Mim L. Runey, LP.D., became president of the Providence Campus and chief operating officer of Johnson & Wales University on July 1, 2011.
She leads a university renowned for its preparation of students for myriad careers and committed to academic excellence, experiential learning, professional readiness, affordability and a student-centered culture.
In 1989, Runey joined JWU’s former Charleston, South Carolina Campus as a communications officer and adjunct faculty member teaching courses in the School of Arts & Sciences. She advanced to various leadership positions including executive director of operations and, in 2004, was promoted to president of the Charleston Campus.
Runey relocated to the Providence Campus in 2006 to serve as senior vice president of institutional planning. In 2008, her role expanded when she was named senior vice president of regional campuses to lead the university’s efforts to develop governance mechanisms and structures to ensure the effective fulfillment of its mission. In this capacity, she played a key role in the creation, implementation and communication of the university’s highly successful strategic plan, FOCUS 2011.
As Providence Campus president, Runey is a member of the board of directors for the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Rhode Island (AICU), the board of governors for Rhode Island Campus Compact, and the board of directors of the College Crusade of Rhode Island. She also is a member of the board of directors for the Rhode Island United Way.
Runey has served as an accreditation evaluator and team chair for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges’ visiting teams since 2006, and was involved in the development of JWU’s self-study for its 2008 reaccreditation review by NEASC.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Clemson University and a doctorate in law and policy from Northeastern University.