A Call for Constructive Engagement | AAC&U

23 min read Original article ↗

This statement was developed in collaboration with university and college presidents and other educational leaders across the country, after national meetings convened by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.

As leaders of America’s colleges, universities, and scholarly societies, we speak with one voice against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education. We are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight. However, we must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses. We will always seek effective and fair financial practices, but we must reject the coercive use of public research funding.

America’s system of higher learning is as varied as the goals and dreams of the students it serves. It includes research universities and community colleges; comprehensive universities and liberal arts colleges; public institutions and private ones; freestanding and multi-site campuses. Some institutions are designed for all students, and others are dedicated to serving particular groups. Yet, American institutions of higher learning have in common the essential freedom to determine, on academic grounds, whom to admit and what is taught, how, and by whom. Our colleges and universities share a commitment to serve as centers of open inquiry where, in their pursuit of truth, faculty, students, and staff are free to exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation.

Because of these freedoms, American institutions of higher learning are essential to American prosperity and serve as productive partners with government in promoting the common good. Colleges and universities are engines of opportunity and mobility, anchor institutions that contribute to economic and cultural vitality regionally and in our local communities. They foster creativity and innovation, provide human resources to meet the fast-changing demands of our dynamic workforce, and are themselves major employers. They nurture the scholarly pursuits that ensure America’s leadership in research, and many provide healthcare and other essential services. Most fundamentally, America’s colleges and universities prepare an educated citizenry to sustain our democracy.

The price of abridging the defining freedoms of American higher education will be paid by our students and our society. On behalf of our current and future students, and all who work at and benefit from our institutions, we call for constructive engagement that improves our institutions and serves our republic.

Signed,

  • Andrés Acebo, Interim President, New Jersey City University
  • Salvador D. Aceves, President, Regis University
  • Kenneth Adams, President, LaGuardia Community College
  • Kimo Ah Yun, President, Marquette University
  • Jonathan Alger, President, American University
  • Barbara K. Altmann, President, Franklin & Marshall College
  • Carmen Twillie Ambar, President, Oberlin College
  • Suzanne Ames, President, Peninsula College
  • Mahyar A. Amouzegar, President, New Mexico Tech
  • Michelle J. Anderson, President, Brooklyn College
  • James J. Annarelli, President, Eckerd College
  • Michael D. Anthony, President, Prairie State College
  • Joseph E. Aoun, President, Northeastern University
  • Jana Argersinger, President, Margaret Fuller Society
  • Virginia "Ginny" Arthur, President, Metro State University
  • Roslyn Clark Artis, President, Benedict College
  • Cheryl Aschenbach, President, Academic Senate for California Community Colleges
  • Valerie Sheares Ashby, President, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
  • Dennis Assanis, President, University of Delaware
  • Michael Avaltroni, President, Fairleigh Dickinson University
  • Lynn Babington, President, Chaminade University of Honolulu
  • Rick Bailey, President, Southern Oregon University
  • Thomas R. Bailey, President, Teachers College, Columbia University
  • Sanda Balaban, Executive Director, Project Pericles
  • Gilda Barabino, President, Olin College of Engineering
  • Andrew W. Barnes, President, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
  • Denise A. Battles, President, SUNY Geneseo
  • Ian Baucom, Incoming President, Middlebury College
  • Erika D. Beck, President, California State University, Northridge
  • Jeff Bellantoni, Interim President, Woodbury University
  • Allan Belton, President, Pacific Lutheran University
  • Hubert Benitez, President, Saint Peter's University
  • Mary Beth Benner, Executive Director, American Society for Bioethics & Humanities
  • Joanne Berger-Sweeney, President, Trinity College (CT)
  • Rebecca M. Bergman, President, Gustavus Adolphus College
  • Peter Berkery, Executive Director, Association of University Presses
  • Jesse M. Bernal, Incoming President, Western Connecticut State University
  • Jennifer Berne, President, Madison College
  • Jay M. Bernhardt, President, Emerson College
  • Michael A. Bernstein, President, The College of New Jersey
  • Joe Bertolino, President, Stockton University
  • Audrey Bilger, President, Reed College
  • James Birge, President, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
  • Erik J. Bitterbaum, President, SUNY Cortland
  • Mary M. Black, Acting President, Millikin University
  • Brock Blomberg, President, California Institute of Integral Studies
  • Robert E. Bohrer II, President, Hiram College
