Faculty Fellows

At the Center for Higher Education Leadership and Innovative Practice (CHELIP), we are committed to fostering bold ideas, thoughtful inquiry, and the collaborative development of solutions that address the evolving challenges of higher education. CHELIP serves as a dynamic hub for research, conversation, and action on the future of postsecondary leadership and organizational transformation.

Central to this mission are our Faculty Fellows — leaders in the field whose expertise, creativity, and engagement help enrich the CHELIP community. Faculty Fellows contribute to our initiatives by participating in programming, sharing their insights with students and practitioners, and advancing cross-institutional dialogue on leadership, innovation, and the future of higher education. Their contributions help shape thoughtful discourse, elevate strategic inquiry, and deepen our collective impact across the higher education landscape.

While this role is primarily voluntary, our Faculty Fellows bring extraordinary depth of experience and a commitment to advancing the work of CHELIP and the broader higher education community. Their involvement complements the Center’s programming including the IngenioUs podcast, Leading Edge Thinking in Higher Education series, and other scholarly and professional engagements.

Meet Our Faculty Fellows

David J. Staley, Ph.D.
Dr. Staley is an Associate Professor in the Departments of History, Design, and Educational Studies at The Ohio State University and serves as an Honorary Faculty Fellow in Innovation with CHELIP. His research explores digital history, historical methodology, and the intersection of technology, scholarship, and the future of higher education. A prolific author and curator of digital and physical exhibits, Dr. Staley brings a deep interdisciplinary perspective to conversations about innovation and institutional transformation.

Rob Zinkan, Ed.D.

Rob Zinkan, Ed.D., is founder and principal of Navigate Gray, an organization design firm serving higher education, and Faculty Fellow in the Center for Higher Education Leadership and Innovative Practice (CHELIP) at Bay Path University. For nearly 30 years, Dr. Zinkan has worked in and with colleges and universities to elevate reputation, deepen constituent relationships, and strengthen resources. Recognized for his expertise in marketing and communications organization design and development, he founded Navigate Gray to apply his extensive experience helping chief marketing and communications officers develop organizations that maximize strategic impact. He also serves as an executive coach and leadership advisor to senior higher education leaders navigating organizational change and driving institutional success.

Before launching Navigate Gray, Dr. Zinkan served as vice president for marketing leadership at RHB, a higher education consultancy, where he guided institutions in sharpening their market position and strengthening organizational capability. Previously, he spent nearly two decades at Indiana University in senior roles ranging from campus vice chancellor to system-wide associate vice president. Dr. Zinkan is co-author of What Makes a Strategic Plan “Strategic”? and co-editor and contributor to Inside Higher Ed’s “Call to Action” column.

Together, our Faculty Fellows help anchor CHELIP’s mission by contributing scholarship, professional leadership, and thought partnership that enriches our programming, fosters community, and supports leaders navigating the complexities of contemporary higher education.