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The American Association of University Administrators (AAUA) is a non-profit professional organization for higher education leaders and administrative personnel. It is the only professional association for individuals who are interested in the entire range of higher education management (from department chair/unit director through president) in the entire diverse set of American colleges and universities (two- and four-year; public, private non-profit, private for-profit; comprehensive, research-focused, special mission).

Membership in AAUA helps support the association’s mission. In addition, membership provides—for those members who have an interest—opportunities for professional networking and leadership. In addition to enrolling and serving a significant complement of administrators at the most senior levels, the association is also interested in assisting early-career practitioner administrators build/enhance their leadership portfolios by providing leadership opportunities through service on association committees, boards, and taskforces. Opportunities to collaborate on offering professional development services are available as well.

WHAT WE REPRESENT

The association works actively to:

  • Promote the professional development of individuals engaged in the administration of higher education.

  • Establish ethical and professional standards for administrators and institutions of higher education.

  • Cultivate the mutuality of interests of those engaged in or concerned with the administration of higher education.

  • Represent locally or nationally the interests of members of AAUA in the affairs of institutions of higher education.

AAUA has developed and promoted a widely-respected policy document: AAUA “Ethical Principles for College and University Administrators.” The Association publishes a quarterly member newsletter, Communiqué.

Each year the Association sponsors a “think-tank type” leadership seminar that enrolls a wide range of practitioner administrators and students of higher education from a variety of institutional types, including a significant international participation.

While membership in AAUA is individually focused, the association does provide for institutionally-supported memberships, with discounted rates to academic institutions that sponsor five or more members. (See our membership for more information).

OUR VALUES

OUR MISSION

The mission of the American Association of University Administrators is to develop and advance superior standards for the profession of higher education administration. Through its policy statements, programs, and services the Association emphasizes the responsibility of administrators, at all levels, to demonstrate moral and ethical leadership in the exercise of all their duties.

To achieve these ends the Association provides, through programs and services, opportunities for the professional development of its members, whether they be employed by colleges, universities, specialized institutions, or professional associations.

As university administrators, we are committed to doing what is right in the exercise of our professional duties and responsibilities. Embracing higher education as both a profession and vocation, we recognize that high ethical standards are critical to maintaining the public’s trust. These Principles describe the expectations we have for ourselves and our fellow administrators. They articulate the ideals to which we aspire and the ethical behaviors that define our profession.

By affirming these Principles, both individually and collectively, we hope to increase our capacity to make ethical decisions, particularly in those situations that may challenge our integrity or professional standards. We also intend for these Principles to stimulate a dialogue among university administrators on our shared responsibility to serve as ethical leaders, both within our institutions and throughout higher education.

Read Guiding Principles

Exceptional Leadership

AAUA Officers and Board of Directors, 2023-2024

(Underlined names are linked to additional information.)

OFFICERS & EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Chairperson – William Hill, Assistant Dean, College of Education, Wayne State University.

Chairperson-elect – Greg Paveza, Consultant/Owner, Thunderbird Higher Education Consulting.

Vice Chairperson for Awards – Jerome E. Neuner, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Canisius College (retired).

Vice Chairperson for Membership – Christopher Blake, President, Middle Georgia State University.

Vice Chairperson for Professional Development – Sandra Affenito, Vice Chancellor for Academic Administration, Johnson & Wales University.

Vice Chairperson for Publications – Sr. Ann M. Heath, IHM, Director of Doctoral Program in Higher Education, Immaculata University.

Vice Chairperson and Treasurer – Thomas J. Botzman, President, University of Mount Union (retired).

Immediate Past Chairperson – Christine Cavanaugh, President and Executive Coach, Pathseekers II, Inc.

President and Chief Executive Officer – Dean Hoke, American Association of University Administrators.

DIRECTORS

(The year noted next to a board member’s name indicates expiration of that director’s term.)

Damon Andrew, Dean, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, Florida State University.

