News
CHESS Names Dr. Shaun McAlmont as the Next Chief Executive Officer
Founding CEO, Kathy Ulibarri, to retire after leading innovative transformation in higher education collaboration*
Santa Fe, NM — The Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services (CHESS) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Shaun McAlmont as its new Chief Executive Officer. Dr. McAlmont will succeed founding CEO Kathy Ulibarri, who will retire after guiding CHESS from its formation in 2021 to its emergence as a national model for shared services in higher education.
Dr. McAlmont brings more than 25 years of senior leadership experience in education and workforce development, including serving as CEO of NINJIO, President of Career Learning at Stride, Inc., and CEO of Lincoln Educational Services. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Higher Education Management Doctoral Program, and a recognized innovator in adult learning, career readiness, and education technology. Dr. McAlmont has consistently led organizations through transformative growth and strategic realignment throughout his career.
“It’s an honor to join CHESS at such a pivotal moment,” McAlmont said. “I’m deeply grateful to the Board for their trust, and to Kathy Ulibarri for her visionary leadership in launching this bold initiative. CHESS is redefining how higher education institutions can work together to serve students, and I look forward to building on that foundation in New Mexico and exploring how this model can influence the future of education nationally.”
CHESS Board Chair and President of Santa Fe Community College, Dr. Becky Rowley, praised Ulibarri’s tenure and welcomed McAlmont to the role. “Kathy Ulibarri led CHESS from concept to implementation with deep commitment, foresight, and skill. She established a culture of trust, equity, and innovation that sets the stage for our next chapter,” said Rowley. “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. McAlmont, whose experience and passion for student success will strengthen and expand CHESS’s impact across New Mexico and beyond.”
Ulibarri served as CEO of CHESS from its inception in 2021 and is scheduled to retire at the end of June 2025. “It has been the honor of my career to help bring CHESS to life,” said Ulibarri. “From day one, our mission was to prove that higher education institutions could work together in bold new ways to improve the student experience. I’m proud of the culture we’ve built, the systems we’ve launched, and most of all, the collaborative spirit that drives our member colleges. I’m confident that Dr. McAlmont will take CHESS to the next level.”
Dr. McAlmont’s appointment marks a new chapter for CHESS as it moves from startup mode into long-term strategic growth, expanding its services, institutional membership, and national influence.
About CHESS
The Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services (CHESS) is a nonprofit organization that empowers its member colleges to improve student success by collaboratively implementing and managing shared systems and services. CHESS currently includes Clovis Community College, Central New Mexico Community College, Luna Community College, Northern New Mexico College, San Juan College, and Santa Fe Community College. With a fully remote workforce and a shared Workday platform serving multiple institutions, CHESS represents a groundbreaking approach to institutional cooperation in higher education.
For more information, visit www.chess.edu