  • Sarah Bolton, President, Whitman College
  • Mary H. Bonderoff, President, SUNY Delhi
  • MJ Bosia, Executive Director, International Studies Association
  • Leon Botstein, President, Bard College
  • Eric Boynton, President, Beloit College
  • Vincent Boudreau, President, The City College of the City University of New York
  • Lola W. Brabham, President, The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities
  • Corey Bradford, Interim President, Governors State University
  • Elizabeth H. Bradley, President, Vassar College
  • John C. Bravman, President, Bucknell University
  • Aminta H. Breaux, President, Bowie State University
  • Kevin Brockbank, Chancellor, Spokane Colleges
  • Frances Bronet, President, Pratt Institute
  • Michael Brophy, President and CEO, Hilbert College & Franciscan Services
  • Joyce F. Brown, President, Fashion Institute of Technology
  • Monica Brown, President, South Seattle College
  • Brian Bruess, President, College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
  • Joshua C. Brumberg, President, The Graduate Center, CUNY
  • Stephanie Bulger, President, Lane Community College
  • Heather Bullock, President, Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues
  • Andrew Burton-Jones, President, Association for Information Systems (AIS)
  • Adam Bush, President, College Unbound
  • Edward Bush, President, Cosumnes River College
  • Alison Byerly, President, Carleton College
  • Dara N. Byrne, Dean, Macaulay Honors College
  • Wendy Cadge, President and Professor of Sociology, Bryn Mawr College
  • Stephen Cady, President, Brite Divinity School
  • Bryan D. Cain, Acting President, Endicott College
  • Amanda Caldwell, Executive Director, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
  • Christopher Callahan, President, University of the Pacific
  • Greg Cant, President, Wilkes University
  • Nancy Cantor, President, Hunter College CUNY
  • Alberto Jose Cardelle, President, SUNY Oneonta
  • Seamus Carey, President, Iona University
  • John Carmichael, President, The Evergreen State College
  • Lisa Cardoza, President, American River College
  • Laurie A. Carter, President, Lawrence University
  • Brian W. Casey, President, Colgate University
  • Sandra Cassady, President, Rockhurst University
  • Ana Mari Cauce, Professor and President, University of Washington
  • Andrea Chapdelaine, President, Connecticut College
  • Julie Chen, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Thom D. Chesney, President, Southwestern College (NM)
  • Sonya Christian, Chancellor, California Community Colleges
  • E. LaBrent Chrite, President, Bentley University
  • Christina Clark, President, La Roche University
  • Frederick W. Clark, President, Bridgewater State University
  • Lorrie Clemo, President, D'Youville University
  • Byron D. Clift Breland, Chancellor, North Orange County Community College District
  • Daisy Cocco De Filippis, President, Hostos Community College/CUNY
  • Bryan F. Coker, President, Maryville College
  • Ronald B. Cole, President, Allegheny College
  • Soraya Coley, President, Cal Poly Pomona
  • Jennifer Collins, President, Rhodes College
  • Michael F. Collins, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
  • John Comerford, President, Otterbein University
  • Katie Conboy, President, Saint Mary's College (IN)
  • Marc C. Conner, President, Skidmore College
  • Joy Connolly, President, American Council of Learned Societies
  • Jane C. Conoley, President, California State University, Long Beach
  • Kristian Contreras, Executive Director, National Women's Studies Association
  • Sunita V. Cooke, Superintendent/President, MiraCosta Community College
  • Robert A. Coons, President, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
  • Melanie Corn, President, Columbus College of Art & Design
  • Eugene J. Cornacchia, Interim President, Georgian Court University
  • Keith Cornille, President, Heartland Community College
  • La Jerne Terry Cornish, President, Ithaca College
  • Grant Cornwell, President, Rollins College
  • John L. Cox, President, Cape Cod Community College
  • Jennifer Coyle, President, Pacific University
  • B. Grant Crawford, President, American Society for Engineering Education
  • Isiaah Crawford, President, University of Puget Sound
  • Anthony W. Crowell, Dean and President, New York Law School
  • Ann E. Cudd, President, Portland State University
  • Lindsay Currie, CEO, Council on Undergraduate Research
  • Emily F. Cutrer, Interim President, Sonoma State University
  • James M. Danko, President, Butler University
  • Camille Davidson, President and Dean, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
  • Janine Davidson, President, Metropolitan State University of Denver
  • Lisa Fagin Davis, Executive Director, Medieval Academy of America
  • Fernando Delgado, President, Lehman College
  • Gregory G. Dell'Omo, President, Rider University
  • Nora Demleitner, President, St. John's College
  • Rev. John F. Denning, C.S.C., President, Stonehill College
  • Kent Devereaux, President, Goucher College
  • Mantosh Dewan, President, SUNY Upstate Medical University
  • Risa Dickson, President, University of La Verne
  • Nicholas Dirks, President and CEO, The New York Academy of Sciences
  • Jim Dlugos, Interim President, Landmark College
  • Bethami Dobkin, President, Westminster University
  • Chris Domes, President, Neumann University
