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Members of the President's Leadership Team
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Kathryn LaFontana is a seasoned academic leader in her 30th year in Catholic higher education, with expertise in mission-focused strategic planning, new program development, data-informed decision-making, and innovative instructional technology solutions. She came to Ursuline in 2017 from The College of New Rochelle, where she served in academic leadership roles over her six-year tenure. Widely published in academic journals, the former Sacred Heart University psychology professor has more than two dozen peer-reviewed presentations and publications and is the 2024 recipient of the Collegium Visionary Award. She has a doctorate in social psychology from the University of Connecticut.
Interim Chief Financial Officer, Secretary & Treasurer
An influential, analytical, and experienced finance executive with a demonstrated history of delivering profitable growth and meeting financial targets, Doug Kennedy joined the Ursuline leadership team in the summer of 2024. He has done extensive consulting work focusing on strategic planning, M&A, FP&A, compliance, risk management, and leadership support. He previously served as the SVP Finance & CFO for Global Assessments at Pearson Education and has also held financial leadership positions at Pearson VUE, Cray Inc., and Northwest Airlines. He holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management and a BA in Accounting from the University of Minnesota Duluth.
Assistant Vice President for Student Experience & Campus Belonging
Yolanda King manages Office of Student Experience & Campus Belonging, leading the development of the College’s strategic diversity plan and providing support and services to students, staff, and faculty to create an inclusive community. King also serves as the administrator of Ursuline’s First-Generation Program and as the primary Designated School Official for international students. Previously, she spent 15 years as Tufts University’s Director of Residential Life and Learning in addition to serving in various Student Affairs positions at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, University at Buffalo, and Ohio University. A graduate of the College of Wooster, she earned a Master of Arts, Student Development in Higher Education from Howard University and was named as one of Cleveland’s Emerging Black Leaders in 2024 by The Plain Dealer.
Executive Director of Advancement
Helen Jones-Toms joined the Ursuline College leadership team in 2022 as the chief marketing officer until joining the advancement team in Fall 2025. She previously was the head of marketing for the Case School of Engineering and later the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). She also possesses an extensive background in fundraising communications, working on campaigns at CWRU as well as the Cleveland Museum of Art. An active community volunteer, she is the former board president of Magnolia Clubhouse which provides community and dignity for people living with mental illness. A graduate of Boston University’s College of Communication, she holds a Master of Nonprofit Organizations from CWRU and is the former executive director of Aluminum Cans for Burned Children (ACBC).
Athletic Director
The first and only Athletic Director in the College’s history, Cindy McKnight played a vital role in the creation of College’s athletic department and its path to become a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). She currently serves as a member of the NCAA Division II Management Council. She previously served on the NCAA National Women’s Basketball Committees as well as its Regional Advisory Committees for Women’s Basketball and Women’s Volleyball. McKnight spearheaded Ursuline becoming a founding member of Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) and was the first woman chair of the G-MAC’s Athletic Director’s Council. She is an alumna of Mount St. Joseph College and Ashland University.
