Association of American Colleges and Universities Announces Two New Directors and a New Slate of Officers for Board of Directors

Washington, DC— At its recent 2019 Annual Meeting in Atlanta, the members of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) elected two new directors and selected a slate of new officers to serve on its board of directors. Carol Leary, President of Bay Path University, was appointed chair of the board. Richard Guarasci, President of Wagner College, will continue to serve on AAC&U’s board as past chair. The members also voted to appoint William Craft, President, Concordia College, as vice chair of the board. Royce Engstrom, Professor of Chemistry, University of Montana, will continue his term as treasurer.

Two new directors were also appointed to AAC&U’s board:

• Timothy K. Eatman, Inaugural Dean of the Honors Living-Learning Community, Associate Professor of Urban Education, Rutgers University-Newark
• Mary Ann Villareal, Assistant Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, California State University-Fullerton

Dr. Eatman and Dr. Villareal are widely respected leaders in the effort to advance student success and equity, both on their own campuses and nationally.

“It is a privilege to welcome our new Board members as we work together in support of AAC&U and our President, Lynn Pasquerella,” said Carol Leary, president of Bay Path University in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. “The mission and goals of AAC&U, and our commitment to equity, inclusivity, and innovation, are more critical than ever as higher education grapples (faces) with the seismic shifts presented by the 21st-century.”

“It is an honor and a privilege to work with such an extraordinary group of higher education leaders. I look forward to learning from the insights and expertise of AAC&U’s new board members as we seek to achieve our shared objective of advancing liberal education and equity as the foundations for excellence in undergraduate education in service to democracy,” said AAC&U President, Lynn Pasquerella.

The following individuals currently serve on AAC&U’s board of directors and were reappointed for a second two-year term:

• Marjorie Hass, President, Rhodes College
• Tuajuanda Jordan, President, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
• Laurie Leshin, President, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Mary Papazian, President, San Jose State University
• Robert Pura, President (Retired), Greenfield Community College

For a complete list of AAC&U’s board of directors, visit www.aacu.org/about/board.

About AAC&U

AAC&U is the leading national association dedicated to advancing the vitality and public standing of liberal education by making quality and equity the foundations for excellence in undergraduate education in service to democracy. Its members are committed to extending the advantages of a liberal education to all students, regardless of academic specialization or intended career. Founded in 1915, AAC&U now comprises 1,400 member institutions—including accredited public and private colleges, community colleges, research universities, and comprehensive universities of every type and size.

AAC&U functions as a catalyst and facilitator, forging links among presidents, administrators, faculty, and staff engaged in institutional and curricular planning. Through a broad range of activities, AAC&U reinforces the collective commitment to liberal education at the national, local, and global levels. Its high-quality programs, publications, research, meetings, institutes, public outreach efforts, and campus-based projects help individual institutions ensure that the quality of student learning is central to their work as they evolve to meet new economic and social challenges. Information about AAC&U can be found at www.aacu.org.