  • Peter Donohue, OSA, President, Villanova University
  • Susan M. Donovan, President, Bellarmine University
  • Tawny Dotson, President, Yuba College
  • Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., President, University of Notre Dame
  • Michael V. Drake, President, University of California System
  • Suri Duitch, President, Kingsborough Community College
  • Harry Dumay, President, Elms College
  • Bonita R. Durand, Interim President, Buffalo State University SUNY
  • Berenecea J. Eanes, President, California State University, Los Angeles
  • Raj Echambadi, President, Illinois Institute of Technology
  • Pam Eddinger, President, Bunker Hill Community College
  • Melanie Ehrlich, President, Epigenetics Society
  • Christopher L. Eisgruber, President, Princeton University
  • Michael A. Elliott, President, Amherst College
  • Erika Endrijonas, Superintendent/President, Santa Barbara City College
  • Margee Ensign, President, The American University in Bulgaria
  • Alexander Enyedi, President, SUNY Plattsburgh
  • Kimberly Andrews Espy, President, Wayne State University
  • Kristin G. Esterberg, Chancellor, University of Washington Bothell
  • Arthur C. Evans, Jr., Chief Executive Officer/Executive Vice President, American Psychological Association
  • Kenneth R. Evans, President, Oklahoma City University
  • Marcheta P. Evans, President, St. Catherine University
  • Nariman Farvardin, President, Stevens Institute of Technology
  • Joseph A. Favazza, President, Saint Anselm College
  • Valerio Ferme, President, New Mexico State University
  • Jane Fernandes, President, Antioch College
  • Roland Fernandes, General Secretary, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry
  • Damian J. Fernandez, President, Warren Wilson College
  • Amy Ferrer, Executive Director, American Philosophical Association
  • David Fike, President, Golden Gate University
  • David Fithian, President, Clark University
  • John P. Fitzgibbons, S.J., Interim President, University of San Francisco
  • Victoria N. Folse, President, Ripon College
  • Christopher H. Fox, CEO, American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research
  • Michael L. Frandsen, President, Wittenberg University
  • Aisha Francis, President and CEO, Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology
  • Jeff Frederick, President, Drury University
  • Lisa C. Freeman, President, Northern Illinois University
  • Laura Freid, President, Maine College of Art and Design
  • Julio Frenk, Chancellor, UCLA
  • Ryan Frisinger, Executive Director, International Center of Medieval Art
  • John Fry, President, Temple University
  • Montserrat Fuentes, President, St. Edward's University
  • Mark A. Fuller, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
  • Robert Gaines, Acting President, Pomona College
  • Lawrence Galizio, President and CEO, Community College League of California
  • James Gandre, President, Manhattan School of Music
  • Rev. Michael Garanzini, S.J., President, Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities
  • Alan M. Garber, President, Harvard University
  • Albert Garcia, President, Sacramento City College
  • Martha Garcia, President and CEO, Mt. San Antonio College
  • Jay D. Gatrell, President, Eastern Illinois University
  • Uttam Gaulee, President, STAR Scholars Network
  • Michael H. Gavin, President, Delta College
  • Mark D. Gearan, President, Hobart and William Smith Colleges
  • Jon C. Gering, President, Bethel College (KS)
  • Robert Gervasi, President, Mount Saint Mary College
  • Kathleen A. Getz, President, Mercyhurst University
  • Tammeil Gilkerson, Chancellor, Peralta Community College District
  • Melissa Gilliam, President, Boston University
  • Howard Gillman, Chancellor, University of California, Irvine
  • Jeff Gingerich, President, St. Bonaventure University
  • Mark R. Ginsberg, President, Towson University
  • Joe Girandola, President, Art Academy of Cincinnati
  • Lane A. Glenn, President, Northern Essex Community College
  • Cindy Gnadinger, President, Carroll University
  • Carole Goldsmith, Chancellor, State Center Community College District
  • José A. Gómez, President, Pasadena City College
  • Jorge G. Gonzalez, President, Kalamazoo College
  • Janet L. Gooch, Chancellor, University of Illinois Springfield
  • Ken Gormley, President, Duquesne University
  • Ellen M. Granberg, President, The George Washington University
  • Mary K. Grant, President, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
  • Domenico Grasso, President, University of Michigan
  • Jonathan D. Green, President, Susquehanna University
  • David A. Greene, President, Colby College
  • James J. Greenfield, OSFS, President, DeSales University
  • Kate Griffin, Executive Director, American Studies Association
  • Natalie Grinnell, President, Southeastern Medieval Association (SEMA)
  • Robert Gropp, Chief Executive Officer, Association for Psychological Science
  • James Grossman, Executive Director, American Historical Association
  • Robert M. Groves, Interim President, Georgetown University
  • William R. Groves, Chancellor, Antioch University
  • Kevin M. Guskiewicz, President, Michigan State University
  • Megan Haddock, Executive Director, International Society for Third Sector Research
  • Jeremy Haefner, Chancellor, University of Denver
  • Grant Hagiya, President, Claremont School of Theology
