Committees

 

The NAICU Board sponsors seven committees comprised of board members and select members of the association membership. Four committees deal with public policy issues, while three operational committees focus on internal NAICU policies and procedures

Read more about the Association Governance Structure. Committee members for the current year are:


Executive Committee

Constance Ledoux Book Ph.D.
President
Elon University
Elon, NC
Chair

Mary Dana Hinton Ph.D.
President
Hollins University
Roanoke, VA
Vice Chair

Paul C. Pribbenow Ph.D.
President
Augsburg University
Minneapolis, MN
Treasurer

Gregory G. Dell'Omo Ph.D.
President
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ
Audit Chair

Burton J. Webb Ph.D.
President
University of Pikeville
Pikeville, KY
Accountabilty Committee Chair

Robert LeFevre J.D.
President
Michigan Independent Colleges & Universities
Lansing, MI
NAICUSE Chair

Ernest McNealey Ph.D.
President
Allen University
Columbia, SC
Policy Analysis and Public Relations Chair

John E. Cech Ph.D.
President
Carroll College
Helena, MT
Student Aid Committee Chair

Elizabeth L. Paul Ph.D.
President
Nazareth University
Rochester, NY
Tax Policy Chair

Dennis H. Holtschneider CM, Ed.D.
President
Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
Washington, DC
Secretariat Chair

Eric F. Spina Ph.D.
President
University of Dayton
Dayton, OH
Past Chair

Barbara K. Mistick D.M.
President
National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities
Washington, DC
NAICU President

Audit Committee

Gregory G. Dell'Omo Ph.D.
President
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ
Audit Chair

Mary Dana Hinton Ph.D.
President
Hollins University
Roanoke, VA
Audit Committee

Eric F. Spina Ph.D.
President
University of Dayton
Dayton, OH
Audit Committee

Constance Ledoux Book Ph.D.
President
Elon University
Elon, NC
Audit Committee

Vonda Dickson
Director of Finance and Administration
National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities
Washington, DC
Staff Liaison

Committee on Accountability

Burton J. Webb Ph.D.
President
University of Pikeville
Pikeville, KY
Accountabilty Committee Chair

David A. Armstrong J.D.
President
St. Thomas University
Miami, FL
Class of 2026

Constance Ledoux Book Ph.D.
President
Elon University
Elon, NC
Class of 2023

Nora Demleitner J.D., LLM
President
St. John's College
Annapolis, MD
Class of 2026

Ginny Favede
President
Wheeling University
Wheeling, WV
Class of 2025

Natalie Harder Ph.D.
President
Coker University
Hartsville, SC
Class of 2024

Treva Haugaard M.P.A.
Executive Director
Council of Independent Nebraska Colleges
Bellevue, NE
Class of 2024

Mary Hawkins Ph.D.
President
Bellevue University
Bellevue, NE
Class of 2025

Mary Dana Hinton Ph.D.
President
Hollins University
Roanoke, VA
Class of 2024

Brian T. Keech
Senior Vice President, Government and Community Relations
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA
Class of 2026

Joseph G. Marina S.J.
President
The University of Scranton
Scranton, PA
Class of 2026

Robert McCarron J.D.
President
Association of Independent Colleges & Universities in Massachusetts
Bellmont, MA
Class of 2025

Thayne M. McCulloh D. Phil.
President
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA
Class of 2025

Barbara Jean Morris Ph.D.
President
Prescott College
Prescott, AZ
Class of 2026

Deborah Obalil
President & Executive Director
Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design
Providence, RI
Class of 2024

Jose D. Padilla J.D.
President
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, IN
Class of 2025

Paul C. Pribbenow Ph.D.
President
Augsburg University
Minneapolis, MN
Class of 2024

Tania Tetlow J.D.
President
Fordham University
Bronx, NY
Class of 2026

Suzanne E. Walsh J.D., M.S.S.A.
President
Bennett College
Greensboro, NC
Class of 2026

Lori S. White Ph.D.
President
DePauw University
Greencastle, IN
Class of 2024

Jane Wood Ph.D.
President
Bluffton University
Bluffton, OH
Class of 2025

Jody Feder J.D.
Director of Accountability and Regulatory Affairs
National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities
Washington, DC
Staff Liaison

