President Thomas joins national leadership team of private, nonprofit colleges association
TACOMA, Wash. – University of Puget Sound President Ronald R. Thomas has been elected to the board of directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), joining his peers from across the nation to represent the voice of private, nonprofit institutions on a national level.
Thomas will be formally appointed to a three-year term on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at NAICU’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Members of the board set the association’s agenda on federal higher education policy and oversee its financial administration. The 44-member board also encourages support of NAICU priorities and initiatives.
“President Thomas was selected by his peers because of his expertise in the field, proven leadership, and commitment to America’s college students,” said NAICU President David L. Warren. “He assumes his responsibilities at a time of great challenge and transformation for American higher education.”
Since assuming the role of president at Puget Sound a decade ago, Thomas has served in numerous positions representing the higher education sector, including as a member of the board of directors for the American Council on Education, and as a member of the Education Cabinet of the Chronicle of Higher Education and The New York Times. He is former chair of the board of Independent Colleges of Washington and served on the NCAA Division III President’s Council. Thomas is a current member of the executive committee of the Annapolis Group, a consortium of about 130 leading, national independent liberal arts colleges.
Thomas is the 13th president of Puget Sound since its founding in Tacoma 125 years ago in 1888. He has led the selective, residential liberal arts college in three critical planning efforts: a 20-year master plan for enhancement of Puget Sound’s inspiring campus; a strategic plan to position the university as a national leader in liberal arts education; and the $125 million One [of a Kind] capital campaign—the most ambitious in the university’s history and more than twice the size of any previous campaign goal. To date more than $90 million has been committed.
NAICU serves as a national voice for independent higher education. Since 1976 it has addressed federal government policy issues such as student aid, taxation, and government regulation. NAICU’s more than 1,000 member institutions and associations enroll nine out of every 10 students attending private institutions. Its members range widely, including traditional liberal arts colleges; major research universities; historically black colleges; art institutions; and schools of law, medicine, business, and engineering.
Press photos of President Ronald R. Thomas can be downloaded from: www.pugetsound.edu/pressphotos
Tweet this: Congrats Pres. Ron Thomas @univpugetsound ! Elected to board of @NAICUtweets, #NAICU, national voice of independent #colleges. http://bit.ly/UARok0
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