National Association of Independent College and University State Executives

The leaders of the state associations representing independent colleges and universities comprise the National Association of Independent College and University State Executives (NAICUSE).  State associations that are members of NAICUSE are also members of NAICU. Currently, 38 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are represented in NAICUSE. The state association presidents have been an integral partner in support of NAICU’s advocacy on behalf of private, nonprofit colleges and universities. 

The convergence of federal-state issues in education policy has placed a premium on the NAICU-NAICUSE relationship. The organizations work together to develop NAICU's “Home and Away, Capitol Conversations” strategy. NAICUSE members schedule Hill visits for presidents during NAICU’s Annual Meeting and Advocacy Day in Washington, DC. Members of the NAICU staff are frequently invited to present or facilitate policy discussions with NAICUSE boards, students on state lobby days, or advocacy coalitions.  

The State Executives have an informal motto, “Every State is Different,” and that is reflected in the size and shape of their individual organizations. 

Officers

NAICUSE Chair: Mr. Robert LeFevre (Michigan Independent Colleges & Universities)
NAICUSE Vice Chair: Ms. Jennifer Widness (Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges)
Paul A. Hankins  
President
Alabama Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
Montgomery, AL

Andy Goodman  
President & Executive Director
Arkansas' Independent Colleges & Universities
Little Rock, AR

Kristen F. Soares  
President
Association of Independent California Colleges & Universities
Sacramento, CA

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

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

Daniel P. Egan M.Ed.  
President
Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of Rhode Island
Providence, RI

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

Carmen J. Cividanes-Lago Ph.D.  
Executive Director
Association of Private Colleges and Universities of Puerto Rico
San Juan, PR

Kimberly Jessup  
President
Association of Vermont Independent Colleges
Montpelier, VT

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

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

Andrew Flagel Ph.D.  
President and CEO
Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area
Washington, DC

Christopher K. Peace Esq.  
President
Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia
Richmond, VA

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

David W. Tretter M.P.A.  
President
Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities
Springfield, IL

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

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

William Gamble  
Executive Director
Independent Colleges and Universities of Missouri
Jefferson City, MO

Stephen “Steve” R. Reynolds J.D.  
President
Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey
Trenton, NJ

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

Dottie L. King Ph.D.  
President and CEO
Independent Colleges of Indiana
Indianapolis, IN

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

Mark J. Cavanaugh  
Executive Director
Independent Higher Education of Colorado
Denver, CO

Gary Steinke  
President
Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
West Des Moines, IA

Matt E. Lindsey M.P.P.  
President
Kansas Independent College Association
Topeka, KS

Eric A. Turner  
President & CEO
Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
Baton Rouge, LA

Daniel W. Walker  
Partner
Maine Independent Colleges Association
Augusta, ME

Matthew Power  
President
Maryland Independent College and University Association
Annapolis, MD

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

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

Jason Dean Ph.D.  
Executive Director
Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges & Universities
Clinton, MS

Debby Scire  
President and CEO
New Hampshire College & University Council
Concord, NH

A. Hope Williams Ph.D.  
President
North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities
Raleigh, NC

Timothy W. Eaton Ph.D.  
OICU Director
Oklahoma Independent Colleges and Universities
Moore, OK

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

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

Claude Pressnell Ed.D.  
President
Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association
Nashville, TN

Ben Beakes  
Executive Director
West Virginia Independent Colleges and Universities
Charleston, WV

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