Dr. Ying Iverson

Westcliff University
ACAO Board of Directors

Dr. Ying Iverson is the Chief Academic Officer and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Westcliff University. Westcliff University is a private university with about 6,000 students, of whom over 80% are international students representing over 100 countries. Westcliff is comprised of a College of Business, College of Education, College of Technology & Engineering, and Western State College of Law.

With a career spanning over two decades, Dr. Iverson is an accomplished higher education executive known for her energetic and purpose-oriented leadership style. She brings a wealth of experience and a dynamic vision for education to promote academic excellence, foster innovation, and improve student success. Dr. Iverson has a proven track record of leading transformative changes, developing talent, and driving cultural metamorphosis in academic settings. She has served at both traditional (University of Minnesota) and non-traditional, online (Capella University) universities in the past. Dr. Iverson made significant contributions at her previous university, where she held multiple positions, including Associate Provost and Vice President of Academic and Faculty Affairs. Her leadership there resulted in remarkable improvements in academic quality, faculty engagement, and learner outcomes.

Dr. Iverson started her academic journey with a B.A. in Chinese Language and Literature from South China Normal University, then a Master’s and Ph.D. in Human Resource Development and Comparative and International Development Education from the University of Minnesota. This diverse educational background has equipped her with a deep understanding of global educational standards and practices. Dr. Iverson’s multilingual proficiency in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Shanghainese further enhances her capability to connect with diverse academic communities, making her an asset to Westcliff University’s globally-oriented mission.