SU Announces Dr. Amy Johnson as Vice President of Student Affairs, Mark Romano as General Counsel
SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University will welcome two new campus leaders this spring following the announcement of Dr. Amy Johnson as vice president of student affairs and Mark Romano as general counsel.
Both come to SU from noted institutions — Johnson from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and Romano from the U.S. Department of the Navy. They were appointed to their new roles following national searches.
Amy Johnson
The vice president of student affairs at UNC since 2020, Johnson brings to SU more than a quarter-century of higher education experience.
“Throughout her career, Amy has demonstrated a deep commitment to student success, wellbeing, and engagement,” said SU President Carolyn Ringer Lepre. “Her leadership will help us continue to strengthen the student experience at SU and support the success of our Sea Gulls both inside and outside the classroom.”
At North Carolina, Johnson developed and led plans for a $120 million student recreation and wellness center project, in partnership with student government, as well as a comprehensive campus health and wellness initiative. She also oversaw the creation of a new Career Hub website with “matching” functionality to help students identify career opportunities that met their skills and interests.
Additionally, she transformed the university’s 140-year-old student conduct model from a student-led and staffed honor court to an administratively led hearing board model, decreasing case resolution time by approximately 75% while maintaining student involvement through peer advisors and hearing board roles. Johnson’s previous experience includes roles at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, and Eastern Washington University.
At SU, she will oversee the Student Affairs Division, including Housing and Residence Life, Student Health Services, the Counseling Center, Career Services, TRIO Student Support Services, and the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership (CSIL).
“From the moment I touched down on campus, I experienced the warmth of the SU community and its collective commitment to student learning and success,” said Johnson. “I’m thrilled to become a fellow Sea Gull and to support the University’s mission and values in fostering a world-class education and welcoming, vibrant campus,”
Mark Romano
Serving as counsel for the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps — the Corps’ chief civilian legal officer — since 2021, Romano has advised senior leadership on legal, policy, and governance matters.
“Mark brings extensive experience in public service, and we look forward to the thoughtful counsel, sound judgment, and steady leadership he will provide to our University community,” said Lepre. “His background and commitment to service will be invaluable as we continue advancing the mission and priorities of our institution.”
In his current position, his duties have included providing advice and counsel on business and related issues including procurement, personnel and labor, financial, environmental, real estate, intellectual property, and ethics laws and regulatory matters. He also oversaw a global legal office of more than 100 attorneys and staff across nine states, Guam, and Japan; navigated environmental compliance efforts; and led the Marine Corps’ trademarking program.
His previous positions with the Department of the Navy Office of General Counsel have included assistant general counsel for manpower and manpower reserve affairs, deputy counsel for the commandant, and counsel for the deputy chief of naval operations for warfare systems. For the first 10 years of his career, Romano was a trial attorney, assigned to the largest contract disputes facing the department.
“I am honored and grateful for President Lepre, her leadership team, and the hiring committee’s confidence in selecting me, and I am excited to be joining Salisbury University at such a dynamic time as the University embarks on its second century,” said Romano.
Johnson and Romano both will serve on SU’s eight-member President’s Cabinet, providing leadership, guidance, and support for the University.
Learn more about SU and opportunities to Make Tomorrow Yours at the SU website.