Raymond Bandlow, Professor and Director of Doctoral Programs in Education, Gwynedd Mercy University. (2026)

Joe Bertolino, President, Stockton University. (2026)

Eve Krahe Billings, Dean of Academic Innovation and Evaluation, University of Phoenix. (2024)

Santarvis Brown, Fellow, Governance Institute for School Accountability. (2025)

Lynn M. Burks, Chief Associate, HYA Associates Education. (2024)

Daniel Campbell, Director of Institutional Research, University of Alaska Anchorage. (2024)

Ruma Chopra, Dean of the School for Cultural and Social Transformation, University of Utah. (2024)

Kathleen Ciez-Volz, Associate Provost of Curriculum and Instruction, Florida State College at Jacksonville. (2025)

Colin M. Coyne, Chief Strategy Officer, Samford University. (2024)

Judson C. Edwards, Dean, Sorrell College of Business, Troy University. (2024)

Henry Findlay, Assistant Dean, School of Education, Tuskegee University (retired). (2026)

L. Dean Fisher, President, College of Southern Idaho. (2025)

Beth Gill, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Austin College. (2026)

Tymon M. Graham, Associate Vice President for Student Services, Edward Waters University. (2025)

Junius Gonzales, Provost and Senior Vice President Montclair State University. (2026)

Chris Hubbard-Jackson, Dean of Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness, Saint Charles Community College. (2026)

C. Eric Kirkland, Former Rector, Zetta University (Romania).

Karen M. Lee, Associate Vice President for Academic Administration, University of Detroit Mercy. (2024)

Pedro Martinez, Professor of Education, Central State University. (2024)

Michael Mathews, Vice President for Innovation and Technology, Oral Roberts University. (2025)

Scott E. Miller, Special Assistant to Provost, Pennsylvania Western University. (2025)

Tye V. Minckler, independent higher education consultant. (2024)

Roland W. Mitchell, Dean, College of Human Sciences and Education, Louisiana State University. (2025)

David Nickel, independent higher education consultant. (2025)

James M. Owston, Online Instructional Design Coach, Concord University. (2026)

Rose A. Rossi, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, School of Nursing, Widener University. (2026)

Barry Ryan, President and CEO Woodbury University. (2026)

Joe Sallustio,  Senior Vice President Lindenwood University. (2026)

Lance E. Tatum, President, Northwest Missouri State University. (2025)

Shelley B. Wepner, Professor of Education, Manhattanville College. (2025)

Helen Easterling Williams, Vice Chancellor, Advancement Pepperdine University. (2026)

Julie E. Wollman, Professor of Practice in Higher Education, University of Pennsylvania. President Emerita, Widener University. (2024)

Past Presiding Officers

1971 – 2013: President
Since 2013: Chair of the Board of Directors

1971 – 1973
Robert W. MacVittie
State University of New York College at Geneseo

1973 – 1975
Earle W. Clifford, Jr.
Fairleigh Dickinson University

1975 – 1977
H. J. Zoffer
University of Pittsburgh

1977 – 1979
John L. Blackburn
University of Alabama

1979 – 1981
Edmund G. Ryan, S.J.
Canisius College

1981 – 1983
Dwight A. Burrill
Howard Community College

1983 – 1984
Charles M. Chambers
Lawrence Technological University

1984 – 1985
Alan Watson

1985 – 1986
John L. Blackburn
University of Alabama

1986 – 1988
Leo Goodman-Malamuth
Governors State University

1988 – 1990
Catherine R. Gira
Frostburg State University

1990 – 1992
Fred J. Kelly
Monmouth University

1992 – 1994
Ronald Stein
State University of New York at Buffalo

1994 – 1996
Mildred Garcia
Montclair State University

1996 – 1998
Jerry W. Young
Chaffey Community College

1998 – 2000
Stephen J. Trachtenberg
George Washington University

2000 – 2001
Jerome Neuner
Canisius College

2001 – 2002
Valerie Epps
Atlanta Metropolitan College

2002 – 2003
William Nunez, III
Louisiana State University Eunice

2003 – 2004
Ruth Person
University of Indiana Kokomo

2004 – 2005
Stefanos Gialamas
Columbia College Chicago

2005 – 2006
C. Leslie Carpenter
University of South Carolina Sumter

2006 – 2007
Richard V. Hurley
University of Mary Washington

2007 – 2008
Wil C. Goodheer
The International University (Austria)

2008 – 2009
Abour Cherif
DeVry University

2009 – 2010
Christine Somervill
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

2010 – 2011
Sheila Taylor-King
Granite State College

2011 – 2013
David Overbye
Realtor University

2013 – 2014
Bashar W. Hanna
Delaware Valley College

2014 – 2015
Jerome Neuner
Canisius College

2015 – 2017
Damon P. S. Andrew
Louisiana State University

2017 – 2018
C. Erik Kirkland
Salem University

2018 – 2019
Michele Cuomo
Seminole State College

2019 – 2022
Christine K. Cavanaugh
Pathseekers II, Inc.

