Campus President Sharale Mathis has over twenty years of experience in higher education across both academic and student affairs and is known for her strategic leadership and focus on equity-driven student success. Before joining CT State, Campus President Mathis served as Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Holyoke Community College in Massachusetts, where she implemented a "One Team" framework to improve outreach, enrollment, retention and support services.

Campus President Mathis has led major initiatives to revise and implement academic programs, restructure student services and integrate workforce development with local and regional partners. She has collaborated closely with institutional advancement offices to align fundraising and innovation with institutional priorities. Her work is guided by a commitment to inclusive excellence and student achievement, and she often shares her insights at national conferences and panels on strategic planning, open Educational Resources (OER), online education and student success.

Beyond campus leadership, Campus President Mathis serves on several national and state boards, including the American Association of Community Colleges Commission on Institutional Infrastructure and Transformation, the National Council on Black American Affairs – Northeast Region, and the EAB Community College Research Advisory Council. She was recently elected Chair of the Massachusetts Community College Chief Academic Officers Council and is a Fellow of the Thomas Lakin Institute for Mentored Leadership.

Campus President Mathis holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Hartford, a master of Health Sciences degree in Biomedical Sciences from Quinnipiac University and a bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Eastern Connecticut State University. She also completed executive education through the Yale School of Management’s Women’s Leadership Certificate program.

Campus President Mathis brings to CT State Capital and Tunxis a deep understanding of institutional transformation, a clear vision for inclusive student outcomes and a passion for advancing opportunity through community college education.

Email: sharale.mathis@ctstate.edu 

Cheryl De Vonish has led the Norwalk campus since 2019, first as Campus CEO and now as Campus President. A dedicated public servant with over 20 years of experience in government, law and higher education, Campus President De Vonish brings a deep commitment to student success, educational equity, and civic engagement.

Before her appointment as Campus President, she held several senior leadership roles at Norwalk, including Chief Operating Officer, Dean of Students, Chief Diversity and Equity Officer and Special Advisor to the President. She also served as an adjunct faculty member, reinforcing her student-centered approach to leadership.

Campus President De Vonish’s efforts to foster inclusive excellence and campus-wide engagement have earned her widespread recognition. She has been named to the NAACP's 100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut list in both 2021 and 2024 and received the Campus Community Award for her leadership and service.

Prior to joining the college, Campus President De Vonish worked as an attorney, bringing legal and advocacy experience to her higher education work. Her professional background emphasizes equity, compliance and policy development — tools she continues to use to support student success and uphold institutional integrity.

A proud alumna of Spelman College and SUNY Binghamton, Campus President De Vonish holds a bachelor of arts degree in Psychology. She earned her Juris Doctorate and is admitted to practice law in both New York and Connecticut. Her dual background in law and education uniquely positions her to navigate the complex challenges facing today’s community colleges.

Phone: 203-857-7016
Email: cheryl.devonish@ctstate.edu

Troy Miller joined CT State as the Vice President for Enrollment Management in November of 2024. He previously served as the vice president for strategic enrollment management at the University of Southern Indiana, a public university in Evansville, IN. Before joining USI, Miller was vice president for enrollment management and intercollegiate athletics at Chestnut Hill College, a private Catholic college in Philadelphia, PA. Before joining CHC, Miller served as the associate vice provost and director of admissions at the University at Buffalo, an R1 and AAU Institution with an enrollment of 32,300 students located in Buffalo, NY. Miller also served as the chief enrollment officer at two HBCUs within the University System of Maryland. As the assistant vice president for enrollment management at Bowie State University and as associate vice president for enrollment management at Coppin State University.

Miller has a wealth of experience and a strong track record of meeting or exceeding enrollment goals, administering outcome-oriented performance assessments, leading organizations through a data- intensive strategic enrollment planning process, engaging the entire campus, and aligning the institution’s enrollment opportunities with its environment.

Miller's leadership extends across various departments and teams, demonstrating his ability to manage diverse functions. He has led the admissions offices, registrar, scholarships, financial aid, academic advising, orientation, summer enrichment programs, and undergraduate, graduate, and international recruitment and communications teams. His leadership also extends to student success and retention, social media teams, including welcome centers and campus visit programs.

At several institutions, Miller was instrumental in developing new freshman, transfer, and graduate student pipelines via external agreements, new markets, and strategies to attract increasing inquiries, applications, and enrollments.

Miller's academic journey began at Elizabeth City State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. He furthered his education at the New York Institute of Technology, obtaining a master's degree. Currently, he is pursuing his doctoral degree at Morgan State University.

Miller is a military combat veteran serving in the United States Army and a lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc.

Phone: 860-612-7086
Email: troy.miller2@ctstate.edu

Tom Yelich joined Connecticut State Community College in September 2024, bringing over a decade of experience in public administration, communications, organizational management, and community relations. As a strategic advisor to the President, he oversees critical initiatives that advance the college’s mission and strategic goals.

Previously, Yelich served as Deputy Chief of Staff at Trinity College, where he supported the Office of the President and worked with senior leaders to achieve institutional priorities. His role included leading presidential communications, assisting with governance initiatives, co-chairing the college’s emergency management team, and supporting accreditation assessments for the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Before transitioning to higher education, Yelich was a public information officer and assistant to the chief of police for the City of Champaign. Serving on the department’s five-member leadership team, he managed public safety communications, advised on policy, fostered community relations, and helped build trust between law enforcement and the public. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he served on the city’s leadership communications team, delivering critical updates to the region. His contributions to the City of Champaign earned him multiple City of Champaign Employee Awards for teamwork and results. Earlier in his career, Yelich held roles in sports communication with the NCAA and USA Football, advancing youth sports safety and programming.

A proud veteran of the United States Navy, Yelich deployed overseas twice and was a finalist for command Junior Sailor of the Year. He holds a B.S. in communication and political science from the University of North Florida and a Master of Public Affairs (MPA) from the University of Missouri.

Phone: 860-612-7025
Email: tom.yelich@ctstate.edu