Loyack Named As New Rider President
The Rider University Board of Trustees has unanimously appointed John R. Loyack as the institution’s next president after a nationwide search.
Loyack, with leadership experience in both higher education and the corporate sector, will assume the presidency this summer following the retirement of Gregory G. Dell’Omo. Dell’Omo has served as Rider’s president since 2015.
Loyack most recently served as president of Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania, from 2019 to 2024, where he led a $60 million fundraising campaign, the most successful in the institution’s history.
Under his leadership, Alvernia achieved its first top national ranking and saw record-setting incoming student enrollment.
“Rider has a strong legacy of educational excellence, engaged student learning and regional impact,” Loyack said in a media release. “I look forward to working collaboratively with the university’s students, faculty, staff, alumni and board of trustees to advance that legacy and shape an even more vibrant and successful future.”
Prior to his tenure at Alvernia, Loyack served as executive vice president for business and administration at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. In that role, he implemented financial and strategic reforms that returned the institution to solvency.
Loyack’s professional background also includes more than 15 years of executive experience in the energy, manufacturing and nonprofit sectors, consistently driving growth and operational excellence.
A native of Pittston, Pennsylvania, Loyack holds a bachelor of science in accounting from King’s College and an MBA from Lehigh University. He is a certified public accountant and an advocate for community engagement, having served on numerous nonprofit and educational boards throughout his career.
“John Loyack is a transformative, mission-driven leader with a record of innovation, strategic growth and unwavering dedication to student success, making him the ideal choice to lead Rider into its next chapter,” said Joan C. Mazzotti, chair of the Rider University board of trustees. “As higher education is facing profound challenges today, we believe that his proven ability to navigate complexity, inspire community and champion innovation will guide Rider forward, ensuring its ability to thrive.”
Mazzotti added: “John’s experience in higher education and business will be instrumental in further strengthening the University and driving its strategic priorities forward.”
Rider University will host a series of welcome events and listening sessions in the months ahead as part of the presidential transition.
Learning Ally Appoints New CEO
Learning Ally, the Roszel Road-based nonprofit formerly known as Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic that serves struggling readers, has appointed Howard Bell III as its new chief executive officer.
Bell was appointed following a nationwide search. Andrew Friedman, the previous CEO, had served in the role since 2011.
In a press release, Learning Ally board chair Therese Llorente said of Bell: “His vision and expertise align perfectly with Learning Ally’s goals, and we are confident he will lead us to new heights. Howard’s proven leadership in education and technology will be invaluable as we continue to expand our reach and impact.”
Bell earned a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from Brown University, a law degree from the University of Virginia, and an MBA from the University of Michigan. He has held leadership positions at Hobsons, Inc., Study Group, Kaplan, Inc., and Scholastic Inc., and he most recently served as CEO of Abl, Inc., which helps school districts use data to address academic inequities and allocate resources to help every student succeed.
“I am honored to join Learning Ally and contribute to its vital mission,” Bell said in a press release. I look forward to working with the team and educational leaders to expand our reach and impact on students across the country, ensuring that every learner has the opportunity to succeed.”
In a Q&A-style blog post on the Learning Ally website, Bell elaborated on the lessons he’s learned from his past leadership experiences and how he hopes to apply them at Learning Ally:
What aspects of your experience leading education technology companies have prepared you for this role at Learning Ally?
I have learned many different things from each company as their mission, core competence, team makeup, and stakeholder values differ widely from one company to another. The one consistent theme across them all is that the solution provided by the company must solve the specific challenges encountered by the customer. Each company’s success and internal alignment depended heavily on the company-wide understanding of what problems our company is trying to solve. This alignment ensures we are moving tactically in the same direction each day and ensures we celebrate our wins and losses together.
