D'Youville College CEO and leadership

Benjamin Grant, best known as BG, is an innovative Student Affairs thought-leader, currently based in Buffalo, New York, with over seventeen years of experience across the spectrum of higher education. Specializing in engaging, supporting, and challenging students and the implementation of “what if we…” ideas, BG has successfully implemented intentional culture shifts at three different institutions of higher education.

Having obtained his undergraduate degrees in Culinary Arts and Service Management from Paul Smith’s College and his master’s degree in College Student Personnel Administration from the State University of New York College at Buffalo, BG is currently working toward becoming a Doctor of Educational Leadership at D’Youville.

Outside of work, BG enjoys spending time with his partner Jason and their three furry housemates; Juneaux Bear, Chester B. Arthur, and Saint Tholomew D’Youville I.

As Chief of Staff and AVP for Operations, Jason MacLeod oversees the areas of facilities services, capital projects design and construction, food services, and campus safety. As Chief of Staff, he oversees all President’s Office staff and manages presidential communications and relations with the Board of Trustees. Since March 2020, he has served as the COVID-19 Compliance Officer for D’Youville, managing COVID-19 compliance, regulations, and communications.

Dr. MacLeod lived and worked in Wuhan, China for three years prior to coming to D’Youville, while completing his PhD at Central China Normal University. He also served in various roles at the State University of New York at Oswego, including as a Graduate Leadership Fellow and special projects coordinator in the Office of the Provost.

In addition to his duties at D’Youville, Dr. MacLeod is the co-director of a 3-year Department of Education grant aimed at teaching secondary teachers geospatial information systems technology, and he is an adjunct professor in the Doctor of Educational Leadership Program at D’Youville. Dr. MacLeod holds a PhD in educational technology from Central China Normal University, as well as an MBA in business administration and a BS in Technology Management and Facilities Planning from the State University of New York at Oswego. He was born and raised in Syracuse, New York.

John Pecchia works at D'Youville College and a CFO at D'Youville College and is based in Rochester, New York. He attended Rochester Institute of Technology between 1993 and 1998.

Roozbeh Tavakoli is a CIO (Ret,) at D'Youville College and is based in Buffalo, New York. He has worked as Director of Information Technology at D'Youville College.