New leadership appointments signal bold next chapter for the world’s most innovative university
Minerva University today announced four key appointments to its executive leadership team, ushering in a transformative chapter of strategic growth and global impact. The new leaders join President Mike Magee, Ph.D., at a pivotal moment for the institution, as it deepens its mission to reinvent higher education and extend its reach to more students around the world.
Founded with the goal of preparing future leaders to navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected world, Minerva has become a model of educational innovation since welcoming its first class in 2014. Its unique approach—blending interdisciplinary education offerings with active, experiential, and project-based learning, all intentionally designed to take place during a four year global rotation across four continents—has attracted students from more than 100 countries. Minerva graduates have gone on to launch startups, lead nonprofit initiatives, join major companies and global policy and research organizations, and pursue advanced degrees at top universities worldwide.
Now, more than a decade into its journey, Minerva is scaling its impact. The expansion of the executive team is a strategic step toward advancing institutional capacity, enhancing the student experience, strengthening global partnerships, and enabling more students to access Minerva’s transformational model.
“These leaders bring the right combination of experience, values, and vision to guide Minerva’s mission forward,” said Magee. “Their expertise will help us sustain and scale what makes Minerva unique, while reaching more learners who are ready to lead with integrity and impact.”
The new appointments include:
- Patrice McMahon, Ph.D., Provost
McMahon will serve as the Chief Academic Officer for the university. An accomplished academic leader with more than two decades of experience in global education and organizational leadership, and known for her work in interdisciplinary research on activism, humanitarianism, and peacebuilding, McMahon will design, lead, and shape academic programs, faculty development and management, accreditation, and the advancement of new curricular offerings. - Dollie Davis, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of Global Learning and Academic Operations
Davis will lead the organizational development and delivery of Minerva’s globally immersive learning experience, encompassing student life, academic operations, instructional technology, and new program implementation. Her deep background in economics and faculty development will support Minerva’s distinctive pedagogical model. - Jamina Cole King, M.S.L., CFRE, FCEP, Executive Vice President of Advancement
With nearly two decades of experience in philanthropic strategy, community engagement, and external relations, Cole King will lead efforts to build a sustainable foundation for Minerva’s growth and expand its global network of supporters and partners. - D’Andre Wilson, M.Ed., Executive Vice President of Strategy and Administration
A seasoned executive with expertise in strategic planning, operations, and equity-centered leadership, Wilson will oversee institutional initiatives that promote scale, operational excellence, and long-term sustainability.
All four leaders will begin their roles by the start of the upcoming academic year, bringing new energy and expertise to an institution that has consistently challenged conventional models of higher education.
About Minerva University
Minerva University is redefining global higher education through a bold, outcomes-focused model designed to empower the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and changemakers. Headquartered in San Francisco and operating across four continents, Minerva offers an intensive undergraduate experience that combines rigorous academics, real-world engagement, and a global rotation that immerses students in diverse cultural and professional contexts.
Minerva’s interdisciplinary curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, creative problem solving, effective communication, and global collaboration. Through fully active, discussion-based seminars and applied learning projects in major cities around the world, students develop the habits of mind and practical skills needed to address the most pressing challenges of our time.
The university has built a vibrant, international student body representing over 100 nations, and graduates have gone on to launch high-impact startups, lead civic initiatives, earn Rhodes, Schwarzman, and Knight-Hennessy scholarships, and pursue graduate study at institutions such as Oxford, Harvard, and Stanford.
Minerva also offers a graduate program focused on equipping working professionals with the tools to drive innovation and impact in their fields.
Ranked the #1 Most Innovative University for three consecutive years by the World University Rankings for Innovation, Minerva is pioneering a scalable, equitable, and transformative model of higher education for the 21st century.