  • Kevin F. Hallock, President, University of Richmond
  • Merodie Hancock, President, Thomas Edison State University
  • Robyn Hannigan, President, Ursinus College
  • Yoshiko Harden, President, Renton Technical College
  • David Harker, Executive Director, Partners for Campus-Community Engagement (PCCE)
  • Heidi Harley, President, Linguistic Society of America
  • Kathleen E. Harring, President, Muhlenberg College
  • Anne F. Harris, President, Grinnell College
  • David Harris, President, Union College
  • James T. Harris, President, University of San Diego
  • Marjorie Hass, President, Council of Independent Colleges
  • Susan Hasseler, President, Muskingum University
  • Sam Hawgood, Chancellor, University of California San Francisco
  • Antoinette Hays, President, Regis College
  • Chris Heavey, Interim President, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • Kathryn J. Heidemann, President and CEO, Cleveland Institute of Art
  • Peggy Heinrich, President, Elgin Community College
  • Richard J. Helldobler, President, William Paterson University
  • Daniel S. Hendrickson, S.J., President, Creighton University
  • Susan Henking, President, Wells College
  • Wendy Hensel, President, University of Hawaii
  • James Herbert, President, University of New England
  • Alejandro (Alex) Hernandez, President, Champlain College
  • Chad Hickox, President, Walla Walla Community College
  • Doug Hicks, President, Davidson College
  • Karin Hilgersom, President, Truckee Meadows Community College
  • Mary Dana Hinton, President, Hollins University
  • Donna Hodge, President, Fitchburg State University
  • John L. Hoffman, President, Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College
  • Karen Hofmann, President, ArtCenter College of Design
  • Danielle R. Holley, President, Mount Holyoke College
  • Jonathan Holloway, President, Rutgers University
  • Robin Holmes-Sullivan, President, Lewis & Clark College
  • Ali A. Houshmand, President, Rowan University
  • Jessica Howard, President/CEO, Chemeketa Community College
  • David C. Howse, President, California College of the Arts
  • Lily S. Hsu, President, Laboure College of Healthcare
  • Robert H. Huntington, President, Heidelberg University
  • Nicole Hurd, President, Lafayette College
  • Elaine Ikeda, Executive Director, LEAD California
  • Edward S. Inch, President, Minnesota State University, Mankato
  • Colin Irvine, President, Concordia College
  • Wolde-Ab Isaac, Chancellor, Riverside Community College District
  • Jiseon Lee Isbara, President, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
  • Karim Ismaili, President, Eastern Connecticut State University
  • Robert W. Iuliano, President, Gettysburg College
  • Farnam Jahanian, President, Carnegie Mellon University
  • Kevin James, President, Morris Brown College
  • J. Larry Jameson, President, University of Pennsylvania
  • Kenneth Janz, President, Winona State University
  • Bruce Jarrell, President, University of Maryland, Baltimore
  • Paul E. Jarrell, President and CEO, Tillamook Bay Community College
  • Lisa Jasinski, President, Associated Colleges of the Midwest
  • Julia Jasken, President, McDaniel College
  • Jonathan Jefferson, President, Roxbury Community College
  • Kathryn E. Jeffery, Superintendent/President, Santa Monica Community College District
  • Anthony L. Jenkins, President, Coppin State University
  • Garry W. Jenkins, President, Bates College
  • Arvid C. Johnson, President, University of St. Francis
  • Kent Johnson, President, Association for Behavior Analysis International
  • Larry D. Johnson, Jr., President, Bronx Community College
  • Paula A. Johnson, President, Wellesley College
  • Rebecca Johnson, Interim President, Linfield University
  • Suzanne M. Johnson, President, Green River College
  • John E. Jones III, President, Dickinson College
  • Robert J. Jones, Chancellor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Katrina Bell Jordan, President, Northeastern Illinois University
  • Tuajuanda C. Jordan, President, St. Mary's College of Maryland
  • Cristle Collins Judd, President, Sarah Lawrence College
  • Andrea Kalyn, President, New England Conservatory
  • David L. Kaufman, President, Capital University
  • Russell Kavalhuna, President, Henry Ford College
  • John D. Keenan, President, Salem State University
  • Colleen Perry Keith, President, Goldey-Beacom College
  • Marisa Kelly, President, Suffolk University
  • Robert D. Kelly, President, University of Portland
  • Pradeep K. Khosla, Chancellor, University of California San Diego
  • William Kibler, Acting President, College of Southern Nevada
  • Julie Johnson Kidd, President, Endeavor Foundation
  • Timothy Killeen, President, University of Illinois System
  • Walter M. Kimbrough, Interim President, Talladega College
  • Brian King, Chancellor, Los Rios Community College District
  • John B. King Jr., Chancellor, State University of New York (SUNY)
  • Emily Kirkpatrick, Executive Director and CEO, National Council of Teachers of English
  • Heather Kirkpatrick, President & CEO, Alder Graduate School of Education
  • Kathleen Knight-Abowitz, President, Philosophy of Education Society
  • Erica Kohl-Arenas, Faculty Director, Imagining America: Artists and Scholars in Public Life
  • Jonathan Koppell, President, Montclair State University
  • Sally Kornbluth, President, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Julie Kornfeld, President, Kenyon College
