About Us

We aim to identify, stabilize, and grow tuition-dependent colleges and universities at risk of insolvency.

Our Mission

Our goal is to provide professional and innovative guidance to private, tuition-dependent colleges and universities that are looking to find cost-effective, time-efficient solutions to some of the most pressing problems facing higher education today. Our cost models are affordable. CORVUS does not require partners to sign long-term contacts or opt into costly electronic platforms just to get the assistance they need in order to stabilize and to thrive. We are an agile practice that offers affordable solutions for small to mid-sized college and universities.

Our Mission

Our goal is to provide professional and innovative guidance to private, tuition-dependent colleges and universities that are looking to find cost-effective, time-efficient solutions to some of the most pressing problems facing higher education today. Our cost models are affordable. CORVUS does not require partners to sign long-term contacts or opt into costly electronic platforms just to get the assistance they need in order to stabilize and to thrive. We are an agile practice that offers affordable solutions for small to mid-sized college and universities.

Our Services

We are an agile practice that offers affordable solutions for small to mid-sized colleges and universities. Our areas of practice include but are not limited to strategic finance assessment and planning, cost reduction and management, and policy revision.

U

Analysis

Corvus education can provide your institution with actionable data including fixed cost reduction and management, new program development, market demand, competitor analysis, and feasibility studies.

Strategy

We specialize in strategic finance assessment and sustainable practice planning, strategic readiness, strategic financial planning, instructional cost calculation and management, and resource allocation and optimization.

i

Policy

If you are struggling with regulations and compliance, we offer a range of services that can help. Our team can help with policy handbook review and revision, accreditation and compliance consulting and assistance, and governmental relations.

Growth

Corvus Education does not stop at identifying problems. We can help college and universities thrive with new program development, deferred maintenance solutions, and archival and document management solutions. 

Our Team

Chuck Stowe
Chief Strategy Officer

Charles R. B. Stowe PhD, JD, MBA is the first American to earn a PhD from Warsaw University, School of Management. Dr. Stowe earned his law degree from The University of Houston Law Center, an MBA from University of Dallas, and BA from Vanderbilt University.  Dr. Stowe has taught management, innovation and entrepreneurship, and strategy. During his distinguished academic career, Chuck served as adviser to three university presidents. He was Dean of the AACSB accredited business program in the College of Business and Public Affairs at Lander University, where he also served as Assistant Vice President for Advancement. Chuck was also co-general partner of a venture capital firm, an accountant with Arthur Andersen and Company and a Vice President of a New England paper company. Chuck served in the US Navy as a Public Affairs Officer for 30 years (3 years of active duty, 27 in the active reserve) with three recalls to active duty including service as US Military Adviser to the National Security Adviser to the President of Poland. Captain Stowe’s team assisted the Government of Poland in revising their national defense strategy and budget. This project qualified Poland to join NATO.

Leila Sadeghi, Ph.D. is the Vice President for Research and Government Affairs for Corvus Education.  Dr. Sadeghi has over ten years of experience in higher education and government and external affairs.  She is the former Executive Director of the Guarini Institute for Government where she played a significant role in establishing a grassroots effort to connect the public with elected officials to discuss highly relevant and timely policy issues. Dr. Sadeghi was the former department chairwoman and professor for graduate education programs at Kean University, and she was the former Senior Research Associate for the Center for Executive Leadership in Government at Rutgers University.  Dr. Sadeghi was also a Trustee at the Essex County College, where she spearheaded the Board of Trustees Policy Committee, while serving as a member of the University’s Education and Personnel Committees.   

 

Leila Sadeghi
VP for Research and Government Affairs

Leila Sadeghi
VP for Research and Government Affairs

Leila Sadeghi, Ph.D. is the Vice President for Research and Government Affairs for Corvus Education.  Dr. Sadeghi has over ten years of experience in higher education and government and external affairs.  She is the former Executive Director of the Guarini Institute for Government where she played a significant role in establishing a grassroots effort to connect the public with elected officials to discuss highly relevant and timely policy issues. Dr. Sadeghi was the former department chairwoman and professor for graduate education programs at Kean University, and she was the former Senior Research Associate for the Center for Executive Leadership in Government at Rutgers University.  Dr. Sadeghi was also a Trustee at the Essex County College, where she spearheaded the Board of Trustees Policy Committee, while serving as a member of the University’s Education and Personnel Committees.   

