Administrative Officers

Mitchell L. Moore joined Shenandoah University in 2008, as vice president for advancement. In 2013, in response to ongoing growth initiatives at Shenandoah, Moore’s role was expanded to vice president for advancement and planning. Effective July 2016, Moore was promoted to senior vice president/vice president for advancement. In November 2025, retired from advancement, focusing solely on his role as senior vice president. In this role, Moore handles a wide range of matters of institutional importance on behalf of the president related to the overall management, operations, planning, positioning and fundraising of the university and provides coordination and oversight of core initiatives frequently crossing boundaries between different university divisions.

Moore began his career in development work right out of college at his alma mater, the University of Richmond, where he spent 10 years rising through the ranks to director of major gifts. Subsequently, he has spent his entire career in nonprofit development work. In addition to Moore’s three decades in higher education development, he also served as the senior development officer at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Over the course of his career Moore has been involved in eight comprehensive campaigns.

Past appointments in higher education include associate vice president of advancement at Bridgewater College, vice president for development and college relations at Sweet Briar College, and vice president for development and alumni relations at James Madison University.

Moore received his Bachelor of Arts in economics and history from the University of Richmond and his Master of Public Administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Moore has been active in CASE District III and is past chair of the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber.

Provost Karen Abraham, Ph.D., is the university’s chief academic officer. An orthopedic physical therapist with a special interest in women’s and pelvic health issues, Dr. Abraham joined Shenandoah in 2001, as a Division of Physical Therapy faculty member. She led the Faculty Senate from 2005-2008 and the Division of Physical Therapy from 2008-2015. Abraham then served in what later became the provost’s office as an SU Fellow for Academic Excellence from 2015-2017. Her leadership experience at both the division and university levels served her well in 2017, when she was chosen to lead the university’s School of Health Professions as dean on an interim basis, taking on the role permanently the following year and continuing in this capacity through 2023, when she was asked to lead the university’s academic efforts and faculty as interim provost before being officially named provost in January 2024.

Abraham oversees six schools—College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Health Professions, School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy, and Shenandoah Conservatory—as well as the Office of Global Engagement, university advising, the Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning, university libraries, and the registrar.

Abraham earned a Bachelor of Science in physical therapy from the University of Maryland and a Ph.D. in anatomy and cell biology from the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. Additionally, she has completed an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Education Leadership Institute Fellowship. Abraham is also highly active within the physical therapy profession, serving as associate editor of the Journal of Women’s and Pelvic Health Physical Therapy and a Physical Therapy Learning Institute board member. She is also a past member of the APTA Education Leadership Fellowship Institute Advisory Group. Outside of the academic and professional spheres,

Abraham loves spending time with her family engaged in outdoor activities like running, hiking, cycling, and skiing.

Yolanda Barbier Gibson, D.A., became Shenandoah University’s vice president for student affairs in June 2020. Prior to that, she served as vice president for student success from June 2019-June 2020. As vice president for student affairs, she is responsible for ensuring that all students are successful both inside and outside of the classroom. Her office oversees 17 departments including: outdoor recreation, career and professional development, civic engagement, dean of students, diversity and inclusion, residential services, spiritual life, student leadership and engagement, student support services, student success and enrollment management, Wilkins Wellness & Counseling Center, campus event services, bookstore, childcare services, and the copy center and mailroom, as well as athletics. Driven by an earnest desire to provide an exceptional experience for all students at Shenandoah University, Dr. Gibson has been instrumental in implementing student success initiatives such as the Shenandoah University Leadership Academy, Sophomore Year Experience Program, and Shen First Gen. Gibson also served as the COVID response team co-chair and led efforts to ensure students were able to return to campus safely. She has led the way to improving retention by more than 2%, and growth of our residential population by 20%. She helped steward a $5 million gift to the institution, and has overseen the construction of two small residential buildings and the renovation of more than 150 residence hall rooms. 

Prior to Shenandoah University, she was a fellow with the American Council on Education and Towson University was her host institution. From 2011-2018, she served as the associate dean of first-year experience and the chief alumni relations officer at Marymount University. As the associate dean of first-year experience, she was responsible for coordinating and facilitating efforts across the university to provide a unified approach to interventions aimed at increasing retention and success rates of all students. In addition, she provided direct oversight and supervision for academic advising and first-year seminar courses for new undergraduate freshmen and transfer students. As the director of alumni relations, she provided direct supervision for the Office of Alumni Relations, including the planning and implementation of alumni programs, and provided strategic and organizational support to the alumni advisory board. 

Gibson is an active board member for the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum in Winchester, Virginia and the board chair of the United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley. She previously served as former vice chair of the campaign committee for the United Way NSV, and is the former chair of its Women United Leadership Council. She also serves on the board for the Council of Fellows with the American Council on Education and is a member of its Finance and Development Committee.

Gibson received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marymount University in communication studies and business administration, a Master of Arts degree in community college teaching and Doctor of Arts degree in higher education administration from George Mason University.

Yolanda is the wife of James Gibson and mother to Joelle and Gabrielle, and two furry family members, Onyx and Scooby.

In November 2016, Philip G. Evans (Phil) was named the first in-house general counsel in Shenandoah University’s history. Evans began work in January 2017, and quickly became a key advisor to university President Tracy Fitzsimmons, Ph.D., and her entire senior administrative staff, as well as to the University Cabinet in November 2017.

