DePaul University President Robert L. Manuel Elected Chair of NAICU Board of Directors

WASHINGTON (May 14, 2025) – Robert L. Manuel, Ph.D., president of DePaul University in Chicago, IL, has been elected chair of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). Manuel leads a class of four new board officers and 14 new board members who will take office on July 1, 2025.

Founded in 1976, NAICU is the only national membership organization solely focused on representing private, nonprofit higher education on public policy issues in Washington, DC. NAICU board members set the association’s agenda on federal higher education policy, actively encourage support for the association’s priorities and initiatives, and oversee the organization’s financial administration. Board members serve three-year terms, while officers serve one-year terms.

“Rob Manuel brings a visionary spirit and deep commitment to access and innovation in higher education,” said NAICU President Barbara K. Mistick, D.B.A. “His leadership as chair of the NAICU Board comes at a critical time for our sector, and I have no doubt he will guide our work with clarity, courage, and purpose. I look forward to partnering with him as we advocate for the value and strength of America’s private, nonprofit colleges and universities.”

Manuel will succeed Mary Dana Hinton, Ph.D., president of Hollins University (VA), who will remain on the board as immediate past chair.

“Higher education is at an inflection point. The NAICU network is vital to ensuring the voices of private, nonprofit higher education - and every student we serve - are heard by policymakers across the country,” Manuel said. “This is a pivotal moment for higher education to reaffirm its essential role in fostering opportunity, advancing knowledge, and empowering individuals to reach their full potential and fuel our economy. I’m honored to work with the NAICU leadership and staff to help lead our many advocacy efforts.”

“Throughout his career President Manuel has consistently prioritized expanding access and supporting the success of all students,” said Mistick. “His experience will be important as we continue to look to the future to better serve our students and campus communities.”

Manuel began his term as DePaul University’s 13th president on Aug. 1, 2022, and has more than 30 years of academic excellence in higher education. Prior to DePaul, he served as president at the University of Indianapolis, a faith-based institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

In addition to his service on NAICU’s board, Manuel is a member of the Cristo Rey Network Board of Directors, EAB President’s Advisory Board, and a board member of the Institute of International Education.

Other New NAICU Board Officers

Two other individuals were elected as Board officers, serving one-year terms expiring in June 2026:

• Tania Tetlow, J.D., president of Fordham University in New York, NY, will serve as Vice Chair. She is in line to assume the board chair post in July 2026.
• Audrey Bilger, Ph.D., president of Reed College in Portland, OR, will serve as Treasurer & Secretary.

Five board members have been appointed as chairs of the association’s standing committees on policy and programs and will join the officers as members of the Executive Committee:

• Krista L. Newkirk, J.D., president of University of Redlands in Redlands, CA, will serve as chair of the Audit Committee.
• David A. Armstrong, J.D., president of St. Thomas University in Miami, FL, will chair the Committee on Accountability.
• Sean L. Huddleston, Ed.D., president of Martin University in Indianapolis, IN, will chair the Committee on Policy Analysis & Public Relations.
• Gilberto J. Marxuach-Torrós, J.D., president of Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, in San Juan, PR, will chair the Committee on Student Aid.
• Rachelle K. Keck, Ph.D., J.D., president of Grand View University in Des Moines, IA, will serve as chair of the Committee on Tax Policy.

Two other board members, representing allied organizations, will also serve on the Executive Committee:

• Robert J. Boyd, Esq., president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, Inc. in Tallahassee, FL, will represent the National Association of Independent College and University State Executives, whose members lead the state associations of private, nonprofit colleges and universities in 38 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
• Philip E. Dearborn, Ed.D., president of the Association for Biblical Higher Education in Orlando, FL, will represent the NAICU Secretariat. The Secretariat consists of 26 member associations representing the many regional and special-purpose independent colleges and universities across the country.

New NAICU Board Members

Eight individuals were elected to three-year terms ending in June 2028, representing the association’s eight national regions:

• Lisa M. Ryerson, president of Southern New Hampshire University, in Manchester, NH, will represent Region I (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont).
• Mildred Mihlon, Ph.D., president of Felician University in Rutherford, NJ, will represent Region II (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York).
• John P. Marsden, Ph.D., president of Midway University in Midway, KY, will represent Region III (Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia).
• Nayef H. Samhat, Ph.D., president of Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC, will represent Region IV (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia).
• Isabelle Cherney, Ph.D., president of Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, WI, will represent Region V (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin).
• Beck A. Taylor, Ph.D., president of Samford University in Birmingham, AL, will represent Region VI (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas).
• Brian L. Friedrich, M.Div., Ph.D., president of Concordia University-St. Paul in St. Paul, MN, will represent Region VII (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota).
• Sarah R. Bolton, Ph.D., president of Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA, will represent Region VIII (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming).

Five additional individuals were appointed to three-year terms as at-large board members with terms ending in June 2028:

• Christon G. Arthur, Ph.D., president of La Sierra University in Riverside, CA, will serve from Region VIII.
• Vanessa Beasley, Ph.D., president of Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, will serve from Region VI.
• Cheryl L. Nixon, Ph.D., president of Berea College in Berea, KY, will serve from Region III.
• Vincent D. Rougeau, Ph.D., president of College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, will serve from Region I.
• Megan Arleth, Assistant Vice President for Federal Relations at Stanford University in Stanford, CA, will serve as an ad hoc, nonvoting member representing government affairs officers.

At-large members are appointed to redress any imbalances in the membership of the board.

The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) serves as the unified voice for the 1,700 private, nonprofit colleges and universities in our nation. Founded in 1976, NAICU is the only national membership organization solely focused on representing private, nonprofit higher education on public policy issues in Washington, DC. NAICU’s membership reflects the diversity of private, nonprofit higher education in the U.S. Our member institutions include major research universities, faith-based colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions and other Minority-Serving Institutions, art and design colleges, conservatories of music, traditional liberal arts and science institutions, women’s colleges, work colleges, two-year colleges and schools of law, medicine, engineering, business and other professions.

Each year, private, nonprofit colleges and universities graduate more than 1.2 million students. Additionally, the economic impact of the private, nonprofit sector of higher education for academic year 2022-23 totaled $652 billion, and the sector generated $99 billion in tax revenues and supported and sustained 3.4 million jobs.