116 Village Blvd
Suite 200
Princeton, NJ 08540

American Higher Education Development Corporation's Contacts


Stephen Tave, Chief Executive Officer/President

Stephen Tave

Mr. Tave joined AHED in the Spring of 2008 with over 30 years of private post-secondary education experience. He spent eight years as President and Director for a company that owned and operated business and technical schools in and around New York City. Then he became Director at the Art Institute of New York City. During the more than five years he spent there he increased enrollment from 350 to more than 1100 students and revenues from $4 million to $16 million. He then became part-owner and Vice President of the Institute of Culinary Education and set-up the career school marketing, infrastructure and foundation for what has become a nationally recognized career training program with over 30,000 students annually in their career and avocational programs. He is currently a member of the Federal Legislative Committee and the Grassroots Committee for the Career College Association (CCA.) Mr. Tave is a graduate of Brooklyn College with a degree in psychology.

James M. Devaney Ph.D., Chairman and Founder of AHED Corp.

James M. Devaney

Dr. Devaney has acted as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of AHED since founding the Company in 1998. Dr. Devaney has over twenty-seven years of experience in private post-secondary vocational education. He has been a school director and president of one of the largest culinary colleges in the country as well as a leader and spokesman for private vocational education in Washington, DC and Albany, New York. He served as an advisor to New York's Governor George Pataki on private post-secondary schools. Dr. Devaney holds numerous degrees, including a Ph.D. in Finance and a M.S. in School Administration from Pace University.

Andrew(Drew) Emmerling, Chief Financial Officer

Andrew(Drew) Emmerling

Mr. Emmerling joined AHED in July 2016 with over 25 years of financial management experience (eight years as a Chief Financial Officer (CFO), three years as Regional Controller for a public post-secondary automotive technical training corporation, five years as the Controller for a private mid-sized manufacturing company, and the prior nine years in progressively higher Financial Analyst positions for a Fortune 500 national bank). Mr. Emmerling has a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Economics from Robert Morris University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Pittsburgh - Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business.

Joan Lindemann, Corporate Director of Marketing

Joan Lindemann

Joan Lindemann joined AHED in 2014 with over twenty years of experience in Computer Technology and Process Improvement with the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Joan was the technology project manager for areas in NYSED including Adult Career and Continuing Education Services, Cultural Education, and Office of the Professions. Joan has a passion for working with individuals or teams to improve existing processes or to create new ideas with an emphasis on new technology. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business, Management, and Economics from the State University of New York.

Brian Niedzwiecki, Compliance Officer

Brian Niedzwiecki

Mr. Brian Niedzwiecki joined the AHED team in 2015 after twelve years with Stautzenberger College in positions ranging from Career Services Assistant to Vice President. A Toledo, Ohio native, Mr. Niedzwiecki takes pride in his city and served as chairman of EPIC Toledo in 2011 and as the Marshall of the Partners in Education Dragon Boat Festival. In 2008 he was recognized as one of the region’s “20 under 40.” He holds an MA in College Student Personnel and a BA in Social Humanitarianism, both from Bowling Green State University.

Annette Parson, Program Chair for Online Education

Annette Parson

Annette Parson has been with AHED schools since 1995. Ms. Parson started as an adjunct instructor after graduating with a Networking Certificate from Stautzenberger College in 1994 and obtaining her Certified Novell Engineer (CNE) and Certified Novell Instructor (CNI) credentials. While teaching, Ms. Parson owned and operated a networking consulting business for ten years providing business solutions for small companies. In 2002, she accepted the position of IT Program Director for Stautzenberger College. Over the years, she has held various positions ranging from Business/IT Program Director, interim Campus Director-Brecksville, Campus Distance Learning Coordinator, and now Program Chair for Online Education. Ms. Parson holds a MBA from Heidelberg University and a BSBA with a concentration in Finance from Bowling Green State University.

Alan Sklan, Corporate Director of Education Loan Management

Alan Sklan

Alan worked in Educational Loan Management and default prevention for 20 years before joining Rockford Career College in 2011. In 2013 he became the Corporate Director of Educational Loan Management for AHED. He manages a team that diligently helps former students achieve their financial goals by assisting them in repaying their Title IV student loans by choosing payment plans, deferments, forbearance and consolidation. The team helps students cure delinquencies to prevent default on these loans. He has a Bachelor of Science in Speech from Northwestern University.

Lori Van Liere, Corporate Librarian

Lori Van Liere

Lori joined AHED in 2015. In 2012 she became librarian at Stautzenberger College – Maumee Campus. Her previous experience includes Assistant Campus Director at another local college and 15 years of corporate management for a specialty educational materials supplier. Lori believes the primary role of librarians is to help people find, evaluate, and use information to enrich their lives. Information literacy skills are an essential component of education and the library should be a place where students come to learn and practice these skills. Mrs. Van Liere earned her B.A. in History from the University of Toledo and her M.L.S. from Kent State University.