My experience leading education technology companies has provided a multifaceted foundation for my role at Learning Ally. Each organization, despite operating within the broader edtech sector, possessed unique characteristics that have broadened my understanding of the industry. The missions varied significantly, some focused on assessment, others on curriculum delivery, and still others on professional development. Consequently, the core competencies within each company differed, requiring me to adapt my leadership style and strategic thinking to leverage the specific strengths of each team. The composition of these teams, ranging from small, agile startups to larger, more established enterprises, also presented distinct management challenges and opportunities. Furthermore, the values and priorities of stakeholders — including investors, school administrators, teachers, parents, and students — varied considerably, necessitating a nuanced approach to communication and decision-making to ensure alignment and support.
Despite these diverse environments, a central tenet has consistently underpinned my approach: the unwavering focus on the customer’s needs. The ultimate success of any edtech solution hinges on its ability to effectively address the specific challenges faced by its users. Whether it was improving student outcomes, streamlining administrative processes, or enhancing teacher effectiveness, a deep understanding of the customer’s pain points was paramount. Achieving this understanding required rigorous market research, direct engagement with users, and a culture of empathy within the organization.
Moreover, the long-term viability and internal cohesion of each company were inextricably linked to a shared understanding of the problems we were striving to solve. Company-wide alignment around this core purpose was crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it ensured that day-to-day tactical decisions were made in a consistent direction, preventing fragmented efforts and maximizing efficiency. Secondly, it fostered a sense of collective ownership and accountability, where both successes and setbacks were shared experiences, strengthening team bonds and promoting a culture of continuous improvement. This unified understanding acted as a compass, guiding strategic initiatives and ensuring that all departments were working towards a common goal.
Drawing from your previous leadership experiences, how do you plan to drive innovation at Learning Ally while maintaining organizational stability during these unpredictable times?
Great question. It starts with culture. We have to get comfortable with taking risks and failure. There is so much to learn from each other and the customers we serve. Next, I would like to take a balanced approach to innovation—making sure we innovate to meet the short-term needs of the business and working hard to ensure our existing customers see increased value each year in the solutions provided to them. Second, we work together to decide how innovation will create opportunities for enhanced service offerings and expanded student reach. And third, we look to innovate as part of an effort to create new operating models that disrupt markets in ways that enable Learning Ally to help more students. You should expect the super majority of investments to be in the first two areas as these are the most near-term and company-impacting work.
Learning Ally, 20 Roszel Road, West Windsor 08540. Howard Bell III, CEO. www.learningally.org.
Mercer Street Friends Names New Chief Administrator
Mercer Street Friends, a nonprofit organization providing food, family and education services to families and individuals throughout Mercer County, has added Randall West as chief administrative officer.
“We are thrilled to welcome Randall to our leadership team,” said Mercer Street Friends CEO Bernie Flynn. “His distinct experience and his personal commitment to uplifting the people of Greater Trenton will play a pivotal role in strengthening our operations and expanding our impact.”
West’s career reflects a deep commitment to operational excellence and social impact. He has served as dealer affairs manager and national merchandising manager at Ford Motor Company, where he was responsible for ensuring effective communication between Ford and its dealer network and fostering successful outcomes companywide. He later became owner and CEO of the Ford dealership in Lawrenceville, revitalizing that business by forging strategic community partnerships and emphasizing sustainable growth.
West said he relishes the chance to utilize his leadership skills with an organization that provides services to build community and nurture self-worth and independence.
“Having grown up with uncertainty and witnessing my aging mother struggle with food access, I felt a deep urgency to help,” he added. “Mercer Street Friends is filling vital gaps for families in need, and I knew I had to be part of that mission.”
West has served on the boards of the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJ CAR) and The First Tee of Greater Trenton. He currently serves on the board of The Second Baptist Church in Moorestown. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Rutgers University and a certificate from the advanced management education program at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He lives in Moorestown.
Mercer Street Friends, 151 Mercer Street, Trenton 08611; 609-396-1506. Bernie Flynn, CEO. www.mercerstreetfriends.org.