Former Association Executive Officers

William Wachob, 1970 – 1972

Fred A. Bennett, 1972 – 1977

Edmund G. Ryan, S.J., 1977 – 1978

Patricia A. Hollander, 1978 – 1979

Robert W. MacVittie, 1979 – 1981

Charles E. Perry, 1981 – 1984

William C. McInnes, S.J., 1985

John L. Blackburn, 1985 – 1990

Susan B. Kaplan, 1990 – 1993

John L. Blackburn, 1993 – 1997

Alan Watson, 1997 – 2004

Dan L. King, 2004 – 2023

AAUA Pioneers

The Charter Membership of AAUA in 1970

Carl E. Anderson
Howard University

G. Lester Anderson
Pennsylvania State University

Henry L. Ashmore
Armstrong State College

Warren Bennis
State University of New York at Buffalo

Robert C. Berdahl
State University of New York at Buffalo

Robert Bermer
State University of New York at Buffalo

Albert Berrian
New York State Department of Education

John L. Blackburn
University of Denver

Richard G. Brandenburg
State University of New York at Buffalo

Herman Branson
Central State University

Channing M. Briggs
Portland State College

Glen E. Brooks
Colorado College

Neil Brown, Jr.
State University of New York at Albany

Donald R. Brutvan
State University of New York at Buffalo

William R. Butler
University of Miami

George Chambers
Nassau Community College

Douglas C Chapin
National Science Foundation

J. C. Clevenger
Washington State University

Earle Clifford
Rutgers University

William Deegan
California Junior College Association

Richard T. Deters, S.J.
Xavier University

William R. Dodge
State University of New York

Edward Doty
State University of New York at Buffalo

Stanley Drazek
University of Moreford

Morton Ertell
State University of New York

Jerome Fink
State University of New York at Buffalo

Hugh Gloster
Morehouse College

Joseph P. Goddard
University of Tennessee

Harold Goodwin
West Virginia University

Elizabeth A. Greenleaf
Indiana University

Rollo Ilandy
State University of New York at Buffalo

Stanley J. Heywood
Eastern Montana College

Harld L. Hodgkinson
University of California at Berkeley

Andrew W. Holt
State University of New York at Buffalo

Cyril Houle
University of Chicago

William Huffman
University of Louisville

Allen Jossey-Bass
Jossey-Bass Publishers

Robert L. Ketter
State University of New York at Buffalo

Robert Kibbee
Carnegie Mellon University

Daniel R. Lang
Northwestern University

Harry S. Layton
Rutgers University

Frederick T. Lenfestey
Polk Junior College

Charles Lewis
Pennsylvania State University

Robert D. Loken
State University of New York at Buffalo

Sanford Lottor
State University of New York at Buffalo

Robert W. MacVittie
State University College at Geneseo

Richard A. Matre
Loyola University

William C. McInnes
Fairfield University

Ernest E. McMahon
Rutgers University

Richard Meeth
State University of New York at Buffalo

G. A. Mellander
York College of Pennsylvania

H. J. Metcalf
University of Chicago

Martin Meyerson
University of Pennsylvania

Nicholas P. Mitchell
University of South Carolina

Stephen Mitchell
Washington State University

Marjorie Mix
State University of New York at Buffalo

Daniel H. Murray
State University of New York at Buffalo

T. Roger Nudd
University of Houston

James Perch
Manhattan College

Martha Peterson
Barnard College

Frank Piskor
St. Lawrence University

John F. Price
State University College at New Paltz

Claude Puffer
State University of New York at Buffalo

Leslie W. Ross
U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare

Wesley Rowland
State University of New York at Buffalo

Thomas J. Schillo
State University of New York at Buffalo

E. Joseph Shoben
Evergreen State College

Richard A. Siggelkow
State University of New York at Buffalo

Herman B. Smith, Jr.
National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges

Albert Somit
State University of New York at Buffalo

Robert Spencer
State University of New York

Hamilton Stillwell
Rutgers University

Robert Taylor
University of Wisconsin

Clarence H. Thompson
Drake University

Clifton C. Thorne
State University of New York at Albany

Ralph Tyler
Sience Research Associates

William C. Venman
University of Massachusetts

Louis Venuto
U. S. Office of Education

Roman J. Verhaalan
Johns Hopkins University

Raymond P. Witte
St. Mary’s Dominican College

Victor R. Yanitelli, S.J.
St. Peter’s College

H. J. Zoffer
University of Pittsburgh

Contact Information

All inquires and correspondence regarding association matters should be directed to the association’s chief executive officer:

Dean Hoke, AAUA President & CEO
dean.hoke@aaua.org
502-257-1063

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