Leadership at Walsh

Officers

Dr. Suzy Siegle

President & CEO

Suzy Siegle proudly serves as Walsh College’s ninth President and CEO. Suzy holds a master’s in business administration, a juris doctor, and a doctorate in higher education leadership and management, with her dissertation focused on alternative and innovative operating models for 21st century higher education. She’s a Society of Human Resources Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), a certified executive coach through the Center for Executive Coaching and holds certifications in AI for Business Strategy from MIT Sloan, Augmented Reality through Columbia Executive Education, Applied Neuroscience & Brain Health through the Neuroscience Academy, Neuroscience and Business Results from Wharton Executive Education and Consumer Neuroscience & Neuromarketing from Copenhagen Business School.

Dr. Siegle has worked in higher education for over twenty years. She’s taught business, leadership, law, and entrepreneurship courses, and served in academic administrative roles spanning admissions, advancement, student life/TIX, and operational/legal. She came to Walsh College in 2020 as the Executive Vice President and Provost and was appointed President and CEO in 2022. She currently teaches in its #1 Forbes ranked doctoral program and serves on student dissertation committees.  Her research focuses on locus of control psychology specifically as it pertains to helping high-performing leaders and entrepreneurs.

Dave Schippers,
Sc.D., CISSP,

Vice President and Chief Academic Officer/Provost

Dr. Dave Schippers brings decades of industry experience in information technology, cybersecurity, and project management to Walsh. In industry, he has worked on large core system designs, quality assurance testing and system implementations, impacting regional, national and international business operations nearing a billion dollars.

From a technology support perspective, Dr. Schippers has been responsible for technology operations team, ensuring system operations in environments responsible for over $300 million in sales. As a technology leader, he directed a technology group and security operations, supporting 25 sites, three operations and thousands of users in a technologically diverse infrastructure.

In academia, Dr. Schippers has published research on information technology and operational technology convergence in Industry 4.0.  He designed and created the first automotive cybersecurity degree concentration.  He helped develop and pilot the first Automotive Cybersecurity Training program for the global automotive industry.  Dr. Schippers is also a frequent speaker on cybersecurity trends at regional, national and global conferences.

Erik VanDyck

Vice President, Corporate Engagement

Erik VanDyck joined the Walsh College team in April of 2022, after over a decade of previous experience in higher education. He has worked in a variety of different roles within industry, including Regional Leadership, Campus Management, and Career Services.

In his current role, Erik leads a team that is responsible for the college’s Corporate Development partnerships, Career Services efforts, Professional Development programs, Alumni Relations, Building Rental opportunities, and Campus Facility operations.

VanDyck holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts and a Master of Science in General Administration, both from Central Michigan University. He resides in Troy with his wife, two daughters, and two dogs.

Daniel Sem,
PhD, MBA, JD

Executive Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Professor of Management and Marketing at Walsh College
President of University Venture Affiliates and CU Ventures

Dr. Sem is an entrepreneur, investor, educator and scientist with over 25 years of experience with healthcare/biotech innovation and startups in both industry and academics. This includes extensive experience in business and intellectual property strategy as it relates to scientific innovation, healthcare policy, biotech financing and operations. Currently, he is working to assist both students and experienced researchers and innovators in southeast Wisconsin and Michigan launch and grow their start-up ventures, via inter-institutional and public-private collaborations. He also leads angel investor and accelerator programs in Michigan and Wisconsin as President of CU Ventures and University Venture Affiliates, providing a venture studio, economic development support, and angel investment.

Sem has co-founded several biotechnology companies and three nonprofits (Bridge to Cures; CU Ventures; University Venture Affiliates) focused on assisting tech entrepreneurs. His passion is teaching, mentoring and helping others turn their dreams and innovative ideas into sustainable business models and companies that are profitable and have positive social impact. With over 75 peer-reviewed papers and 10 issued patents, Sem also has 25 years of experience studying protein interactions using various biophysical techniques. This research is focused on drug discovery and development and has resulted in multiple therapeutic candidates.

Sem has a PhD from University of Wisconsin Madison as well as Law and MBA degrees from Marquette University and is a licensed attorney in Wisconsin.

Wally Rutkowski,
CPA

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Wally Rutkowski, CPA is an accomplished financial executive with over two decades of experience in strategic finance, operations, and leadership. He currently serves as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer at Walsh College, where he leads the institution’s financial operations with a focus on long-term sustainability and mission alignment. Prior to this role, Wally was CFO/COO at Rutkowski Law Firm, where he oversaw financial strategy, operational efficiency, and business growth during a period of significant expansion.

Wally’s earlier experience spans nearly a decade in the automotive and technology sectors, where he held senior finance roles at GKN Driveline and HARMAN International. His responsibilities included financial controllership, regional FP&A leadership, and R&D budgeting—supporting global operations and innovation initiatives. He began his career in public accounting with Doeren Mayhew and BDO, and also brings experience from the financial services and recruiting industries. A licensed CPA and proud Walsh College alumnus, Wally served on the Walsh College Alumni Association Board for nearly nine years, reflecting his deep commitment to education and community leadership.

Dr. Deirdre S. Baker, DBA, CCMP

Vice President of Enrollment & Student Success

Dr. Deirdre S. Baker, DBA, CCMP, is a senior leader in higher education with extensive experience in enrollment management, student success, and organizational change. Currently serving as Vice President of Enrollment and Student Success at Walsh College, Dr. Baker brings visionary leadership and strategic insight to advancing institutional goals while enhancing the student experience.

Dr. Baker holds a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and is a Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP). Her doctoral research, recognized with academic distinction, examined the role of emotional intelligence in driving effective sensemaking, sensegiving, and resistance management during organizational change — reflecting her expertise in leadership, people-centered change strategies, and performance optimization.

Throughout her career, Dr. Baker has championed initiatives that strengthen enrollment pipelines, promote inclusive student pathways, and support scalable institutional growth. She is known for her ability to blend data-informed decision-making with empathetic leadership, fostering collaboration across academic and operational teams to deliver measurable results.

Dr. Baker is a dynamic communicator, educator, and mentor whose work continues to influence best practices in higher education administration and change leadership.