President's Core Leadership Team

Rodney Cruise joined Embry-Riddle in March 2013. He provides leadership and direction for Information Technology, Human Resources, Institutional Efficiency, Corporate Relations, News and Media, Campus Safety, Facilities and Capital Planning at the university, supporting more than $800 million in construction projects on all campuses.

In addition to operational responsibilities, Rodney supports the strategic development of Embry-Riddle’s Research Park, working to attract companies — ranging from national and international aviation/aerospace groups, to technology businesses in all stages of development, helping to recruit them to Florida, and in particular, to our immediate community. He leads all government relations initiatives, working closely with state and national leaders in support of Embry-Riddle’s mission to expand research, increase entrepreneurship and create high-paying jobs.

Rodney currently serves as the Vice Chair of Starter Studio and Chair of Daytona State College’s Facilities and Capital Planning Committee. He is a member of the Executive Board of Directors of the Daytona Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce as well as the Daytona Beach Rotary Club. Currently, he is also a member of Congressman Michael Waltz’s Transportation Advisory Committee.

Before joining Embry-Riddle, Rodney served as Vice President of Business Development for Sodexo, where he held multiple leadership positions. His tenure at Sodexo included service on national and international teams focused on complex efficiency challenges as well as IT projects. He also acted as the National Chair for the Sodexo Organization of Latinos and supported an array of diversity initiatives.

Previously, he has served multiple years on the Executive Board of Directors of the Daytona Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce, where he was appointed to the ISB Coalition. He also served as a member of the Beachside Redevelopment Committee for Volusia County, and as a a former Board Member for Hope Place. In addition, he served on the board of Halifax Habitat for Humanity and with many other local initiatives.

Rodney was recognized in 2011 as Outstanding Adult Volunteer of the Year by the United Way of Volusia and Flagler County. He was presented the Community Legacy Award in 2013 by the Community Foundation of Volusia and Flagler. He was recognized as Board Member of the Year and Volunteer of the Year during his service with Halifax Habitat for Humanity.

Randall B. Howard, Ph.D., is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Dr. Howard joined the University in September 2014 and is responsible for the financial operations of the University including financial management, treasury, financial analysis and reporting, enterprise risk management, and capital planning.

Prior to joining the University, Dr. Howard was the Vice President for Business Affairs and Treasurer at Ball State University. Dr. Howard spent 20 years in the U.S. Air Force where he held a variety of positions, including Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Assistant Professor of Finance and Business Administration at the Naval Postgraduate School and Senior Financial Economist for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Cost and Economics.

Dr. Howard holds a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Georgia, an M.S. in Operations Research from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and a B.S. in Chemistry and Mathematics from Birmingham-Southern College. He currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for Daytona State College.

Dr. Austin was appointed as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on May 22, 2023. Prior to that, he served as Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses and Executive Chancellor at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park. In that capacity, he oversaw teaching, research and service missions, and acted as the budget executive for Penn State’s 20 Commonwealth Campuses, which served some 27,000 students across all degree levels.

Dr. Austin earned his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, where his dissertation focused on factors affecting the enrollment and persistence of first-generation college students. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in management and a master’s degree in student personnel administration from Slippery Rock University, he earned his Master of Business Administration in Aviation (Airline Management) from Embry-Riddle.

Throughout his career, Dr. Austin has helped propel institutions forward through strategic advocacy and a results-oriented approach to leadership.

Career highlights have included increasing retention and graduation rates by 10 percentage points over five years and realizing an actual versus predicted institutional graduation rate that was 12% higher than the predicted value, given the entering student academic profile. Among many other achievements, he launched a scholarship program that provides students with up to $26,000 over four years, and he strengthened strategic partnerships and philanthropic efforts.

A first-generation college student and a higher education leader for more than two decades, Dr. Austin’s career began in 2001 at Embry-Riddle, where he served as an Education Specialist/Academic Advisor to First-Year Programs, and as a Student Government Association Advisor and Assistant Director of Student Activities.

Dr. Austin’s continuing professional development and education has included the Institute for New Presidents Inaugural Class, offered by the American Council on Education, and the New Business Officers Program of the National Association of College and University Business Officers. He co-authored two higher education (HIED) courses (Foundations in Higher Education and Student Affairs, and Administration and Organization in Higher Education) at Penn State, and in 2004, he served as an instructor in what is now the David B. O’Maley College of Business at Embry-Riddle.

Dr. Jason Ruckert was named Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management, Marketing & Student Affairs at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in February 2023. He manages enrollment and enrollment-focused marketing across the university. He joined Embry-Riddle in 2005 and previously served as Vice Chancellor and Chief Digital Learning Officer for the university’s Worldwide Campus. He provided mission-critical leadership of overall strategy, development, delivery and quality control of online degree programs and contributed to learning modalities employed by all colleges and campuses.

Dr. Ruckert earned his doctorate in leadership and education from Barry University, with a specialization in higher education administration. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society as well as the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce). He chairs the steering committee and is an executive council member of WCET, an organization dedicated to the practice, policy and advocacy of technology-enhanced learning in higher education. Dr. Ruckert is also an advisory board member for the UPCEA National Council for Online Education – Chair of Quality Standards, the USDLA (United States Distance Learning Association) and the Technology Executive Council, CNBC.