Committee on Student Aid

John E. Cech Ph.D.
President
Carroll College
Helena, MT
Student Aid Committee Chair

Marie F. Bernardo-Sousa LP.D.
President
Johnson & Wales University
Providence, RI
Class of 2026

Nancy H. Blattner Ph.D.
President
Fontbonne University
St. Louis, MO
Class of 2024

Marc M. Camille Ed.D.
President
Albertus Magnus College
New Haven, CT
Class of 2024

Paulette R. Dillard Ph.D.
President
Shaw University
Raleigh, NC
Class of 2024

Tracy Y. Espy Ph.D.
President
Mitchell College
New London, CT
Class of 2026

Montserrat Fuentes Ph.D.
President
St. Edward's University
Austin, TX
Class of 2025

Eric W. Fulcomer Ph.D.
President
Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
Madison, WI
Class of 2026

LaVerne T. Harmon Ed.D.
President
Wilmington University
New Castle, DE
Class of 2025

Joseph J. Helble
President
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
Class of 2026

Dennis H. Holtschneider CM, Ed.D.
President
Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
Washington, DC
Secretariat Chair

Brian L. Johnson
President
Warner Pacific University
Portland, OR
Class of 2026

Paula Johnson
President
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA
Class of 2025

Robert L. Manuel Ph.D.
President
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
Class of 2025

Gilberto J. Marxuach-Torros J.D.
President
University of the Sacred Heart
San Juan, PR
Class of 2026

Anne A. Skleder Ph.D.
President
Brenau University
Gainesville, GA
Class of 2025

H. Keith Wade D.B.A.
President & CEO
Webber International University
Babson Park, FL
Class of 2024

Dwaun J. Warmack Ed.D.
President
Claflin University
Orangeburg, SC
Class of 2025

Leslie Ford Weber
Director, Government & Community Relations, Montgomery County, and Federal Strategy
Johns Hopkins University
Bethesda, MD
Class of 2024

Jennifer Widness J.D.
President
Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges
West Hartford, CT
Class of 2026

Stephanie T. Giesecke
Senior Director for Budget & Appropriations
National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities
Washington, DC
Staff Liaison

Justin Monk
Director of Student and Institutional Aid Policy
National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities
Washington, DC
Staff Liaison

Administration Committee

Mary Dana Hinton Ph.D.
President
Hollins University
Roanoke, VA
Administration Chair

Constance Ledoux Book Ph.D.
President
Elon University
Elon, NC
Administration Committee

Eric F. Spina Ph.D.
President
University of Dayton
Dayton, OH
Administration Committee

Gregory G. Dell'Omo Ph.D.
President
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ
Administration Committee

Paul C. Pribbenow Ph.D.
President
Augsburg University
Minneapolis, MN
Administration Committee

Committee on Policy Analysis and Public Relations

Ernest McNealey Ph.D.
President
Allen University
Columbia, SC
Policy Analysis and Public Relations Chair

Michael Beals
President
Vanguard University of Southern California
Costa Mesa, CA
Class of 2026

Audrey Bilger Ph.D.
President
Reed College
Portland, OR
Class of 2026

Brad Carson J.D.
President
University of Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
Class of 2026

Gary B. Crosby Ph.D.
President
Saint Elizabeth University
Morristown, NJ
Class of 2025

Gregory G. Dell'Omo Ph.D.
President
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ
Class of 2024

Sharon DeVivo
President
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
Flushing, NY
Class of 2026

Mason Dyer
President
Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges & Universities
Frankfort, KY
Class of 2026

Anne F. Harris Ph.D.
President
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA
Class of 2024

Robin Helene Holmes-Sullivan Ph.D.
President
Lewis and Clark College
Portland, OR
Class of 2026

Joseph Hopkins
President
Campbellsville University
Campbellsville, KY
Class of 2026

Sean L. Huddleston
President
Martin University
Indianapolis, IN
Class of 2026

Richanne C. Mankey Ed.D.
President
Defiance College
Defiance, OH
Class of 2025

Michael A. McDonald Ph.D.
President
Great Lakes Colleges Association
Ann Arbor, MI
Secretariat Vice Chair

L. Jeffrey Perez Ph.D.
President & CEO
South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities
Columbia, SC
Class of 2024