  • Michael I. Kotlikoff, President, Cornell University
  • Paula Krebs, Executive Director, Modern Language Association
  • Robert D. Krebs, Interim President, Lake Forest College
  • Marvin Krislov, President, Pace University
  • Sunil Kumar, President, Tufts University
  • Susan Lamb, President, Diablo Valley College
  • Lee D. Lambert, Chancellor, Foothill-De Anza Community College District
  • Jef Lamoureux, President, Eastern Psychological Association
  • Sheila Edwards Lange, Chancellor, University of Washington Tacoma
  • Gary M. Langham, Executive Director, American Association of Geographers
  • Cynthia Larive, Chancellor, University of California, Santa Cruz
  • Bobbie Laur, President, Campus Compact
  • Frederick M. Lawrence, Secretary and CEO, Phi Beta Kappa Society
  • Kenneth Lawson, President, Columbia Gorge Community College
  • William P. Leahy, SJ, President, Boston College
  • Linda M. LeMura, President, Le Moyne College
  • James P. Lentini, President, Molloy University
  • Carolyn Ringer Lepre, President, Salisbury University
  • Richard J. Lessard, President, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
  • Bethany Letiecq, President, National Council on Family Relations
  • Arthur Levine, Interim President, Brandeis University
  • Brien Lewis, President, Transylvania University
  • Charles G. Lief, President, Naropa University
  • Richard P. Lifton, President, The Rockefeller University
  • Teik Lim, President, New Jersey Institute of Technology
  • James M. Limbaugh, President, West Los Angeles College
  • Haifan Lin, President, Federation of Asian Professor Associations
    Charles W. Lindsay, President, Elmira College
  • Hilary L. Link, President, Drew University
  • Linda Livingstone, President, Baylor University
  • Lisa A. Lori, President, Marywood University
  • Jim Lucchese, President, Berklee College of Music
  • P. Wesley Lundburg, President, San Diego Miramar College
  • Timothy G. Lynch, President, College of Staten Island, CUNY
  • Patricia A. Lynott, President, Rockford University
  • Richard Lyons, Chancellor, University of California Berkeley
  • Heidi Macpherson, President, SUNY Brockport
  • John Maduko, President, Connecticut State Community College
  • Joanne Mahoney, President, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
  • Lynn Mahoney, President, San Francisco State University
  • Daniel Mahony, President, Southern Illinois University
  • Ali R. Malekzadeh, President, Roosevelt University
  • Martha Malinski, Executive Director, Women's College Coalition
  • Barry M. Maloney, President, Worcester State University
  • Maud S. Mandel, President, Williams College
  • Sarah C. Mangelsdorf, President, University of Rochester
  • Christine Mangino, President, Queensborough Community College
  • Andrew P. Manion, President, Edgewood College
  • Philomena V. Mantella, President, Grand Valley State University
  • Amy Marcus-Newhall, President, Scripps College
  • Joseph Marina, SJ, President, The University of Scranton
  • Earl F. Martin III, President, Drake University
  • Lizbeth Martin, President, Notre Dame de Namur University
  • Karol Mason, President, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
  • Felix V. Matos-Rodriguez, Chancellor, City University of New York (CUNY)
  • David May, President, Bellevue College
  • Gary S. May, Chancellor, University of California, Davis
  • Anne E. McCall, President, The College of Wooster
  • Cheryl McConnell, President, Saint Joseph's University
  • Mark McCormick, President, Middlesex College
  • Richard L. McCormick, Interim President, Stony Brook University
  • Thayne M. McCulloh, President, Gonzaga University
  • Cecilia M. McCormick, President, Maryland Institute College of Art
  • Lester McCorn, President, Paine College
  • Barbara McDonald, President, The College of St. Scholastica
  • Michael McDonald, President, Great Lakes Colleges Association
  • Michael McDonough, President, Raritan Valley Community College
  • C. Andrew McGadney, President, Knox College
  • James McGrath, President and Dean, Cooley Law School
  • Patricia McGuire, President, Trinity Washington University
  • Maurie McInnis, President, Yale University
  • Steve McLaughlin, Incoming President, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
  • Shari McMahan, President, Eastern Washington University
  • Elizabeth M. Meade, President, Cedar Crest College
  • Marty Meehan, President, University of Massachusetts
  • Mojdeh Mehdizadeh, Chancellor, Contra Costa Community College District
  • John Meier, CEO, American Mathematical Society
  • Margaret E. Menninger, Executive Director, German Studies Association
  • Kimberlee S. Messina, President, Spokane Falls Community College
  • Mildred A. Mihlon, President, Felician University
  • Scott D. Miller, President, Virginia Wesleyan University
  • Paula F. Milone-Nuzzo, President, MGH Institute of Health Professions
  • Kristi S. Mindrup, President, Western Illinois University
  • Leslie Minor, Interim Superintendent/President, Taft College
  • Marie Lynn Miranda, Chancellor, University of Illinois Chicago
  • Jennifer Mnookin, Chancellor, University of Wisconsin–Madison
  • Robert Mohrbacher, President, Centralia College
  • Edward Montgomery, President, Western Michigan University
  • Chris Moody, Executive Director, ACPA-College Student Educators International