Kelly Dowling joined Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in January 2023, as Senior Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement.

In her 20+ year career, she has developed a sterling reputation as a philanthropic strategist with a track record of exceeding fundraising goals by infusing best practices into processes, services, and ideas. Her expertise includes reengineering comprehensive fundraising programs, complex principal gifts, faculty research support, alumni relations, staff development, and organizational optimization.

Before joining Embry-Riddle, Dowling served at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook, a tier-one public research institution, where she held the title of assistant vice president for advancement and assistant dean for the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Prior to joining the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook, she worked for the University of Central Florida (UCF) Foundation in various positions, including senior director of development for the College of Business, for more than nine years.

She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the UCF College of Business and a bachelor’s degree in Humanities from Stetson University. Her certifications and licenses include recognition as a Project Management Professional (PMP), a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP) and a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).

A prolific speaker, Kelly often speaks on issues related to philanthropy, institutional leadership and the role and experience of women in university advancement. Dowling’s awards have included the Judges Award for best written speech at the Florida Public Relations Association, an Award for Excellence in Special Event Fundraising from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, and an Excellence in Fundraising award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Dr. Jeremy V. Ernst is Vice President for Research and Doctoral Programs and Professor of Technology at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He has held prior academic and administrative appointments at Embry-Riddle’s Worldwide Campus, Virginia Tech and North Carolina State University.

Dr. Ernst has a wealth of expertise in research leadership and administration, where he has supported extensive growth at Embry-Riddle and in his prior university roles. He holds doctoral and Master’s degrees in Technology Education from North Carolina State University in Raleigh as well as a bachelor’s degree in Technology and Human Resource Development from Clemson University. 

He is an accomplished educator and scholar with more than 150 publications and $37 million in total federal, state, and corporate-sponsored research funding involvement. Dr. Ernst’s research focuses on students identified as at-risk for dropout or non-matriculation in STEM majors. His efforts center on providing evidence-based models that promote engagement, development of cognitive competency sets and performance-based application abilities of students at-risk.

Dr. Ernst’s most recent awards have included the Award of Distinction as well as the William E. Dugger Exemplary Collaboration Award from the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (2023); the Paul T. Hiser Exemplary Publication Award from Epsilon Pi Tau: International Honor Society for Professions in Technology (2020); and many others.

Charlie Sevastos joined Embry-Riddle as an Associate General Counsel in 2007 and was appointed General Counsel in 2011, responsible for all legal matters affecting the university.

Prior to Embry-Riddle, Charlie’s legal career started as a trial attorney in both criminal and civil litigation.  He held positions as an Assistant Public Defender and as trial counsel with the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Attorney General’s Office.  Charlie was awarded Board Certification in Criminal Trial Law by The Florida Bar during his time as a litigator.  Board Certification is a level of expertise held by only 7% of Florida lawyers. 

Charlie’s service in the United States Army began with Infantry and Airborne training, then assignment to an Infantry brigade in the Panama Canal Zone.  The brigade performed a variety of missions, including physical security of the Panama Canal, long term field deployments, and training visiting military units in counter-guerrilla operations for the Jungle Operations Training Center at Ft. Sherman, Panama.  From Panama Charlie returned to the U.S. for fifteen months of flight training at Ft. Rucker, Alabama, and graduated as a Warrant Officer with two advanced aircraft qualifications.  Charlie was then assigned to a Combat Aviation Battalion in Germany as a flight officer, and flew the AH-1S Cobra Helicopter during his tour of duty there.

Charlie received his B.A. with honors from Rollins College, and his J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law.  He is admitted to the Bar as an attorney in Florida, Maine, the District of Columbia, and the federal courts of the U.S. Middle District of Florida.  He is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil and County Court Mediator, is qualified as a Florida Court-Appointed Arbitrator, and volunteers as a mediator in small claims court in Volusia County.

Dr. Ken Witcher is the Interim Chancellor for the Prescott Campus of Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University. Dr. Witcher demonstrated tremendous leadership in his previous position as Dean of the College of Aviation, Worldwide, leading a team of over 700 active faculty supporting over 14,000 students. He has been an esteemed Embry-Riddle faculty member since 2004.

Dr. Witcher’s aviation experience includes 20 years of service in the United States Air Force, where he served as superintendent of an operational test and evaluation squadron and field training detachment chief for many aircraft and supporting systems. He also served as a team member of the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, Thunderbirds. His assignments included Bitburg AB Germany, Luke AFB Arizona, and Nellis AFB Nevada.

Dr. Witcher was an appointed member of the Nevada UAS test site selection panel and previously served as Chair of the Nevada Aerospace and Defense Sector Council reporting directly to the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board.

A longtime leader in strategic communications and public relations, Sarah joined Embry-Riddle in May 2024 after running Four Score Strategies, a communications consulting firm, where she has focused on strategic planning, executive and crisis communications, and change management. Previously, she worked in the energy industry, leading communications and public relations for Westinghouse Electric Company, Columbia Pipeline Group and Columbia Gas.

She holds a master’s degree in writing from Seton Hill University and is the author of several books, including “The Valley Is Burning: When Communications Becomes the Crisis,” which chronicles her experience managing crisis communications efforts following a major natural gas pipeline explosion in 2018. She has also taught public relations and communications as an adjunct professor at the Florida Institute of Technology.