Suzanne M. Rivera Ph.D.
President
Macalester College
St. Paul, MN
Class of 2025

Eric F. Spina Ph.D.
President
University of Dayton
Dayton, OH
Class of 2022

G. Gabrielle Starr Ph.D.
President
Pomona College
Claremont, CA
Class of 2025

John Y. Walz Ph.D.
President
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, WI
Class of 2024

Jamel Santa Cruze Wright
President
Eureka College
Eureka, IL
Class of 2026

Marylou Yam Ph.D.
President
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Baltimore, MD
Class of 2026

Pete Boyle
Vice President for Public Affairs
National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities
Washington, DC
Staff Liaison

Elizabeth Bishop Gemoets
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities
Washington, DC
Staff Liaison

Committee on Tax Policy

Elizabeth L. Paul Ph.D.
President
Nazareth University
Rochester, NY
Tax Policy Chair

Bradley Andrews
President
Brevard College
Brevard, NC
Class of 2026

Irma Becerra Ph.D.
President
Marymount University
Arlington, VA
Class of 2024

Nate Brandstater Ph.D.
President
Kettering College
Kettering, OH
Class of 2024

Timothy J. Collins Ed.D.
President
Walsh University
North Canton, OH
Class of 2026

Barry H. Corey Ph.D.
President
Biola University
La Mirada, CA
Class of 2024

Sandra J. Doran J.D.
President
Bay Path University
Longmeadow, MA
Class of 2024

Roger D. Drake Ed.D.
President
Central Methodist University
Fayette, MO
Class of 2025

Jonathan D. Green D.M.A.
President
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, PA
Class of 2024

Rachelle K. Keck Ph.D., J.D.
President
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA
Class of 2026

Robert LeFevre J.D.
President
Michigan Independent Colleges & Universities
Lansing, MI
Class of 2025

John P. Marsden Ph.D.
President
Midway University
Midway, KY
Class of 2025

Charlie T. McCormick Ph.D.
President
Schreiner University
Kerrville, TX
Class of 2025

Elizabeth M. Meade Ph.D.
President
Cedar Crest College
Allentown, PA
Class of 2026

Dianne Miller J.D.
Senior Director, Federal Relations, Washington Office
Cornell University
Washington, DC
Class of 2025

Krista L. Newkirk J.D.
President
University of Redlands
Redlands, CA
Class of 2026

Stefanie Niles
President
Cottey College
Nevada, MO
Class of 2026

Samuel A. Smith Ed.D.
President
York University
York, NE
Class of 2026

Elissa Tenny Ed.D.
President
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Class of 2025

Brent Wilder M.A.I.S.
President
Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities
Tualatin, OR
Class of 2024

Karin L. Johns
Director of Tax Policy
National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities
Washington, DC
Staff Liaison

The Legal Services Review Panel 


The Legal Services Review Panel evaluates legal issues affecting independent colleges and universities, and advises members on the implications of precedent-setting litigation.

Legal Services Review Panel

Paul Cerkvenik J.D.
President
Minnesota Private Colleges
St. Paul, MN
Class of 2026

Darron C. Farha J.D.
Vice President and General Counsel
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, IN
Class of 2026

Alexandra Schimmer
Vice President & General Counsel, Secretary of University Board of Trustees
Denison University
Granville, OH
Class of 2026

Stephen D. Sencer J.D.
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Emory University
Atlanta, GA
Chair

Robert J. Boyd Esq.
President
Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, Inc.
Tallahassee, FL
Class of 2025

Janine P. DuMontelle
Vice President of Legal Affairs & General Counsel
Chapman University
Orange, CA
Class of 2024

Joshua D.K. Figueira J.D.
Executive Director
American Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges & Universities
Provo, UT
Class of 2025

C. Todd Jones J.D.
President and General Counsel
Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio
Columbus, OH
Class of 2024

Sharmaine Bradham LaMar J.D.
General Counsel
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA
Class of 2025

Dickens "Deke" Mathieu J.D.
General Counsel and Secretary
Trinity College
Hartford, CT
Class of 2024

Jody Feder J.D.
Director of Accountability and Regulatory Affairs
National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities
Washington, DC
Staff Liaison