Dr. James P. Collins, Virginia M. Ullman Professor of Natural History and Environment at Arizona State University, Assumes Position as Chair of the Board, taking over from Dr. Edward J. Ray, President of Oregon State University

Washington, DC—February 11, 2016—At its recent Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) named seven new directors and elected a slate of new officers. Dr. James P. Collins, Virginia M. Ullman Professor of Natural History and Environment at Arizona State University, became Chair of the Board, taking over from Dr. Edward J. Ray, President of Oregon State University. Ray will continue to serve on AAC&U’s Board Executive Committee as Past Chair. In addition to the appointment of James P. Collins, AAC&U members voted to appoint Elsa Núñez, President of Eastern Connecticut State University, as Vice Chair of the Board; Sean Decatur, President of Kenyon College, will continue in his three-year term as Treasurer of the Board.

New directors were appointed to AAC&U’s board during AAC&U’s Annual Meeting on January 23, 2016. The new directors include seven educational leaders from a wide array of institutions. They are:

Thomas Bailey, George and Abby O’Neill Professor of Economics and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
Mark Becker, President, Georgia State University
William J. Craft, President, Concordia College
Ronald Crutcher, President, University of Richmond
Alex Johnson, President, Cuyahoga Community College
Lenore Rodicio, Provost for Academic and Student Affairs, Miami Dade College
Judith R. Shapiro, President, The Teagle Foundation

"I am honored to serve AAC&U as Chair of its Board and to work with colleagues and fellow board members to advance the association’s mission to strengthen liberal education and inclusive excellence," said James P. Collins, Virginia M. Ullman Professor of Natural History and the Environment at Arizona State University and Board Chair.  "AAC&U provides the higher education community with critical leadership on the essential learning outcomes and high-impact practices that college graduates need to thrive in the workplace and in a democratic society.”

“Those who serve on AAC&U’s board are strongly committed to a high-quality liberal education for all college students,” said AAC&U President Carol Geary Schneider. “AAC&U is very fortunate to be led by talented and dedicated directors who are deeply engaged in our efforts to connect high-quality liberal learning, Americans’ global future, and the equity imperative.”

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

Grant Cornwell, President, Rollins College
Jim Grossman, Executive Director, American Historical Association
Tori Haring-Smith, President, Washington & Jefferson College
Martha Kanter, Distinguished Visiting Professor of Higher Education, New York University
Elizabeth H. Simmons, University Distinguished Professor of Physics & Dean, Lyman Briggs College, Michigan State University
Kumble Subbaswamy, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Candace Thille, Assistant Professor of Education and Senior Research Fellow, Office of the Vice Provost for Online Learning, Stanford University

For a complete listing of members of AAC&U’s board of directors, see:www.aacu.org/about/board.