College Council
The College Council includes high-level administrators of the College who oversee various departments and functions. Through their collaboration, College Council and the president ensure that each area of the College works together in achieving our educational mission and strategic goals.
College Council members
Gretchen Castle
Dean of the Earlham School of Religion
Gretchen Castle is a global Quaker leader with decades of organizational development experience. She joined Earlham in 2021 as ESR’s first woman dean.
Before coming to Earlham, Gretchen served as the General Secretary of the Friends World Committee for Consultation in the Quaker World Office in London, traveling extensively to bring greater unity to Quakers worldwide.
Gretchen Castle is a global Quaker leader with decades of organizational development experience. She joined Earlham in 2021 as ESR’s first woman dean.
Before coming to Earlham, Gretchen served as the General Secretary of the Friends World Committee for Consultation in the Quaker World Office in London, traveling extensively to bring greater unity to Quakers worldwide.
Gretchen has gained broad experience among Friends globally and across different Quaker traditions. She has served at the Quaker United Nations Offices in New York and Geneva, and participates in the Christian World Communions Annual Meeting of the General Secretaries, where she was recently appointed the first woman chair and the first Quaker chair. As part of the Christian World Communions, she attended the inauguration of Pope Francis in Rome in 2013.
In the United States, she was presiding clerk of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Director of Leadership Development for several Quaker retirement communities, and a board development consultant for over 20 years.
Gretchen attended nursery school at Stout Meetinghouse on Earlham’s campus and also earned her undergraduate degree in human development and social relations from the College in 1979. Her father, David Castle, was a former pastor at First Friends Meeting in Richmond.
She later earned her master’s degree in organizational development and adult learning from Temple University in Philadelphia in 1986.
Mike Deibel
Associate Vice President of Strategic Research
Michael Deibel was named senior associate vice president of strategic research in Spring 2024 and has been in various teaching and administrative roles at the College for over two decades.
Mike has served the College in administrative roles including senior associate vice president of academic affairs, interim dean of the faculty, co-director of the center for global health, and director of the integrated program in health sciences. His teaching has focused on analytical chemistry and his research on applications of portable instrumentation for environmental and archaeological analyses. Mike has been a pre-health advisor throughout his career at Earlham.
Michael Deibel was named senior associate vice president of strategic research in Spring 2024 and has been in various teaching and administrative roles at the College for over two decades.
Mike has served the College in administrative roles including senior associate vice president of academic affairs, interim dean of the faculty, co-director of the center for global health, and director of the integrated program in health sciences. His teaching has focused on analytical chemistry and his research on applications of portable instrumentation for environmental and archaeological analyses. Mike has been a pre-health advisor throughout his career at Earlham.
In addition to his work at Earlham, he has served in leadership roles in local and national organizations. He was a member of the board of directors and the executive committee for the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) for thirteen years serving in multiple roles including Treasurer and President. Mike currently serves on the board of directors for Amigos, the Richmond Latino Center in the role of Treasurer. Previously, he served as the Chair of the Finance Committee for the Seton Catholic School board.
Mike earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Kentucky and a Bachelors of Arts in both Chemistry and Mathematics from Capital University.
Carrie Ervin
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Carrie was named vice president and chief financial officer in October 2024. She joined Earlham in August 2013 as the assistant controller. She left in 2017 and returned in June 2020 to the Controller role. She was promoted to associate vice president for finance and administration in 2022. She is also the Treasurer and Assistant Secretary of Earlham College, as well as the Treasurer and Secretary of Earlham Foundation.
Carrie was named vice president and chief financial officer in October 2024. Carrie joined Earlham in August 2013 as the assistant controller. She left in 2017 and returned in June 2020 to the Controller role. She was promoted to associate vice president for finance and administration in 2022. She is also the Treasurer and Assistant Secretary of Earlham College, as well as the Treasurer and Secretary of Earlham Foundation.
Carrie has strong local ties to the area, as she grew up in Cambridge City, and has lived in the area her whole life. She was the vice president of finance at a local credit union during her time away from Earlham. Prior to joining Earlham the first time, Carrie started her career at a public accounting firm, and was a CPA at Ball Associates, a family business office in Muncie, for many years.
Carrie earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting as well as a Master of Science in Accounting from Ball State University. She obtained her certified public accountant license in 2004.
Chris Little
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Chris was named vice president and chief operating officer in October 2024. He joined Earlham in August 2018 as the director of public safety. He was promoted to associate vice president for human resources, safety and risk in 2022.
Chris was named vice president and chief operating officer in October 2024. Chris joined Earlham in August 2018 as the director of public safety. He was promoted to associate vice president for human resources, safety and risk in 2022.
Before coming to Earlham, Chris served as a police officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in Las Vegas, Nevada. Chris retired as a police captain in 2018 and worked in various departments such as emergency management, events planning, human resources, internal affairs, and investigations.
Chris earned a Master of Public Administration from Ball State University. He is also a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and the Federal Bureau of Investigation- National Academy.
Gariot P. Louima
Chief of Staff and Vice President of Equal Opportunity & Compliance
Gariot P. Louima joined Earlham in October 2021. He serves dually as the president’s chief of staff and a vice president with oversight over nondiscrimination and anti-harassment compliance, including Title IX.
