University Leadership

Dr. Frank Longaker has more than 50 years in higher education, serving the majority of that time as president of American National University.  A graduate of Eastern Kentucky University and Radford University, where he received his MBA, and Indiana Wesleyan University where he earned a PhD in Organizational Leadership. President Longaker also served as a captain in the U.S. Army and is a decorated Vietnam veteran.

As president of ANU, he has led the university through a number of evolutionary stages, adapting to the needs of the modern workforce and global economy.  Under his leadership, ANU pioneered “Computers Across the Curriculum,” bringing computer technology into all disciplines before most people knew what a “personal computer” was.  He developed the concept of the High Tech, High Touch curriculum, and adapted it to the distance learning era (well before COVID) with its constituent parts, Global Meet, Global Teach, and Global Learn.  He also oversaw the growth of ANU’s footprint to 30 community campuses, then foresaw the transcendence of the online eUniversity and expanded the university’s reach globally.

In 1972, President Longaker began his career in higher education as an instructor at American National University’s Lexington Campus, and quickly rose to senior leadership positions within the university.  His assignments within the university have included financial aid director, director of student services, federal funds manager, and senior operating officer, becoming head of school in 1975 and president in 1984.

In 2012, Longaker was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Imagine America Foundation, recognizing his 40-plus years of contributions to higher education.

Longaker has long been active in the community, and has served as a chamber of commerce president, a Virginia state senate candidate, and has been a member of numerous community boards and organizations.  He is an avid mountain biker, active in outdoor activities, and experienced commercially-rated pilot.

Steve Cotton has been executive vice president for legal and regulatory affairs / general counsel for American National University since 1997. A former naval officer and staff judge advocate, Cotton earned his Juris Doctor from the Ohio State University College of Law. His education also includes a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in chemistry from Denison University and a post-graduate fellowship in legal medicine at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.

Steve’s more than 25 years of experience in the career college sector has made him widely sought after for his expertise, and he has served as a member of numerous boards and commissions, including the Tennessee Joint Legislative Committee on Proprietary Education. He is currently past president of the Virginia Career College Association and Chairman of the Career College Advisory Board for the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

Dr. Joel Musgrove has been the senior executive vice president of operations since 2017, and has provided the key leadership to implement President Longaker’s vision for American National University.

Prior to joining the University, he served as associate vice chancellor of operations, regional vice chancellor, campus president, senior director of admissions, director of admissions, managing associate director of admissions, and assistant director of admissions for multiple large college systems. Additionally, he was director of operations at Heritage & Liberty Traditional K-8 Charter Schools in Glendale, Arizona and community relations & grant director at La Paloma Academy in Tucson, Arizona.

Joel earned his Doctorate of Business Administration at the University of Fairfax. He has a Master of Business Administration in Global Management from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Behavioral Science from the University of Arizona.

Shawn Hershey has been Vice President of Academic Affairs for American National University since early 2018 and has over 14 years of experience in higher education. Throughout his career in higher education, Shawn has held positions in admissions, academics, and management as well as experience in teaching distance education courses. His philosophy is simple; he aims to create an engaging, cutting-edge learning experience for ANU’s students by incorporating current technologies and resources into their programs. It is extremely important to him to find committed faculty who encourage student growth through student engagement, perseverance, and hard work. Shawn holds an undergraduate and master’s degree in business administration.

Dr. Carolyn Scott has served as the Chief Academic Officer of American National University since 2020, leading academic strategy, program development, accreditation initiatives, and instructional innovation across multi-state operations. She has worked in higher education since 2007, holding progressive leadership roles in academic administration, curriculum development, and faculty support.

Dr. Scott holds a Doctor of Business Administration in International Business from Argosy University, an MBA in International Business from South University, and a BS in Business Administration from Argosy University. Her academic expertise spans research methods, organizational behavior, and marketing, with a research focus on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB)—how and why employees engage in voluntary, high-value contributions that strengthen institutions.

She is an active presenter and panelist at professional conferences and academic leadership events, where she shares insights on organizational behavior, higher education strategy, and institutional effectiveness.

Before entering higher education, Dr. Scott built a 20-year career in the publishing and airline industries, where she developed a deep foundation in operational management, service excellence, and organizational effectiveness.

April Howard has served as the chief financial officer for American National University since 2021, after having served as Vice President of Accounting and Student Finance since 2013.