As general counsel, Evans assists the university in developing and/or updating its organizational documents, policies, and procedures, drafting/reviewing contracts, counseling various departments, including academic affairs, athletics, human resources and student life/Title IX, as well as with risk management, compliance, trademark registration and bond financing. He also manages outside counsel, handles administrative agency issues and advises on internal investigations and grievances. In addition, Evans played a key role in the development of various university growth initiatives, including the launch of the Shenandoah Center for Immersive Learning (SCIL), graduate programs in China, and the transformation of the former armory located on main campus into the Hazel-Pruitt Armory, home of the Hub for Innovators, Veterans and Entrepreneurs (HIVE).

Evans was promoted to vice president for administration and general counsel on July 1, 2022. In his expanded role, Evans oversees the university’s human resources, campus safety, and information technology departments, and manages the healthcare navigator and Title IX coordinator. 

Prior to joining Shenandoah University, Evans spent 10 years as a “fractional” general counsel, which included lengthy terms as the first in-house general counsel at both BN Media and its two operating subsidiaries (American Communications dba Affinity 4 and Beliefnet). In 2001, Evans was named as the first director of legal affairs for the NBDL, the NBA’s newly created minor league. Following the first season, Evans was named president of the re-named NBA Development League or “D-League,” now known as the “G-League,” where he served for six years, growing the league from eight teams in the southeast to 14 teams throughout the country, and reporting directly to former NBA Commissioner David Stern. Evans graduated from the University of Virginia (1984) and the University of Virginia School of Law (1988).

He’s married to Tamara Thompson Evans. They have four sons, three daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren.

Courtney Jarrett, CPA, brings over 17 years of expertise in financial management, with 12 years in higher education and five years in public accounting. With a deep understanding of U.S. GAAP, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit compliance, and IRS regulations, Courtney currently serves as vice president for finance and chief financial officer at Shenandoah University. In this role, she oversees all aspects of the university’s financial operations, including accounting, purchasing, payroll, student financial services, and physical plant management. As a member of the President’s Cabinet, Jarrett regularly presents to the Board of Trustees and its audit, finance, and investment and endowment committees.

In addition to her responsibilities at Shenandoah University, Jarrett serves as treasurer for the Section 403(b) Defined Contribution Plan for Tax-Exempt Colleges and Universities in Virginia, a multi-employer plan involving 18 private institutions. She is also an active member of the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers (SACUBO), contributing to regional leadership in higher education finance. Jarrett holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Shenandoah University and a master’s degree in accounting and financial management from DeVry University.

She resides in Winchester, Virginia, with her husband, Jason, and their two sons, Elijah and Louis.

Scott Spriggs leads the institution’s Admissions & Recruitment, Marketing & Communications, Advancement, and Alumni Engagement divisions. In this role, he oversees brand strategy, philanthropic engagement, enrollment growth, digital outreach, and strategic communications that strengthen relationships with prospective students, donors, alumni, partners, and the broader community.

Under his leadership, Shenandoah University has achieved record-breaking enrollment success, including the largest incoming first-year class in the institution’s history — over 600 first-year students — and more than 1,700 total new undergraduate, transfer, and graduate students enrolled in 2025. His strategic oversight and collaborative leadership have strengthened recruitment pipelines, elevated brand visibility, and positioned Shenandoah as one of the most competitive private universities in the region.

Spriggs has also helped guide several major institutional initiatives, including the implementation of Slate, supporting CRM digital transformation across recruitment operations, and admissions workflow efficiencies. Working closely with academic and administrative partners, he has also contributed to the expansion and enhancement of the university’s online program portfolio, increasing access for working professionals, nontraditional learners, and emerging markets.

Spriggs previously served as vice president for recruitment and marketing as well as chief creative officer. He joined Shenandoah University in 2011, as creative director in the Office of Marketing & Communications (OMC) and later became chief marketing and creative officer, where he directed digital and visual media, creative content development, photography, video production, website strategy and design, and the refinement of institutional brand identity. In June 2019, he assumed leadership of both Admissions and OMC as the newly formed Recruitment & Marketing Division before transitioning into his expanded External Affairs role in 2025.

Prior to joining Shenandoah, he led branding and marketing initiatives for Sprint and Shentel, where he played a key strategic role in rebranding newly acquired telecommunications operations across the Mid-Atlantic region. During this time, he contributed to growing the customer base from approximately 30,000 to more than 180,000 customers, driving brand adoption, retention, and market expansion during a period of rapid growth and market expansion.

A Virginia native and 2005 graduate of James Madison University, Spriggs brings an energetic, creative, and strategic leadership style grounded in community impact. He has served on the board and advisory board of NW Works since 2015, supporting employment pathways for individuals with disabilities. From 2013 to 2017, he served on the Old Town Development Board, helping guide the revitalization and continued growth of Winchester’s historic downtown. He also serves as immediate past president of the College Communicators Association of Virginia and Washington, D.C., where he has been an active member for over 15 years.

Spriggs lives in Winchester, Virginia, with his wife, Danielle, son, Corbin, and their two cats, Sand Dollar and Beecher.