  • Tomas Morales, President, California State University San Bernardino
  • Milton Moreland, President, Centre College
  • Barbara Jean Morris, President, Prescott College
  • Kathryn Morris, President, St. Lawrence University
  • John R. Mosby, President, Highline College
  • Ross Mugler, Board Chair and Acting President and CEO, Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
  • Juan S. Munoz, Chancellor, University of California Merced\
  • David C. Munson Jr., President, Rochester Institute of Technology
  • Anthony E. Munroe, President, Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY
  • Eric Murray, President, Cascadia College
  • Kathleen Murray, Acting/Interim President, Hamline University
  • Daniel J. Myers, President, Misericordia University
  • Peter Naccarato, Interim President, Marymount Manhattan College
  • Lizette Navarette, President, Woodland Community College
  • Harriet B. Nembhard, President, Harvey Mudd College
  • Frank Neville, President, Millsaps College
  • Bradley R. Newcomer, Executive Director and CEO, The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
  • Krista L. Newkirk, President, University of Redlands
  • Ellen Neufeldt, President, California State University San Marcos
  • Nancy S. Niemi, President, Framingham State University
  • Stefanie D. Niles, President, Cottey College
  • Cheryl L. Nixon, President, Berea College
  • Lara Q. Noah, President, Association of College Honor Societies
  • Dara Norman, President, American Astronomical Society
  • Peter O. Nwosu, President, State University of New York (SUNY), Oswego
  • Deborah Obalil, President and Executive Director, Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design
  • Maureen O'Connor, President, Palo Alto University
  • Judy Olian, President, Quinnipiac University
  • Claire Oliveros, President, Riverside City College
  • Cynthia Olivo, President, Fullerton College
  • Meme Omogbai, Executive Director and CEO, College Art Association of America
  • Kirk Ormand, President, Society for Classical Studies
  • Suzanne T. Ortega, President, Council of Graduate Schools
  • Douglas B. Palmer, President, Siena Heights University
  • Shouan Pan, Chancellor, Yuba Community College District
  • Thomas A. Parham, President, California State University-Dominguez Hills
  • Lynda Park, Executive Director, Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies
  • Micaela S. Parker, Founder and Executive Director, Academic Data Science Alliance
  • Robyn Parker, Interim President, Saybrook University
  • Marc Parlange, President, University of Rhode Island
  • Valentina Purtell, President, North Orange Continuing Education
  • Amy Parsons, President, Colorado State University
  • Lynn Pasquerella, President, American Association of Colleges and Universities
  • Laurie L. Patton, President, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • Beth Paul, President, Nazareth University
  • Kim Pawlak, Executive Director, Textbook & Academic Authors Association (TAA)
  • Christina Paxson, President, Brown University
  • Rob Pearigen, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of the South
  • J. Michael Pearson, Executive Director, Mathematical Association of America
  • Deidra Peaslee, President, Saint Paul College
  • Milagros (Milly) Peña, President, Purchase College, SUNY
  • Eduardo M. Peñalver, President, Seattle University
  • Steve Perez, President, California State University, Chico
  • Ora Pescovitz, President, Oakland University
  • Fred P. Pestello, President, Saint Louis University
  • John J. Petillo, President, Sacred Heart University
  • Sarah Pfatteicher, Executive Director, Five College Consortium
  • Daniel J. Phelan, President & CEO, Jackson College
  • Manfred Philipp, President, The DAAD Alumni Association - USA
  • Rhonda Phillips, President, Chatham University
  • Art Pimentel, President, Folsom Lake College
  • Nancy Pineda-Madrid, President, Catholic Theological Society of America
  • Darryll J. Pines, President, University of Maryland
  • Nicola Pitchford, President, Dominican University of California
  • Richard Plumb, President, Saint Michael's College
  • Shael Polakow-Suransky, President, Bank Street College of Education
  • DeRionne P. Pollard, President, Nevada State University
  • Kevin Pollock, President, Central Carolina Technical College
  • Andrew David Pomerville, President, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
  • Thomas Poon, President-Elect, Loyola Marymount University
  • Susan Poser, President, Hofstra University
  • Patricia A. Prelock, Interim President, University of Vermont
  • Robert Prezant, President, Farmingdale State College SUNY
  • Dean A. Pribbenow, President, Millikin University
  • Paul C. Pribbenow, President, Augsburg University
  • Vincent Price, President, Duke University
  • Avis Proctor, President, Harper College
  • Allison Puff, Co-Interim President and EVP of Academic Affairs, Kansas City Art Institute
  • Howard Purcell, President and CEO, New England College of Optometry
  • Robert Quinn, Executive Director, Scholars at Risk Network
  • Ravi Rajan, President, California Institute of the Arts
  • Andrew Ramsammy, President, Vermont College of Fine Arts
  • Patricia Ramsey, President, Medgar Evers College (CUNY)
  • Meridith Randall, President, Golden West College
  • Sabah Randhawa, President, Western Washington University
