Fordham University President Tania Tetlow Elected Chair of NAICU Board of Directors Full Leadership Slate Announced
WASHINGTON (June 3, 2026) – Tania Tetlow, J.D., president of Fordham University in Bronx, NY, has been elected chair of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). Tetlow leads a class of three new board officers and 13 new board members who will take office on July 1, 2026.
Founded in 1976, NAICU is the only national membership organization solely focused on representing private, nonprofit higher education on federal 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.
“Tania Tetlow is a dynamic and deeply respected leader whose commitment to academic excellence, student opportunity, and the public value of higher education reflects the very best of our sector,” said NAICU President Barbara K. Mistick, D.B.A. “At a time when independent colleges and universities face both significant challenges and extraordinary opportunities, President Tetlow’s leadership, insight, and collaborative spirit will be invaluable to NAICU and our advocacy efforts on behalf of students and institutions nationwide.”
“Independent colleges and universities play a vital role in expanding opportunities, advancing research, and strengthening communities across the country,” said Tetlow. “I’m honored to serve as chair of the NAICU Board and to work alongside President Mistick and her team, my board colleagues, and the NAICU membership to ensure policymakers understand the tremendous impact our institutions have on students and the nation’s future.”
Tetlow will succeed Rob L. Manuel, J.D., president of DePaul University (IL), who will remain on the board as immediate past chair.
Tetlow Background
Tetlow has served as the 33rd president of Fordham University since July 2022 (full bio), when she became the first layperson and first woman to hold the office since Fordham’s founding in 1841. A legal scholar and former assistant U.S. attorney, Tetlow’s more than 20-year career in higher education demonstrates a strong commitment to the transformative power of Jesuit education.
Prior to Fordham, Tetlow served as the 17th president of Loyola University New Orleans, where she was the first woman and the first layperson to lead. In addition to her service on NAICU’s board, Tetlow serves on the board of directors of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and teaches strategy in the annual Harvard Seminar for New Presidents.
Additional New NAICU Board Officers
Two other individuals were elected as board officers, serving one-year terms expiring in June 2027:
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Barry H. Corey, Ph.D., president of Biola University in La Mirada, CA, will serve as Vice Chair. He is in line to assume the board chair post in July 2027.
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Mark R. Nemec, Ph.D., president of Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT, will serve as Treasurer & Secretary.
Officers are approved by the Board of Directors and serve in their role during the final year of their three-year term.
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 NAICU Executive Committee:
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Amy B. Carey, Ed.D., president of Friends University in Wichita, KS, will serve as chair of the Audit Committee.
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Xavier A. Cole, Ed.D., president of Loyola University New Orleans in New Orleans, LA, will chair the Accountability Committee.
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Michael J. Beals, Ph.D., president of Vanguard University of Southern California in Costa Mesa, CA, will chair the Policy Analysis & Public Relations Committee.
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Paul C. Stumb IV, Ph.D., president of Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN, will chair the Student Aid Committee.
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Jonathan D. Green, D.M.A., president of Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA, will serve as chair of the Tax and Workforce Policy Committee.
Two other board members, representing allied organizations, will also serve on the Executive Committee:
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Jenna M. Colvin, J.D., president of the Georgia Independent College Association in Atlanta, GA, 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 37 states and the District of Columbia.
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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 2029, representing the association’s eight national regions:
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Marisa J. Kelly, Ph.D., president of Suffolk University in Boston, MA, will represent Region I (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont).
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Frances Bronet, president of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, will represent Region II (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York).
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Timothy J. Collins, Ed.D., president of Walsh University in North Canton, OH, will represent Region III (Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia).
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Christopher F. Roellke, Ph.D., president of Stetson University in Deland, FL, will represent Region IV (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Virginia).
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Glena G. Temple, Ph.D., president of Dominican University in River Forest, IL, will represent Region V (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin).
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Johnny M. Moore, Ph.D., president of Rust College in Holly Springs, MS, will represent Region VI (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas).
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Roger Hughes, Ph.D., president of Doane University in Crete, NE, will represent Region VII (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota).
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Manya Whitaker, Ph.D., president of Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO, 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 2029:
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Lawrence D. Czarda, Ph.D., president of Greensboro College in Greensboro, NC, will serve from Region IV.
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Robert D. Kelly, Ph.D., president of The University of Portland in Portland, OR, will serve from Region VIII.
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Melik P. Khoury, D.B.A., president of Unity Environmental University in New Gloucester, ME, will serve from Region I.
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Amy C. Novak, Ed.D., president of St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA, will serve from Region VII.
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Nathan Cook, Senior Director of Government Relations at Rice University in Houston, TX, 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 spectrum of private, nonprofit higher education in the U.S. NAICU’s 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 2023-24 totaled $839 billion, and the sector generated $122.2 billion in tax revenues and supported and sustained 4.1 million jobs.
For more information, please contact:
Dorian Wanzer