Office of Academic Affairs

• DBA, Anderson University
• MBA, Indiana Wesleyan University
• BA, Anderson University.

Dr. Cunningham joined the University in 2006 and oversees graduate and adult programs. He taught and was department head of the Business program at the University before assuming his administrative role in 2021. He earned a BA in Marketing from Anderson University, an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan and a DBA in Management from Anderson University. Ricardo serves on several non-profit boards in the Dubuque community.

• PhD, University of Missouri
• MA, Truman State University
• BA, Truman State University

Dr. Green joined the University in 2013 and is responsible for coordinating the traditional undergraduate academic programs. He earned a B.A. and an M.A. in English from Truman State University, and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Missouri.

• MBA, University of Dubuque
• BS, Iowa State University

Ms. Kendell joined the University in 2005 and provides administrative support for the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Academic Affairs office and college faculty. She earned a BS in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Dubuque. She and her husband, David, are the parents of three adult children, including one who is a UD alum.

• BA, Oakland University

Ms. Stringer joined the University in 2017 and provides administrative support to the Dean for Undergraduate Studies and the Dean for Graduate and Adult Studies as well as providing support for EvaluationKIT, UD's faculty course evaluation system. She earned a BA in English from Oakland University. She and her husband, Brian, are parents to one daughter, Katie.

• MAC, University of Dubuque
• BA, University of Dubuque

Ms. Gunnelson joined the University in 1996 and serves as associate dean of graduate and transfer admission. She earned her BA in English and Psychology and Master of Arts in Communication from the University of Dubuque. She and her husband Chad (C'13; M'19/'21) reside in Dubuque and have three children, Taylor (C'21), Evan (C'22) and Dash.

• PhD, University of Wisconsin - Madison
• BA, University of Minnesota - Morris

Adam Hoffman, PhD, has been named the next vice president for academic affairs at the University of Dubuque. Hoffman currently serves as interim chair of the faculty and professor of environmental chemistry at UD. He will begin the new position July 1, 2025.

Hoffman has served UD since 2008 in the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences. He has championed academic excellence in a plethora of leadership roles. As interim chair of the faculty this academic year, Hoffman represented his counterparts in presidential cabinet and academic affairs meetings, serving as a conduit for information, ideas, and feedback between the faculty to the administration. He joined the advisory board for UD's master of science in physician assistant studies program in fall 2024, sharing community and professional feedback about the program, students, and graduates. Additionally, since 2013, Hoffman has provided strategic guidance fostering 'intellectual understanding and personal commitment to moral character development as an advisory board member of UD's Wendt Character Initiative.

Previous roles held by Hoffman during his time at UD include head of the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences, advisory board member of TRIO - Student Support Services, director of the Joseph and Linda Chlapaty Summer Research Fellowship, and the Dorothy Taylor Chair in Chemistry.

Throughout his years in higher education, Hoffman has worked with his peers to secure over $800,000 in grants for academic programs, research, and institutional initiatives. Another of his key achievements was being selected by the U.S. State Department to host a Fulbright Scholar-In-Residence at UD in the environmental sciences program during the 2023-2024 academic year. Additionally, he collaborated in developing the Dubuque Colleges Sustainability Coalition, a consortium of seven local higher education institutions that received the 2023 Iowa Recycling Association Innovation and Contribution Award. Hoffman also was advisor to the Web of Life student group on campus and one of 28 certified observers who made over 1,000 teaching observations in geoscience classes across the United States through the National Science Foundation's sponsored reformed classroom observation project.

While at UD, Hoffman has mentored over 40 research students, presented 23 first author presentations at conferences, taught 16 unique classes, received 11 research grants, authored 10 peer-reviewed journal articles, attended nine workshops, served on five faculty committees, and chaired two search committees. He was recognized as the 2016 William L. Lomax Award recipient and was inducted into UD's Faculty Hall of Fame for Excellence in Teaching and Advising.

The ability to serve his community is important to Hoffman. He is a member of the Sustainable Dubuque Collaboration Network and organizes STEM science outreach activities for schools, conservation groups, science festivals, and community organizations. He previously served as the vice chair of the Dubuque County Board of Health and on the City of Dubuque's Resilient Community Advisory Commission.

Hoffman has received numerous professional awards and honors. He received the Faculty Member of the Year Award at the 2025 Honors Convocation, was awarded a Faculty Character Advancement Award from the Wendt Character Initiative in 2023, and was a Malmberg Scholar with the American Swedish Institute, teaching and researching in Sweden, from 2016 to 2017.

Hoffman holds a doctor of philosophy in environmental chemistry and technology with a certificate in higher education teaching and learning from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He received a bachelor of arts in biology from the University of Minnesota-Morris.

Hoffman and his wife, Megan, live in Dubuque with their two children, Madeline and Alton. As a family, they enjoy traveling, exploring the trails around Dubuque with their dog Westley, and backyard picnics with family and friends.