  • John R. Raymond, Sr., President and CEO, The Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Wendy E. Raymond, President, Haverford College
  • Christopher M. Reber, President, Hudson County Community College
  • Chantae Recasner, Interim President, Seattle Central College
  • Mark C. Reed, President, Loyola University Chicago
  • Andrew Rehfeld, President, Hebrew Union College
  • Joseph Reilly, S.T.L., President, Seton Hall University
  • Lamont Repollet, President, Kean University
  • Mary Lou Retelle, President, Anna Maria College
  • Javier Reyes, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Wendy Rheault, President and CEO, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
  • Deborah D. Ricker, President, Hood College
  • Elizabeth A. Rider, President, Elizabethtown College
  • Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, Chancellor, Seattle Colleges
  • Christine M. Riordan, President, Adelphi University
  • Britt Rios-Ellis, President, California State University, Stanislaus
  • Suzanne M. Rivera, President, Macalester College
  • Stacey Robertson, President, Widener University
  • Ronald S. Rochon, President, California State University, Fullerton
  • Havidán Rodríguez, President, University at Albany
  • Vince Rodriguez, President, Coastline College
  • Christopher F. Roellke, President, Stetson University
  • Kimberly R. Rogers, President, Contra Costa College
  • Gerard J. Rooney, President, St. John Fisher University
  • Laura Ann Rosenbury, President, Barnard College
  • Beth Ross, President, Emmanuel College
  • Michael S. Roth, President, Wesleyan University
  • Vincent Rougeau, President, College of the Holy Cross
  • Sue Ott Rowlands, President, Randolph College
  • Paulette Granberry Russell, President and CEO, National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education
  • James Ryan, President, University of Virginia
  • Kelly A. Ryan, President, Eastern Oregon University
  • Aaron Sadoff, President, Marian University Wisconsin
  • Timothy E. Sams, President, SUNY Old Westbury
  • Frank D. Sanchez, President, Manhattanville University
  • Cathy Sandeen, President, Cal State East Bay
  • Brian Sandoval, President, Univ. of Nevada, Reno
  • Terrence Sawyer, President, Loyola University Maryland
  • Gabriella Scarlatta, Interim Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer, University of Michigan-Dearborn
  • Michael Schill, President, Northwestern University
  • Claudia Schippert, Executive Director, American Academy of Religion
  • Cannon Schmitt, President, North American Victorian Studies Association
  • Kurt L. Schmoke, President, University of Baltimore
  • Carol Geary Schneider, Acting Executive Director, Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement Coalition
  • Karl Scholz, President, University of Oregon
  • Stephen Schoonmaker, President, Tohono O'odham Community College
  • Claudia Schrader, President, York College, CUNY
  • Shuly Rubin Schwartz, Chancellor, Jewish Theological Seminary
  • Steven Schwartz, Interim President, Fort Lewis College
  • David Scobey, Director, Bringing Theory to Practice
  • Sean M. Scott, President and Dean, California Western School of Law
  • Zaldwaynaka Scott, President, Chicago State University
  • Charles F. Seifert, President, Siena College
  • Sanjit Sethi, President and CEO, Minneapolis College of Art and Design
  • Claire Shipman, Acting President, Columbia University
  • Frank Shushok, Jr., President, Roanoke College
  • Susan Rundell Singer, President, St. Olaf College
  • Philip J. Sisson, President, Middlesex Community College (MA)
  • Darlene Brannigan Smith, Interim President, Frostburg State University
  • Dwayne Smith, Interim President, Southern Connecticut State University
  • Gregory Smith, Chancellor, San Diego Community College District
  • Joianne Smith, President, Oakton  College
  • Renee Smith, President, American Association of Philosophy Teachers
  • Suzanne Smith, President, SUNY Potsdam
  • Valerie Smith, President, Swarthmore College
  • Paul Sniegowski, President, Earlham College
  • Barbara R. Snyder, President, Association of American Universities
  • Stephen Snyder, Interim President, Middlebury College
  • Timothy Law Snyder, President, Loyola Marymount University
  • Kristen F. Soares, President, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU)
  • Winston Oluwole Soboyejo, President, SUNY Polytechnic Institute
  • Rachel Solemsaas, President, North Seattle College
  • Mike Sosulski, President, Washington College
  • Mariana Souto-Manning, President, Erikson Institute
  • Weymouth Spence, President, Washington Adventist University
  • Eric F. Spina, President, University of Dayton
  • Stephen Spinelli, President, Babson College
  • Terri Standish-Kuon, President and CEO, Independent Colleges of Washington
  • G. Gabrielle Starr, President, Pomona College

  • Jill Stearns, Superintendent/President, Cuesta College

  • Janet L. Steinmayer, President, Lesley University
  • Harvey Stenger, President, Binghamton University
  • Sonya Stephens, President, The American University of Paris
  • Amy Storey, President, Keuka College
  • David M. Stout, President, Brookdale Community College
  • Karen A. Stout, President, Achieving the Dream
  • Steve K. Stoute, President, Canisius University
  • Tom Stritikus, President, Occidental College
  • Daniele Struppa, President, Chapman University
