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

Policy Committees

Committee on Accountability
Committee on Policy Analysis & Public Relations
Committee on Student Aid
Committee on Tax Policy

Operational Committees

Administration Committee
Audit Committees
Executive Committee

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

Executive Committee

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

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

Marc M. Camille Ed.D.
President
Albertus Magnus College
New Haven, CT
Treasurer

Alexander W. Whitaker J.D.
President
King University
Bristol, TN
Secretary

James Troha Ph.D.
President
Juniata College
Huntingdon, PA
Audit Chair

Ann McElaney-Johnson Ph.D.
President
Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA
Accountabilty Committee Chair

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

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

Pamela Gunter-Smith Ph.D.
President
York College of Pennsylvania
York, PA
Policy Analysis and Public Relations Chair

Michael P. Schneider Ed.D.
President
McPherson College
McPherson, KS
Student Aid Committee Chair

Andrea E. Chapdelaine Ph.D.
President
Hood College
Frederick, MD
Tax Policy Chair

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

Isiaah Crawford Ph.D.
President
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA
Past Chair

Audit Committee

James Troha Ph.D.
President
Juniata College
Huntingdon, PA
Chair

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

Isiaah Crawford Ph.D.
President
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA
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

Ann McElaney-Johnson Ph.D.
President
Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA
Chair

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

Marc M. Camille Ed.D.
President
Albertus Magnus College
New Haven, CT
Class of 2023

J. Timothy Cloyd Ph.D.
President
Drury University
Springfield, MO
Class of 2024

Debbie Cottrell Ph.D.
President
Texas Lutheran University
Seguin, TX
Class of 2023

Isiaah Crawford Ph.D.
President
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA
Class of 2023

Ginny Favede
President
Wheeling University
Wheeling, WV
Class of 2025

Jacquelyn S. Fetrow Ph.D.
President
Albright College
Reading, PA
Class of 2023

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

Treva Haugaard M.P.A.
Executive Director
Council of Independent Nebraska Colleges
Omaha, 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

Christopher L. Holoman Ph.D.
President
Centenary College of Louisiana
Shreveport, LA
Class of 2023

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

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

A. Clayton Spencer J.D.
President
Bates College
Lewiston, ME
Class of 2025

Suzanne Walsh J.D., M.S.S.A.
President
Bennett College
Greensboro, NC
Class of 2024

Burton J. Webb Ph.D.
President
University of Pikeville
Pikeville, KY
Class of 2024

Christina D. West
Associate Vice Chancellor for Federal Relations
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
Class of 2023

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

Meredith Jung-En Woo Ph.D.
President
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, VA
Class of 2023

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

Michael P. Schneider Ed.D.
President
McPherson College
McPherson, KS
Chair

Michael B. Alexander
President
Lasell University
Newton, MA
Class of 2025

Marie F. Bernardo-Sousa LP.D.
President
Johnson & Wales University
Providence, RI
Class of 2023

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

John E. Cech Ph.D.
President
Carroll College
Helena, MT
Class of 2024

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

Joseph A. Favazza Ph.D.
President
Saint Anselm College
Manchester, NH
Class of 2024

Joshua D.K. Figueira J.D.
Executive Director
American Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges & Universities
Provo, UT
Class of 2023

Wayne A. I. Frederick M.D.
President
Howard University
Washington, DC
Class of 2024

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

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

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

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

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

Terri Standish-Kuon Ph.D.
President and CEO
Independent Colleges of Washington
Seattle, WA
Class of 2023

C. Reynold Verret Ph.D.
President
Xavier University of Louisiana
New Orleans, LA
Class of 2023

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

Carmen J. Walters Ph.D.
President
Tougaloo College
Tougaloo, MS
Class of 2025

Dwaun J. Warmack
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

Alexander W. Whitaker J.D.
President
King University
Bristol, TN
Class of 2023

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

Emmanual A. Guillory
Director of Student and Institutional Aid Policy
National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities
Washington, DC
Staff Liaison

Administration Committee

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

Marc M. Camille Ed.D.
President
Albertus Magnus College
New Haven, CT
Administration Committee

Isiaah Crawford Ph.D.
President
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA
Administration Committee

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

James Troha Ph.D.
President
Juniata College
Huntingdon, PA
Administration Committee

Alexander W. Whitaker J.D.
President
King University
Bristol, TN
Administration Committee

Committee on Policy Analysis and Public Relations

Pamela Gunter-Smith Ph.D.
President
York College of Pennsylvania
York, PA
Chair

Audrey Bilger Ph.D.
President
Reed College
Portland, OR
Class of 2024

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

Jeffrey R. Docking Ph.D.
President
Adrian College
Adrian, MI
Class of 2023

Thomas P. Foley J.D.
President
Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, PA
Class of 2023

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

Bruce C. Kusch Ph.D.
President
Ensign College
Salt Lake City, UT
Class of 2023

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

Ernest McNealey Ph.D.
President
Allen University
Columbia, SC
Class of 2024

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

Weymouth Spence Ed.D., R.T.
President
Washington Adventist University
Takoma Park, MD
Class of 2023

Eric F. Spina Ph.D.
President
University of Dayton
Dayton, OH
Class of 2023

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

John R. Swallow Ph.D.
President
Carthage College
Kenosha, WI
Class of 2023

Ivy R. Taylor Ed.D.
President
Rust College
Holly Springs, MS
Class of 2024

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

Marylou Yam Ph.D.
President
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Baltimore, MD
Class of 2023

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

Committee on Tax Policy

Andrea E. Chapdelaine Ph.D.
President
Hood College
Frederick, MD
Chair

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

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

Miles K. Davis Ph.D.
President
Linfield University
McMinnville, OR
Class of 2023

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

Henry J. Eyring J.D.
President
Brigham Young University-Idaho
Rexburg, ID
Class of 2024

Michael Frandsen Ph.D.
President
Wittenberg University
Springfield, OH
Class of 2023

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

Bryon L. Grigsby Ph.D.
President
Moravian University
Bethlehem, PA
Class of 2023

Bobby L. Hall Ed.D.
President
Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX
Class of 2023

Rachelle Keck J.D., Ph.D.
President
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA
Class of 2023

Jeffrey Kuan Ph.D.
President
Claremont School of Theology
Claremont, CA
Class of 2024

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

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

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 2024

Elizabeth L. Paul Ph.D.
President
Nazareth College
Rochester, NY
Class of 2025

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

James Troha Ph.D.
President
Juniata College
Huntingdon, PA
Class of 2023

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

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

Darron C. Farha J.D.
Vice President and General Counsel
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, IN
Class of 2023

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

Thomas R. West J.D.
Vice President for Government Relations and General Counsel
North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities
Raleigh, NC
Class of 2023

Jennifer Widness J.D.
President
Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges
West Hartford, CT
Class of 2023

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