Speaker & Moderator Biographies

David A. Armstrong, J.D.
President, St. Thomas University (FL)

Since taking the helm in August 2018, David Armstrong has led St. Thomas University to record enrollment, historic highs in fundraising, and the development of over 400,000 square feet of new facilities. Under his leadership, STU is recognized as one of the nation’s fastest-growing faith-based schools of higher education. Fall 2019 through Fall 2024 saw the six largest incoming undergraduate classes in university history.

Prior to St. Thomas, Armstrong was president of Thomas More University, a Catholic liberal arts college belonging to the Diocese of Covington, KY. He also served as vice president and general counsel of Notre Dame College (OH), where he oversaw divisions of the college that set records in enrollment and fundraising. His background in higher education administration at Notre Dame College, Mercyhurst University (PA) and Thiel College  (PA) includes a span of experience in development, student life, recruitment, higher education law and policy, and athletics.

Armstrong, a nationally recognized speaker on future trends of higher education law and Title IX, has dedicated his career to ensuring small, faith-based colleges and universities not only survive but thrive in the new landscape of higher education. His commitment to the transformative power of education has driven the colleges he has worked for to experience remarkable growth in enrollment, corporate partnerships, and collaboration. 

Armstrong serves on the boards of The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF), The Florida Chamber of Commerce, Students ACES, the Florida Council of 100, and the Florida Tax Watch. He serves on the Orange Bowl Committee, and is a member of the Beacon Council’s Board of Directors and its Academic Leaders Council.

Armstrong earned a Juris Doctor from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and a bachelor's degree in political science, with a minor in accounting, from Mercyhurst University.

He is a member of the NAICU Board of Directors.

Connie Ledoux Book, Ph.D.
President, Elon University (NC) and Immediate Past Chair, NAICU Board of Directors

President of Elon University since 2018, Connie Book is a passionate advocate for higher education and its power to transform students’ lives. She spent 17 years as an Elon faculty member and administrative leader, helping to build the university’s reputation for excellence in engaged teaching and learning. In 2015, she accepted a groundbreaking role as the first female provost and chief academic officer at The Citadel (SC). She returned to Elon as the university’s ninth president in 2018, bringing a deep appreciation for the university’s unique history and its rapid rise to national prominence.

Under President Book’s leadership, Elon launched the 10-year Boldly Elon strategic plan to advance the university’s national leadership in experiential education, mentoring and student success. In addition, Book also spearheaded the successful $250 million Elon LEADS comprehensive campaign, which surpassed its goal by $10M and has funded more than 200 new endowed scholarships and increased resources for students, faculty and programs.

Book earned a doctorate from the Grady College of Journalism at the University of Georgia, a master’s degree in education administration and supervision from Northwestern State University (LA) and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Louisiana State University.

Book is board member of the North Carolina Independent College and Universities and the immediate past chair of the NAICU Board of Directors.

Jenna Moore Colvin
President, Georgia Independent College Association (GICA)

Jenna Colvin is responsible for statewide representation with Congress, the governor, the Georgia General Assembly and the public K-12 and higher education sectors for Georgia's 24 Independent Colleges that are part of the voluntary association, GICA.

Before leading GICA, Jenna served as General Counsel for the University of North Georgia, a five-campus public institution with 20,000 students, where she oversaw governance, compliance, and legal affairs. She is a passionate advocate for higher education, focusing on access, innovation, and student success.  Colvin previously served as a partner at FisherBroyles, where she created and led the firm’s higher education practice area and served as outside general counsel for the University of North Georgia, Young Harris College and GICA. Colvin began her legal career in Atlanta, as an attorney with Alston & Bird.

A native of Illinois, she earned a bachelor's degree in art and art history from the University of Miami (FL) and a juris doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law.  

Adam Connolly
Senior Vice President, RNL

Adam Connolly is a seasoned higher education leader with over 20 years of experience in enrollment management. As senior vice president at RNL, he leads a team of experts who partner with institutions to develop and implement comprehensive solutions for enrollment growth and student success.

Prior to joining RNL, Connolly served as vice president of enrollment management and marketing at Coker University (SC). During his tenure, he led the enrollment team to achieve record enrollment numbers for several years.

His expertise lies in senior leadership and board development, strategic enrollment planning, building robust enrollment pipelines, optimizing financial aid strategies, and implementing best practices for comprehensive enrollment and student retention.