  • Angelica Suarez, President, Orange Coast College
  • Marcelo Suarez-Orozco, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Boston
  • Julie Sullivan, President, Santa Clara University
  • Mickey Sweeney, President, Medieval Association of the Midwest
  • Zvi Szafran, President, State University of New York at Canton
  • Andrea Kathryn Talentino, President, Augustana College
  • Aondover Tarhule, President, Illinois State University
  • Donald Taylor, President, University of Detroit Mercy
  • Glena Temple, President, Dominican University
  • Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President, San Jose State University
  • Steven J. Tepper. President, Hamilton College
  • Kellye Y. Testy, CEO, Association of American Law Schools
  • Tania Tetlow, President, Fordham University
  • Strom C. Thacker, President, Pitzer College
  • Elizabeth Lorelei Thacker-Estrada, President, Institute for Historical Study
  • Scott W. Thayer, President, Cypress College
  • David Anthony Thomas, President, Morehouse College
  • Gloria D. Thomas, President, HERS (Higher Education Resource Services)
  • Scott L. Thomas, President, Sterling College
  • Linda Thompson, President, Westfield State University
  • Mark Thompson, President, Wentworth Institute of Technology
  • Roger Thompson, President, Saint Mary's College of California
  • Stephen Thorsett, President, Willamette University
  • George Timmons, President, Holyoke Community College
  • Rowena M. Tomaneng, President, Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education
  • Zulma R. Toro, President, Central Connecticut State University
  • Adela de la Torre, President, San Diego State University
  • Omar Torres, President, De Anza College
  • Sylvia Torti, President, College of the Atlantic
  • Joel Towers, President, The New School
  • Deborah Trautman, President and CEO, American Association of Colleges of Nursing
  • Richard C. Trietley Jr., President, Viterbo University
  • Satish K. Tripathi, President, University at Buffalo, SUNY
  • James Troha, President, Juniata College
  • Kyaw Moe Tun, President, Parami University
  • Matthew Turk, President, Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago
  • Eric M. Turner, President, Lasell University
  • Jessica Turner, Executive Director, American Folklore Society
  • Donald Tuski, President, College for Creative Studies
  • Brad Tyndall, President, Central Wyoming College
  • LaTanya Tyson, President, Carolina Christian College
  • Troy D. VanAken, President, Elmhurst University
  • Matthew P. vandenBerg, President, Ohio Wesleyan University
  • James Vander Hooven, President, Mount Wachusett Community College
  • David Vasquez-Levy, President, Pacific School of Religion
  • Rachel Vaughn, Executive Director, Washington Campus Coalition for the Public Good
  • Rob Vischer, President, University of St. Thomas
  • Lisa Vollendorf, President, Empire State University
  • Jeannine Diddle Uzzi, President, Thomas College
  • Laura R. Walker, President, Bennington College
  • Grace Wang, President, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Yolanda Watson Spiva, President, Complete College America
  • Phil Weilerstein, President, VentureWell
  • Adam Weinberg, President, Denison University
  • Steven A. Weiner, President, Menlo College
  • Kevin C. Weinman, President, Marist University
  • Lamont A. Wells, Executive Director, Network of ELCA Colleges And Universities
  • Susan R. Wente, President, Wake Forest University
  • Karen P. West, President and CEO, American Dental Education Association
  • Kristina Whalen, President, Foothill College
  • Darrell Wheeler, President, SUNY New Paltz
  • Michaele Whelan, President, Wheaton College (MA)
  • Manya C. Whitaker, Interim President, Colorado College
  • Julie A. Manley White, Chancellor and CEO, Pierce College
  • Lori S. White, President, DePauw University
  • Kim A. Wilcox, Chancellor, University of California, Riverside
  • Crystal Williams, President, Rhode Island School of Design
  • Jermaine F. Williams, President, Montgomery College
  • Sarah Willie-LeBreton, President, Smith College
  • David K. Wilson, President, Morgan State University
  • Ed Wingenbach, President, Hampshire College
  • Mitchel L. Winick, President, Monterey College of Law
  • Jim Wohlpart, President, Central Washington University
  • Luke Wood, President, California State University, Sacramento
  • Lynn Perry Wooten, President, Simmons University
  • Frank H. Wu, President, Queens College, CUNY
  • S. David Wu, President, Baruch College
  • Whitney Yamamura, Chancellor, Coast Community College District
  • Henry T. Yang, Chancellor, University of California, Santa Barbara
  • Richard Yao, President, California State University Channel Islands
  • Madeline Yates, Executive Director, Transform Mid-Atlantic
  • Cathy Young, President, Moore College of Art & Design
  • Leocadia I. Zak, President, Agnes Scott College
  • Safa R. Zaki, President, Bowdoin College
  • Sheahon Zenger, President, Illinois Wesleyan University
  • Yvonne C. Zimmerman, Acting President, Clarke University
  • Andy Zink, President, Deep Springs College
  • Mark Zupan, President, Alfred University

We continue to accept signatures from current leaders of colleges, universities, and scholarly societies. To add your signature, please contact David Tritelli at tritelli@aacu.org. Currently, there are 666 signatures.