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:

Committee on Accountability

Adam Wright
President
Dallas Baptist University
Dallas, TX
Class of 2028

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

Sarah R. Bolton Ph.D.
President
Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA
Class of 2028

Robert J. Boyd Esq.
President
Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, Inc.
Tallahassee, FL
Class of 2027

Andrea E. Chapdelaine Ph.D.
President
Connecticut College
New London, CT
Class of 2028

Isabelle Cherney Ph.D.
President
Mount Mary University
Milwaukee, WI
Class of 2028

Xavier A. Cole Ed.D.
President
Loyola University New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
Class of 2027

Jenna Moore Colvin J.D.
President
Georgia Independent College Association
Atlanta, GA
Class of 2028

Philip E. Dearborn Ed.D.
President
Association for Biblical Higher Education
Orlando, FL
Class of 2027

Jorge G. Gonzalez Ph.D.
President
Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo, MI
Class of 2027

Daniel Hendrickson
President
Creighton University
Omaha, NE
Class of 2028

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

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

Anthony J. Leigh Ph.D.
President
Huntingdon College
Montgomery, AL
Class of 2028

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

Barbara McDonald Ed.D.
President
The College of St. Scholastica
Duluth, MN
Class of 2027

Mildred A. Mihlon, PhD
Acting President
Felician University
Rutherford, NJ
Class of 2028

Barbara Jean Morris Ph.D.
President
Prescott College
Prescott, AZ
Class of 2027

David L. Poole Ed.D.
President & Chief Executive Officer
San Diego Christian College
Santee, CA
Class of 2027

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

John W. Wells Ph.D.
President
Young Harris College
Young Harris, GA
Class of 2028

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

Committee on Policy Analysis and Public Relations

Michael J. Beals Ph.D.
President
Vanguard University of Southern California
Costa Mesa, CA
Class of 2027

Christon G. Arthur Ph.D
President
La Sierra University
Riverside, CA
Class of 2028

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

Lola W. Brabham M.P.A.
President
Commission on Independent Colleges & Universities
Albany, NY
Class of 2027

Amy Bragg Carey Ed.D.
President
Friends University
Wichita, KS
Class of 2027

Sharon DeVivo Ed.D.
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

George T. French Jr. Ph.D.
President
Clark Atlanta University
Atlanta, GA
Class of 2027

Brian L. Friedrich
President
Concordia University-Saint Paul
St. Paul, MN
Class of 2028

Jeffrey Gingerich Ph.D.
President
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure, NY
Class of 2027

Ellen M. Granberg Ph.D.
President
The George Washington University
WASHINGTON, DC
Class of 2027

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 Ed.D.
President
Martin University
Indianapolis, IN
Class of 2026

Marisa J. Kelly
President
Suffolk University
Boston, MA
Class of 2028

Deborah Obalil
President & Executive Director
Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design
Providence, RI
Class of 2028

Lisa Marsh Ryerson
President
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, NH
Class of 2028

Ryan Tipton Ph.D.
President
University of the Southwest
Hobbs, NM
Class of 2027

Manya Whitaker
Interim President
Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO
Class of 2028

Jamel Santa Cruze Wright Ph.D.
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 Student Aid

Rana Altenburg
Associate Vice President for Public Affairs
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI
Class of 2027

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

Jeffrey A. Doggett Ed.D., M.B.A
President
Wagner College
,
Class of 2028

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

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

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

D. Michael Lindsay Ph.D.
President
Taylor University
UPLAND, IN
Class of 2027

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

John P. Marsden Ph.D.
President
Midway University
Midway, KY
Class of 2028

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

Cheryl L. Nixon Ph.D.
President
Berea College
Berea, KY
Class of 2028

Karen K. Petersen Ph.D.
President
Hendrix College
Conway, AR
Class of 2027

Anne Prisco
President
Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA
Class of 2028

Nayef H. Samhat Ph.D.
President
Wofford College
Spartanburg, SC
Class of 2028

Paul Stumb IV, Ph.D.
President
Cumberland University
Lebanon, TN
Class of 2027

Beck A. Taylor Ph.D.
President
Samford University
Birmingham, AL
Class of 2028

Donald B. Taylor
President
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI
Class of 2028

Matthew Peter vandenBerg Ed.D.
President
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH
Class of 2027

Anna Drake Warshaw Ph.D.
President
The Associated Colleges of the South
Atlanta, GA
Class of 2028

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

Stephanie T. Giesecke
Assistant Vice President for Government Relations
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

Committee on Tax Policy

Bradley Andrews Ph.D.
President
Brevard College
Brevard, NC
Class of 2026

Megan Arleth
Assistant Vice President for Federal Relations
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
Class of 2028

Vanessa Beasley
President
Trinity University
San Antonio, TX
Class of 2028

Tim 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 2027

Katie Gamble
Executive Director
Independent Colleges and Universities of Missouri
Jefferson City, MO
Class of 2027

Jonathan D. Green D.M.A.
President
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, PA
Class of 2027

David Hayes
President
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA
Class of 2028

Brad Johnson
President
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO
Class of 2028

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

Robert Kelly
President
The University of Portland
Portland, OR
Class of 2027

Douglas G. Lee
President
Waynesburg University
Waynesburg, PA
Class of 2028

Paul J. Maurer
President & CEO
Montreat College
Montreat, NC
Class of 2028

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

Mark R. Nemec Ph.D.
President
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT
Class of 2027

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

Elizabeth Puthoff
President
Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas
Austin, TX
Class of 2028

Janet L. Rapelye
President
Consortium on Financing Higher Education
Cambridge, MA
Class of 2027

Vincent D. Rougeau J.D.
President
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA
Class of 2028

Larry Stimpert Ph.D.
President
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, VA
Class of 2027

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

Administration Committee

Audrey Bilger Ph.D.
President
Reed College
Portland, OR
Administration Committee

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

Rob L. Manuel Ph.D.
President
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
Administration Committee

Krista L. Newkirk J.D.
President
University of Redlands
Redlands, CA
Administration Committee

Tania Tetlow J.D.
President
Fordham University
Bronx, NY
Chair

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

Audit Committee

Krista L. Newkirk J.D.
President
University of Redlands
Redlands, CA
Audit Chair

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

Rob L. Manuel Ph.D.
President
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
Audit Committee

Tania Tetlow J.D.
President
Fordham University
Bronx, NY
Audit Committee

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


Executive Committee

Rob L. Manuel Ph.D.
President
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
Chair

Jennifer Widness J.D.
President
Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges
West Hartford, CT
NAICUSE Past Chair

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

José D. Padilla J.D.
President
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, IN
Accountabilty Committee Chair

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

Tania Tetlow J.D.
President
Fordham University
Bronx, NY
Vice Chair

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.

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

Janine P. DuMontelle
Former Vice President of Legal Affairs & General Counsel
Chapman University
Orange, CA
Class of 2027

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

Dickens "Deke" Mathieu J.D.
General Counsel and Secretary
Trinity College
Hartford, CT
Class of 2027

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

Omar A. Syed
Vice President and General Counsel
Rice University
Houston, TX
Class of 2027

Donica Varner
Vice President and General Counsel
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
Class of 2027

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