Jeffrey D. Senese

Jeffrey D. Senese
Chief Innovation Officer

Dr. Jeffrey D. Senese is past President of Saint Leo University. Dr. Senese has dedicated his career of more than 30 years to helping learners achieve their personal and professional goals. As Saint Leo University’s 10th president, Dr. Senese implemented a foundational three-year strategic plan to grow the university, strengthen its culture, and transform the educational experience to better serve the needs of students.

After graduating from Michigan State University, Dr. Senese began his career as a faculty member at Indiana University, followed by a faculty position at the University of Baltimore, a member institution of the University of Maryland system. There he engaged in extensive nationally-funded research work with the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Defense on use of force, among other topics.

From 1996 through 2018, Senese served as a department chair and then associate dean at the University of Baltimore. He then was appointed chief academic officer at one of Pennsylvania State University’s campuses. Following that appointment, Senese was selected as the vice president for Academic Affairs at Mount Ida College in Newton, MA. Afterward, he held several academic affairs leadership positions at Philadelphia University, Johnson & Wales University, and Cardinal Stritch University, before becoming Saint Leo University’s first provost in 2018 and their 10th President one year later.

Senese earned his bachelor’s degree in the administration of justice from the Pennsylvania State University, a master’s degree in criminology from Indiana State University, and a doctoral degree in criminal justice/research methods/statistics from Michigan State University.
Dr. Senese’s academic achievements extend beyond his teaching roles and include the publication of a methods book, dozens of professional articles, book chapters, and other publications.

Valerie Zabala, PhD, is Vice President for Planning at Corvus Education. Dr. Zabala earned her PhD from Brown University in Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology. She has over a decade of experience in academia, securing independent funding from both governmental and private sponsors. She was the first person at Brown University to be awarded the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Fellowship. Dr. Zabala has won numerous other awards (i.e., National Science Foundation) and has co-authored over ten peer-reviewed publications derived from original research. Dr. Zabala has directed or facilitated planning initiatives for teams that have included university administrators, hospital leadership, and non-profit organizations. Her expertise in project management includes college and university strategic planning, the direction of multi-million dollar grant proposals, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Valerie Zabala
VP for Planning

Valerie Zabala
VP for Planning

Valerie Zabala, PhD, is Vice President for Planning at Corvus Education. Dr. Zabala earned her PhD from Brown University in Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology. She has over a decade of experience in academia, securing independent funding from both governmental and private sponsors. She was the first person at Brown University to be awarded the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Fellowship. Dr. Zabala has won numerous other awards (i.e., National Science Foundation) and has co-authored over ten peer-reviewed publications derived from original research. Dr. Zabala has directed or facilitated planning initiatives for teams that have included university administrators, hospital leadership, and non-profit organizations. Her expertise in project management includes college and university strategic planning, the direction of multi-million dollar grant proposals, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Erin Parr
Executive Assistant to the CEO

Erin Parr has worked in higher education for over thirteen years, managing administrative and human resources for multiple departments in a large state university system. Erin’s experience includes facilities and business services, research management, and student and client services. Erin specializes in human resources with a focus on faculty, research, and staff hires, employee relations, retention, and student records management. Additionally, she coordinates and manages multiple projects for organizations whose focus is to support the arts, continuing education, and maker community.   

Our CEO

CEO Gerard O'Sullivan

Gerard O’Sullivan
Chief Executive Officer

Gerard O’Sullivan is Founding CEO of Corvus Education, LLC. O’Sullivan brings over thirty-five years of demonstrably successful leadership in private independent higher education to Corvus and its clients. Our CEO is a nationally known and respected expert in the areas of higher education forecasting and finance, strategic and scenario planning, risk assessment, program development, and accreditation and compliance.