Senior Leadership Team
President Heather A. Smith brings over 25 years of successful administration experience to her role leading the College of Saint Mary, the only women’s college in a five-state region. With a proven record in leadership and innovation, she was appointed as CSM’s eighth president in July 2023. President Smith is dedicated to advancing the institution’s century-long legacy of academic excellence. She is committed to fostering a vibrant and inclusive campus community, enhancing student success through personalized education and expanding partnerships with industry and community organizations to provide students unparalleled opportunities. Under her guidance, CSM is poised to reach new heights in academic achievement and community impact.
Having grown up in Omaha, President Smith has deep roots in the community. Before her appointment at College of Saint Mary, she was Children's Nebraska's vice president of ambulatory services. In this role, she held executive responsibility for the operations of 28 specialty divisions and spearheaded the creation of innovative programs while optimizing efficiency in local and regional outreach locations. From 2017 to 2020, President Smith served as the vice president of pediatrics at the same hospital. She has also held leadership positions as the vice president of operations for Children's Specialty Physicians and as the chief administrative officer for Children's Physicians.
President Smith has served on various boards in Omaha, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, March of Dimes, Omaha Symphony Guild, Foster Care Review Board and the Epilepsy Foundation. In 2024, President Smith was appointed to the Council of Independent Nebraska Colleges Foundation (CINCF) Board of Directors. She will serve a two-year term.
President Smith's educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Vanderbilt University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Creighton University, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Nebraska Omaha.
Outside of her professional accomplishments, President Smith is a proud parent. Her daughter recently graduated from Stanford University.
Kimberly Allen, PhD, joined the College of Saint Mary’s Senior Leadership Team in January 2020. As CSM's chief academic officer, she is responsible for all educational activities in the undergraduate and graduate academic programs.
Allen previously served as the assistant vice president for academic affairs at Maryville University in St. Louis, Mo. Before that, she held various roles in higher education, including assistant professor at Maryville University and assistant dean for student and faculty affairs for the College of Nursing at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
At CSM, Allen has served as the chair of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, co-chair of the Shared Governance Committee, a member of the Instructional Technology Committee, and advisor to the Faculty Assembly Council and Committees. Additionally, she serves as a co-PI on the National Science Foundation grant, supporting the Marie Curie Scholarship program.
Allen received her Doctor of Philosophy in Education and her Chancellor’s Certificate in Institutional Research from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She earned her master’s degree in student personnel administration from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., and a bachelor’s degree in child development from Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo.
Outside of work, Kimberly enjoys spending time with her immediate and extended family. She is actively involved as a parent and spends quite a bit of time volunteering at school, cheering on the sideline at soccer games, improving our golf game, and supporting her sons’ other interests, including visiting as many zoos and national parks as possible.
An Omaha native, Nate Neufind arrived at College of Saint Mary in 2017. Across nearly two decades in higher education, Neufind has facilitated major growth and change initiatives across public and private institutions.
At the University of Nebraska Omaha, Neufind grew ticket sales and revenue while working to reconnect the department of athletics to fans and donors and begin a transition to NCAA Division I competition across all sports.
In his years with Midland University, Neufind spearheaded internal and external communications through a period of growth that saw Midland become the fastest growing university in the region.
Neufind has held several progressive roles over his time at College of Saint Mary. Today, as Chief Operating Officer, Neufind is helping CSM chart a course for growth into its next century.
Outside of work, Neufind enjoys spending time with his wife, Nicole, and their daughters, Reagan and Alexis.
An Omaha native, Terri Campbell ’93 attended College of Saint Mary from 1989-93. She was a member of the Flames softball team and earned her degree in computer graphics.
Following graduation, Campbell worked as a graphic designer for Lancer Label in Omaha for two years before a successful 21-year career as the classified advertising manager at the Omaha World-Herald. She also worked briefly as the development director for Gross Catholic High School in Omaha.
In 2017, Campbell returned to College of Saint Mary as the vice president of alumni and donor relations. She earned her master’s degree in philanthropic studies from Indiana University in 2022.
In addition to her role at CSM, Campbell serves on the Gross Catholic High School Board of Directors. She’s also a member of the board’s executive committee. She has served on the Omaha World-Herald Inspire Advisory Board, was an assistant youth softball coach for 10 years and served as a goal body for Partnership for Kids for five years.
Outside of work, Campbell enjoys all things sports. She and her family enjoy traveling to major sporting events, including watching Creighton Men’s Basketball in the Big East Tournament in New York.
Campbell and her husband, Corey, have two grown children, Colin and Anna.
After serving as interim vice president of enrollment for nearly a year, Timothy Albers joined the University as a full-time employee in June 2024.
Before joining CSM, Albers was the interim dean of admissions at Drake University from January to June 2023. He served as the vice provost of enrollment management at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from 2019 to 2022 and as vice provost and dean for enrollment management at Missouri University of Science and Technology from 2016 to 2019. He held additional enrollment leadership positions at Western Colorado University, Ottawa University and Colorado School of Mines.
Albers has a Master of Science in Education, Enrollment Management Specialization from Capella University and a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering from Colorado School of Mines.
