University Leadership
President Shawna Cooper Whitehead, Ed.D., in collaboration with the Board of Trustees and university administrators, ensures that Regis remains true to its Jesuit Catholic heritage, honors its commitment to academic excellence and operates with agility and an eye to the future.
Honoring tradition. Embracing the future.
Senior Leadership Team
President
Shawna Cooper Whitehead, Ed.D.
Shawna Cooper Whitehead, Ed.D., was named Regis University's 29th President in March 2026. She will officially assume the role of President on July 1, 2026. She brings significant executive experience and a deep commitment to student success from her roles at multiple Jesuit institutions.
Provost
Jake Bucher, Ph.D.
A sociologist who researches social injustice and the experiences of marginalized groups, Jake Bucher is the Provost and chief academic officer for Regis University. In this role, Bucher oversees units and systems across the student experience, to include academic programs and student life.
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Stephanie Morris, CPA, MSA
Stephanie Morris joined Regis University in 2008 as manager of accounting, bringing her experience and skills to the finance and accounting team. Morris was promoted to associate vice president in 2011 where she oversaw all aspects of the university’s financial operations including accounting, budget, cash management, accounts payable, student accounts and business insurance functions. Regis University President Salvador D. Aceves promoted Morris to succeed him as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 2023, becoming Regis’ first female CFO.
Prior to coming to Regis, Morris served as controller for The Fund for Colorado’s Future, an education not-for-profit organization in Denver, and controller for Center for the New West, a not-for-profit public policy think tank. With over 29 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, her career experiences fuel her passion for Jesuit values which challenge us to think critically and serve those in need. Her care and commitment to Jesuit Catholic education grew through her participation in the Ignatian Leadership Program. Morris has served as a leadership coach and mentor, guiding her team to meet the campus community's growing and evolving needs. Her expertise in higher education can be seen through her work as a Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Peer Reviewer. HLC recognized Morris as the recipient of Peer Corps Hero Rookie of the Year in 2021.
A proud Regis alumna, Morris became a legacy parent when her daughter enrolled as a freshman in Fall 2022. Morris holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Accounting from the University of Phoenix where she graduated with honors. She also earned a Master of Science in Accounting with honors from Regis University. She is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Colorado.
Vice President, Admissions, Financial Aid, Athletics and Marketing
Kristine Bureau
Kristine Bureau has served Regis University for over 20 years, advancing through leadership roles focused on student access, enrollment strategy and regulatory compliance. She has played a key role in shaping initiatives that enhance the student experience and drive institutional success.
Rooted in the mission of Regis, Kristine leads with a deep commitment to equity, service and community. She is known for building trust across diverse teams, guiding complex change and aligning her work with Jesuit values—meeting students, faculty and staff where they are and supporting their growth.
A Regis alumna with a Master of Arts in Communication, Kristine has also served as affiliate faculty, further deepening her connection to the academic mission and reinforcing a holistic approach to student success.
Interim Vice President of Mission
Tom Bowie, Ph.D.
Tom Bowie has delighted in teaching undergraduates for almost 40 years at the United States Air Force Academy, Brown University and Regis University. He formerly directed the Regis College Honors Program and served as the Dean of Regis College as well as interim dean of the Anderson College of Business and Computing. He has taught courses on meaning and justice, shared Stories from Wartime and introduced the idea of a university to a decade of entering honors students.
Tom "retired" to Regis after 28 years in the Air Force. A national expert on the literature of war, much of his research focuses on the human dimension of conflict, personal narratives that bear witness to the horrors of modern war and the lifelong journey toward reconciliation that inevitably follows such conflicts. In addition to his work with the stories of veterans, Tom’s publications explore the power of storytelling and redemption in the writing of Andre Dubus and Annie Dillard.