Gariot P. Louima joined Earlham in October 2021. He serves dually as the president’s chief of staff and oversees nondiscrimination and anti-harassment compliance, including Title IX.
With decades of leadership experience in higher education, Gariot has added expertise to Earlham in the areas of fundraising, marketing and communications, enrollment management and teaching.
He was previously vice president for enrollment and student success at Antioch College; led admissions, marketing and fundraising at Goddard College; was editorial director at Miami Dade College; and served as an editor and publicist at Nova Southeastern University.
Prior to working in higher education, he was a journalist, reporting for The Palm Beach Post, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, and The Times-Picayune.
Elana Passman
Clerk of the Faculty
Elana joined College Council in July 2025 after becoming clerk of the faculty. A professor of history, Elana’s teaching supports many academic departments, including history, Jewish studies, museum studies, and women’s gender and sexuality studies.
Elana joined College Council in July 2025 after becoming clerk of the faculty. A professor of history, Elana’s teaching supports many academic departments, including history, Jewish studies, museum studies, and women’s gender and sexuality studies.
Elana’s new book, The French-German Dynamic in an Age of Conflict: Enemies, Collaborators, Friends, 1925-1963, was published by Routledge in spring 2025 and investigates the radical reshaping of the relationship between Germany and France, two neighboring countries whose border — geographical, political, cultural, and moral — constituted one of the deepest fault lines of European history.
Jeff Perkins
Vice President of Enrollment Management, Marketing, and Communications
Jeffrey Perkins, a 1994 graduate of Earlham College, was appointed as vice president for enrollment management, marketing, and communications, in July 2025. The newly created position unites the College’s enrollment and marketing and communications operations, a strategic move designed to foster greater alignment and collaboration in advancing the College’s enrollment goals and reputation.
Jeffrey Perkins, a 1994 graduate of Earlham College, was appointed as vice president for enrollment management, marketing, and communications, in July 2025. The newly created position unites the College’s enrollment and marketing and communications operations, a strategic move designed to foster greater alignment and collaboration in advancing the College’s enrollment goals and reputation.
Before returning to serve Earlham, Jeffrey was vice president and associate vice president of communications and marketing at Bennington College, where he helped implement a similar integrated structure across departments. His previous leadership roles span institutions such as the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles.
Lori Schroeder
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Lori Schroeder joined Earlham College as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs on July 1.
Lori was previously the provost and vice president for academic affairs at California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, California, and the provost and dean of the college at Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana.
Lori Schroeder joined Earlham College as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs on July 1.
Lori was previously the provost and vice president for academic affairs at California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, California, and the provost and dean of the college at Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana.
Lori was on the teaching faculty at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois for 21 years, serving as English department chair from 2003 to 2009 and associate dean of the college from 2010 to 2017. She began her career as an assistant professor of English at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, and held full professorships at Knox and Franklin.
Her scholarship is focused on the intersections of gender, race and class in the works of Shakespeare.
Lori holds a Ph.D. in English language and literature from the University of Denver; a Master of Arts in English literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Purdue University.
Kim Tanner
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Kim Tanner was named vice president of institutional advancement in January 2021 and has been working at Earlham for more than three decades.
A 1990 graduate of Earlham, Kim has served as the interim vice president for institutional advancement, senior associate vice president for strategic initiatives, associate vice president for institutional advancement, director of alumni relations, director of planned giving, and assistant dean of admissions, among other positions.
Kim Tanner, a 1990 graduate of Earlham College, was named Vice President for Institutional Advancement in January 2021 and has dedicated over three decades to advancing the College’s mission. Throughout her tenure, she has served in numerous leadership roles, including Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Senior Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Director of Alumni Relations, Director of Planned Giving, and Assistant Dean of Admissions.
Kim recently oversaw the most ambitious fundraising campaign in Earlham’s history. “For Good: The Campaign for Earlham College” exceeded its initial $85 million goal by raising an impressive $118 million. This transformative campaign supports initiatives to widen access to an Earlham education, enrich the College’s signature student success initiative, the Epic Journey, and enhance the overall student experience on campus.
Kim earned degrees in Biology and Sports and Movement Studies from Earlham and completed graduate-level coursework in Education at Ball State University. Before returning to Earlham in a professional capacity, she taught special education at Richmond Community Schools. Kim lives in Richmond with her husband, Jim, and daughter, Marin, and actively serves on several nonprofit boards dedicated to improving the quality of life and services in Richmond and Wayne County.
Bonita Washington-Lacey
Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students
Bonita Washington-Lacey was named vice president of Student Life and dean of students in April 2021, but has served the College in various leadership roles for more than four decades.
Bonita Washington-Lacey was named vice president of Student Life and dean of students in April 2021, but has served the College in various leadership roles for more than four decades.
A graduate of Earlham from the Class of 1979, Bonita has served the College as interim vice president of student life, senior associate vice president for academic affairs and director of accreditation activities, the associate dean of student development, associate dean of multicultural affairs and associate dean of admissions.
Bonita earned both a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Social Relations and Master of Arts in Religion from Earlham.