The LearningWell Coalition is pleased to announce that Andy Shennan and Laura Perille have joined the Coalition’s Executive Committee. Additionally, the Coalition is excited to welcome Keith Buffinton to the Steering Committee.

“The Coalition is fortunate to welcome Keith, Andy, and Laura in these roles,” said Angela Lindner, the LearningWell Coalition’s executive director. “Keith brings a wealth of experience in both higher education and with the Coalition, while Andy and Laura each bring a similar, proven commitment to student wellbeing. Together, they will enrich the Coalition’s mission for many years to come.”

Andy Shennan is Provost Emeritus and Professor of History at Wellesley College, where he recently completed twenty years as the College’s inaugural provost. A specialist in 20th-century European history and a longtime leader in liberal arts education, Shennan currently serves as a commissioner of the New England Commission of Higher Education and previously chaired the Alliance to Advance Liberal Arts Colleges for twelve years. He holds undergraduate and doctoral degrees from the University of Cambridge and was a Harkness Fellow at Harvard University.

Laura Perille is the Executive Director of the 4D Experience at the University of Denver, where she oversees the university’s holistic approach to education centered on intellect, character, wellbeing, and purpose. Prior to DU, she managed undergraduate research and merit-based fellowships at Georgetown University and the University of New Hampshire. A historian by training, she holds her MA and PhD from Brown University.

Keith Buffinton is joining the Steering Committee after serving as the LearningWell Coalition’s inaugural Executive Director, a role he held until July 2026. Prior to leading the Coalition, Dr. Buffinton spent more than three decades at Bucknell University and is now Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Dean Emeritus of Engineering there.

In these roles, Shennan, Perille, and Buffinton will help shape the mission, vision, and direction of the LearningWell Coalition as it continues to ensure that every student is prepared to flourish in work and in life.

About the LearningWell Coalition
The LearningWell Coalition is a national network of colleges and universities committed to transforming higher education so every student is prepared to flourish in work and in life. Through research, collaboration, and the sharing of best practices, the Coalition advances approaches that foster lifelong wellbeing, purpose, and engagement.