 2018. An experienced administrator and proven fundraiser, he joined �Թ��� Atlantic from the University of Missouri, where he was named senior associate athletics director in 2015 before becoming deputy athletics director for external relations in 2016. At Missouri, White oversaw all external units, including development, marketing, ticket sales, strategic communications, Mizzou Sports Properties, and the Mizzou Network. He led fundraising efforts that set the single-year Missouri athletics department records of more than $50 million (more than doubling the previous year) and 11 seven-figure gifts. In addition, the department secured the necessary donations that allowed the Board of Curators, which oversees the University of Missouri system, to approve a funding model for a $100 million expansion of Memorial Stadium. White’s family is highly respected in collegiate athletics. His father, Kevin, is the former vice president and director of athletics for Duke University; his brother, Mike, is the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Georgia; and his brother, Danny, is vice chancellor and director of athletics at the University of Tennessee.