A two-time graduate of American National University, she received her bachelor’s degree in business management in 1995.  She began her career in higher education finance with ANU in 1996 in the accounting department processing accounts receivable.  Over more than 25 years with ANU, she progressed through roles as director of accounting, vice president of accounting, and chief financial officer.

She received numerous awards from ANU, including the Distinguished Service Award-Campus Support in 2007 and 2010.  In 2008 and 2011, she was chosen as the Outstanding College Member of the Year for dedicated service and contribution to the accounting department.  In 2014, she received the Alumni Hall of Achievement Award at the Roanoke Valley Campus for American National University.

Beth Overbey has proudly served as the Vice President of Financial Services since 2019, bringing energy, innovation, and a student-centered vision to every part of the university’s financial operations. She oversees Funds Management, Financial Assistance, Student Accounts, and Internal Collections, ensuring each area works seamlessly to support student success.

Under Beth’s leadership, the Financial Services team has transformed the university’s approach to financial assistance. She spearheaded new practices that emphasize clarity, transparency, and exceptional service—empowering students to understand their financial options and stay focused on achieving their educational goals. These improvements have led to a consistent reduction in outstanding receivables each term and a smoother, more supportive financial experience for students. Beth is also an active member of NASFAA, SASFAA, and TASFAA, staying closely connected to national and regional financial aid policy and best practices.

Before joining the University, Beth spent 16 years with a major higher-education group, building a deep and varied foundation in financial and student services. She began her career in 2004 as a Business Office Manager before advancing to Director of Financial Aid at the system’s largest location. Her strong leadership and broad expertise led to several corporate-level roles, including Director of Cash Management, Associate Vice Chancellor of Financial Services, and Vice President of Financial Aid.  Beth holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Western Governors University and remains committed to driving operational excellence, supporting students, and strengthening the university’s financial stewardship.

David Yeaman has been the director of compliance and accreditation at American National  University since 2007. He is responsible for making sure the University meets the requirements of state and federal regulatory agencies, as well as institutional and programmatic accreditors.

Yeaman began working at ANU in 2005 as an instructor in paralegal studies. Shortly thereafter, he was elevated to the director of instructional services in 2006. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Appalachian School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Radford University. He also received his Master of Business Administration from Radford University in 2014.

Jessica Williams joined American National University in 2018 as Director of Student Services and was promoted to Vice President in 2021. In this role, she oversees student success initiatives, retention strategies, and all student-centered communication across the University.

Under Jessica’s leadership, the Student Services team has implemented enhanced processes designed to provide students with the highest level of support. These improvements have allowed advisors to spend more meaningful time engaging with students—ensuring they understand their program requirements, are equipped for academic success, and remain focused on achieving their goal of graduation.

Jessica began her career in higher education in 2005 as a bookstore manager and accounts receivable coordinator. She later served as administrative assistant to the campus president and then as campus registrar for the largest campus within a multi-campus higher education system. From there, she advanced into corporate leadership roles, including Director of Central Registration, Area Registrar, and Assistant Director of Academics and Accreditation.

Jessica holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from Ashford University and a Bachelor of Arts in Management and Human Relations from Trevecca Nazarene University.

Carl Robertson has been working with American National University since 1995 and as comptroller since 1997. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from American National University, Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certificate from the Institute of Management Accountants, and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license from the Virginia Board of Accountancy.

Carl has more than 40 years of experience in finance and accounting, including over 25 years in higher education.  In addition to his MBA, he holds associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in business administration-accounting from ANU, and is an inductee into the ANU Alumni Hall of Achievement.

Andrea DiTonno is a seasoned marketing leader with more than two decades of experience driving brand growth, enrollment strategy, and digital performance across higher education and technology. As VP of Marketing & Communications for American National University, she leads full-stack marketing operations—overseeing paid media, web experience, content, CRM strategy, and brand development. Her work centers on building scalable systems, elevating the digital buyer journey, and turning data into decisions that move both institutions forward. She’s known for her collaborative approach with executive teams, her ability to simplify complex challenges, and her commitment to mentoring creative, high-performing marketing teams.

Before her current role, Andrea led global marketing efforts in the tech and international education sectors, including launching new products, shaping global go-to-market strategies, and building unified brand stories across multiple markets. She pairs deep digital expertise with a strong operational mindset, always focused on measurable impact and long-term growth. Andrea holds Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from Merrimack College, an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University, and is pursuing her Doctorate in Business Administration at the University of Fairfax.