James “JD” Fisher Appointed Interim President of PennWest University

D Fisher, who currently serves as interim vice chancellor and chief academic officer in the chancellor’s office of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, has been named as the interim President of PennWest University. 

Fisher is not new to PennWest, having previously served as its associate provost for academic administration, and as interim dean of the College of Health and Human Services.  Prior to that he was interim provost and interim associate provost at Edinboro University, where we also a professor of politics and legal studies for more than two decades during which time he also served as chair of the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice.

He earned his JD from William & Mary Law School and a PhD in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Anastatios "Stasi" Kamoutsas Named President of Polk State College

Stasi Kamoutsas, the Florida Commissioner of Education (since 2025), has been named President of Polk State College. A seasoned government lawyer, having served as the Florida Department of Education's chief of staff, general counsel, chief litigator and assistant general counsel, Komoutsas also served as deputy chief of staff for Governor Ron DeSantis. He previously served as staff counsel for the Dade County Police Benevolent Association, and as an assistant state attorney with the Miami-Dade office of the State Attorney.

Kamoutsas earned his JD from Regent University School of Law.

Natalie Braswell Appointed Interim Chancellor of the CT State Colleges and University System

Natalie Braswell, General Counsel to Governor Ned Lamont, and former CT State Comptroller, has been appointed as interim Chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and University System. The appointment is for one year to allow for a national search.

After law school, she worked as an associate attorney with the law office of Updike, Kelly & Spacey. She then moved into government, working first as general counsel and assistant comptroller for the State of Connecticut.

Braswell taught legal process as an adjunct professor at UConn Law.

She earned her JD from University of Connecticut School of Law.