Connolly is a graduate of the University of Mount Saint Vincent (NY) and Drexel University (PA).

Joseph Corazzini
Vice President of Government and Community Affairs, Clark University

Joseph Corazzini has led local, state and federal engagement for three years as the vice president of government and community affairs at Clark University.  He led the expansion of the nationally recognized University Park Partnership (UPP) Scholarship Zone with the addition of 40 plus streets making over 1,000 potential students eligible for free tuition at Clark.

Clark offers city residents who have lived in the University Park neighborhood for five years or more to qualify to attend the university tuition-free. Clark has awarded 165 scholarships — an investment of approximately $11.3 million in the UPP Scholarship program — since the fall of 2000. The award does not include room and board). Currently, ten UPP scholars are enrolled at Clark.

Corazzini earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Worcester State University (MA).

Tracy Y. Espy, Ph.D.
President, Mitchell College

Tracy Espy became the eighth president and first African American woman to lead Mitchell College (CT) on July 1, 2020. Her teaching and research expertise include systemic theory, ethnic identity and self-esteem, servant leadership, service-learning, and student engagement.

Previously, Espy served as provost and vice president of academic affairs at Pfeiffer University in North Carolina from 2008, overseeing all academic programs and divisions and working in various aspects of university administration such as enrollment management, strategic planning and fundraising. She also was vice president for servant leadership and oversaw the Francis Center for Servant Leadership, establishing more than 100 community partnerships, along with university-wide servant-leadership initiatives, earning the university a Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation, as well as the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

She is currently engaged with the Connecticut Governor’s Workforce Council, the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 1 Covid-19 Long-Term Recovery Task Force, and the Connecticut Higher Education Resilience Working Group on Workforce Development. She was also recently appointed to serve on the Council of Independent Colleges and Universities administered Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE), a nationwide network of colleges and universities formed to enrich intellectual and theological exploration of vocation among undergraduate students.

In April 2019, Espy received the national Zenobia L. Hikes Faculty Women of Color Award at Virginia Tech University. The award honored her accomplishment in improving faculty salaries and institutional diversity at Pfeiffer University.

Espy earned a Ph.D. in Child/Family-Marriage and Family Therapy from Syracuse University (NY), a master of science in Family Studies from Miami University (OH), and a bachelor's degree from Berea College (KY). 

Jody Feder, J.D.
Director of Accountability and Regulatory Affairs, NAICU

Jody Feder represents NAICU on issues including: accreditation, state authorization, Title IX, and educational privacy with Congress and the Administration. She joined the NAICU staff in March 2017 after more than 14 years as a legislative attorney with the Congressional Research Service. At CRS, she provided nonpartisan advice and analysis to Members of Congress on civil rights and education law. Prior to attending law school, she wrote about federal education issues as an editor for Thompson Publishing Group. Feder earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Brown University (RI) and a law degree from Yale University (CT).

Eugene Fiorini, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer, Fiorini & Associates

Eugene Fiorini has over 25 years’ experience developing and administering a broad range of grants at the intersection of research and education. He is the Muhlenberg College Truman Koehler Professor Emeritus of Mathematics and a former Associate Director for the Center for Discrete Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science (DIMACS) at Rutgers University (NJ). Fiorini has been principal investigator, co-principal investigator, or senior personnel on over 30 grants from various governmental agencies, professional organizations, and private foundations, and has sat on proposal review panels for federal agencies and professional organizations. Previously, he served as associate director for DIMACS-Rutgers University (NJ), and associate dean and interim dean at Shippensburg University (PA).

Sarah A. Flanagan
Vice President for Government Relations and Policy Development, NAICU

Sarah Flanagan leads the NAICU government relations team.  As vice president, she directs a comprehensive government relations effort, in coordination with related state associations, that focuses on issues of government regulation, student financial assistance, and tax policy. Before joining NAICU, she was the professional staff member for higher education on the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Education, Arts and Humanities under Sen. Claiborne Pell (D-RI), and staff director for the Senate Subcommittee on Children, Families, Drugs and Alcoholism under Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT). Flanagan earned a B.A. degree from Providence College (RI) and a M.A.T. degree from Rhode Island College. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Beacon College (FL) and is a Trustee Emerita at Providence College (RI) and Mary Baldwin University (VA).

Jan Friis, J.D.
Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, Council for Higher Education Accreditation

Jan Friis joined CHEA in May 2006 from Final Analysis Communication Services, Inc., where he was vice president of administration and director of government relations.

