Our CEO & Board of Directors
Dr. Mark Defusco
Dr. DeFusco also served as chief executive officer/president at Vatterott Education Holdings, a private equity-held, for-profit college with 20 campuses in nine Midwestern states. Earlier in his career, DeFusco served in several senior management capacities with the University of Phoenix (Apollo group). He also served as assistant to the president at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, OH.
He holds a B.A. from Villanova University and a M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Southern California. He sits on the board of several education companies and many nonprofit boards. He currently serves as the executive director of the Education Foundation, a leader in sponsoring for-profit joint ventures with nonprofit colleges and universities.
UBIS was designed to be an American-style institution with the vision of bringing western education to the emerging middle classes around the world.
The owners, who were involved in other American educational institutions, saw an opportunity to pursue a unique global mission with a European-based institution. The differentiation for the global student who attends UBIS and its sister institutions is that they receive a globally-centric, American education and benefit from expanded career opportunities within their host countries.
Not only are graduates’ candidates for leading positions with local firms, but they are, more selectively, candidates for positions in western firms operating within their country.
Our Board of Directors
Dr. Oksana Malysheva
Cathi Raffaeli
Mary Keane
Vinod Paniker
Executive Leadership Team
Dr. Mark Defusco – Chief Executive Officer
B.A. from Villanova University and a M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Southern California
Dr. DeFusco also served as chief executive officer/president at Vatterott Education Holdings, a private equity-held, for-profit college with 20 campuses in nine Midwestern states. Earlier in his career, DeFusco served in several senior management capacities with the University of Phoenix (Apollo group). He also served as assistant to the president at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, OH.
He holds a B.A. from Villanova University and a M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Southern California. He sits on the board of several education companies and many nonprofit boards. He currently serves as the executive director of the Education Foundation, a leader in sponsoring for-profit joint ventures with nonprofit colleges and universities.
Brent Passey – Chief Operating Officer/Interim President
BS Philosophy, Utah State University; MBA/MKT, University of Phoenix
20 years in higher education leadership roles. Marketing, operations, admissions, student services, and enrollment.
Kerri J. Holloway – Chief Academic Officer/Provost
BA in English, Bradley University; JD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and LL.M. in Real Estate Law, University of Illinois at Chicago Law School
20 years’ experience in Academic Affairs in various roles. Responsible for all academic services, including but not limited to: Academics, Curriculum, Faculty, and Library.