He previously served as chief of staff for two former Members of Congress, Rep. Jon Fox (R-PA) and Rep. Michael Forbes (NY), and as district administrator for a third Member, Rep. Richard Schulze (R-PA). He has also been in private law practice.

Friis is graduate of Brigham Young University (UT) and Widener University School of Law (PA)

Richard Garrett
Eduventures Chief Research Officer at Encoura

Richard Garrett has almost 30 years of experience in higher education, specializing in online learning, nontraditional students, innovative program and institutional models, market research, and internationalization.

Garrett has also worked at the Observatory on Borderless Higher Education, i-graduate, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, University of Surrey (UK), and the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (UK). He is co-founder and co-director of the CHLOE (Changing Landscape of Online Education) project with Quality Matters and EDUCAUSE.

Rick Grafmeyer
Partner, Capitol Tax Partners

Rick Grafmeyer, who joined Capitol Tax Partners in 2003, specializes in exempt organization, executive compensation, employee benefit, and health-related issues for the firm. He also handles tax administration, tax compliance, and aviation tax issues for clients.

Most recently, he was part of a small group of former and current senior Congressional staff who were responsible for official proceedings activities and floor access for speakers and members of Congress at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Grafmeyer formerly served as the deputy chief of staff for the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) from 1998 through 2000. He was responsible for legislation, technical studies, and published recommendations, including a study of corporate tax shelters, a comprehensive study of the penalty and interest system, and two studies on disclosures impacting tax-exempt organizations.  He also was one of the leaders for the last major tax simplification study, a JCT three-volume tax simplification set of proposals covering all areas of the tax code. After serving at JCT, Grafmeyer handled tax and business issues for the presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain.

Grafmeyer earned an LLM in taxation from Georgetown University Law Center (DC), a Juris Doctor from University of Akron School of Law (OH), and bachelor's degree in accounting from Walsh College (Ohio).

Jonathan D. Green, D.M.A.
President, Susquehanna University (PA)

Jonathan Green has been president of Susquehanna University since 2017. Previously, he was provost and dean of the faculty at Illinois Wesleyan University where he was named the first recipient of the Outstanding Advisor Award, and dean of the college and vice president for academic affairs at Sweet Briar College (VA) where he received the Excellence in Teaching Award.   

Green also is chair of the board of the Annapolis Group, chair emeritus of the board of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, board member of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, and a member of the NAICU Board of Directors while serving on the Tax Policy Committee.

He earned a bachelor's in music and received an Outstanding Alumnus Award from SUNY Fredonia. He also earned a master's in music degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where he was an Ornest Fellow, and a D.M.A. in conducting from UNC-Greensboro where he was a University Excellence Fellow and was recently named a Distinguished Alumnus of the College of Fine Arts. 

Marjorie Hass, Ph.D.
President, Council of Independent Colleges

Marjorie Hass is a philosopher, leader, award-winning teacher, mentor, author, and an influential thinker in independent higher education. She has led the Council of Independent Colleges since 2021. and guides the organization's programming to ensure it engages a diverse membership; supports member financial health and innovation; and strengthens CIC's role as a champion of independent higher education.

Before joining CIC, Hass served as president of Rhodes College (TN) and of Austin College (TX). She also served at Muhlenberg College (PA) as a member of the philosophy faculty and as provost.

A philosopher by training, Hass has published widely on the philosophy of language, logic, and feminist philosophy and speaks frequently on leadership, shared governance, and the independent sector in higher education. She is the author of A Leadership Guide for Women in Higher Education (Johns Hopkins Press, 2021). 

Hass earned bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in philosophy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  She is a former NAICU board chair and currently is a trustee at Brandeis University (MA).

Mary Dana Hinton, Ph.D.,
President, Hollins University (VA)

Mary Dana Hinton became the thirteenth president of Hollins University in August 2020. An active and respected proponent of the liberal arts and inclusion, her leadership reflects a deep and abiding commitment to educational equity and the education of women. Previously, she served six years as president of the College of Saint Benedict (MN). During her tenure, the college completed a $100 million comprehensive fundraising campaign and implemented a $43 million campus facilities update, 

Hinton’s scholarship focuses on higher education leadership, strategic planning, the role of education in peace building, African American religious history, and inclusion in higher education. She is the author of The Commercial Church: Black Churches and the New Religious Marketplace in America and a frequent op-ed contributor across higher education publications. 

In 2021, Hinton was elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, an organization established more than 240 years ago by the nation’s founders to honor exceptionally accomplished individuals and engage them in advancing the public good.

Hinton earned a Ph.D. in religion and religious education with high honors from Fordham University (NY), an M.A. in clinical child psychology from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, and a B.A. in psychology from Williams College (MA). She is the 2023-24 vice chair of the NAICU board of directors.

Jack Jarmon, Ph.D.
Chief Financial Officer, Fiorini and Associates.

Jack Jarmon’s career spans over 40 years of progressive corporate experience, academic research, international business and policy development. He has taught international relations courses at the University of Pennsylvania, the John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University (NJ), and Rutgers University (NJ) where he was also associate director of the Command, Control and Interoperability Center for Advanced Data Analysis – a Center of Excellence of the Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Division. Grant awards where he has been either a PI or associated director run the dollar range between $650 million to $25,000. Corporate and government experience includes Arthur Andersen, Nortel Networks, and USAID.

Jonathan Martin

Politics Bureau Chief and Senior Political Columnist, POLITICO

Jonathan Martin is a distinguished political journalist renowned for his incisive coverage that spans from the corridors of power in Washington, D.C., to the campaign trails across America. As POLITICO's bureau chief and senior political columnist, he is celebrated for delivering the inside scoop on White House dynamics, Capitol Hill maneuvering, and national elections. Martin's reporting is underpinned by deep-rooted connections to key political figures and insiders on both sides of the aisle, offering unparalleled insights into American politics at the highest levels.

Martin embodies a commitment to factual reporting and a comprehensive understanding of political trends shaping business and society. With a career spanning pivotal roles at The New York Times and National Journal, he brings a wealth of experience and firsthand anecdotes to his analysis. Co-author of the bestseller This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America’s Future, Martin is recognized for his ability to demystify complex political landscapes and provide clarity on emerging issues.

A seasoned CNN analyst and contributor to leading publications such as The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, Martin's work is distinguished by its depth and integrity. He continues to be a driving force in political journalism, exploring the evolving dynamics of governance and policy with unmatched expertise and enthusiasm.

John McKeegan, J.D.
President, Mount Aloysius College (PA)

Before his service at Mount Aloysius College, John McKeegan was vice president for institutional advancement and general counsel at Linfield University (OR) and held leadership positions there since 2010.

At Linfield, he coordinated fundraising activities, handled communications to internal and external constituencies, and led alumni, parent and community engagement. McKeegan joined Linfield in 2010 as advisor to the president and general counsel and was named a vice president in 2013. Prior to that he practiced law in Oregon and Arizona.

McKeegan earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from Bucknell University (PA), and a juris doctor from the University of Notre Dame (IN). He attended the Harvard University Graduate School of Education Institute for Educational Management and has presented at the Council on Independent College's Chief Academic Officer Institute.

Stephanie Marken
Senior Partner, Gallup

Stephanie Marken leads Gallup's U.S. custom research division, which includes research programs it performs on behalf of foundations, agencies, corporations and higher education institutions. She is responsible for the strategic direction of Gallup’s research in education, workforce development, climate, technology and the social sciences, which includes complex, multimode qualitative and quantitative research projects.

Marken previously served as chief methodologist for Gallup. She was responsible for the sample design, data collection approach and methodology for Gallup's public release studies in education and workforce development areas.

Before joining Gallup, Marken was a researcher in the education division at Westat, a research firm specializing in complex social science studies for the federal government, state agencies and foundations. While at Westat, she worked on large-scale, complex, multimode education studies for the U.S. Department of Education, including the National Household Education Survey, Postsecondary Education Quick Information System, Fast Response Survey System, Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, and other quantitative and qualitative research projects for education foundations and organizations.

Marken earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Elon University (NC) and a master's degree in survey research from the University of Connecticut.

Dianne Miller
Senior Director of Federal Relations, Cornell University (NY)

Dianne Miller serves as Cornell's principal advocate before Congress and the executive branch agencies. Prior to joining Cornell in 2005, she was legislative director and counsel to Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY). She began her career as an attorney with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Miller is an honors graduate of Western Michigan University and the University of Michigan Law School.

Alex Nock
Principal, Penn Hill Group

Alex Nock has more than 25 years of experience in federal education, disability, labor and health policy, and has been a part of every major piece of federal education and disability policy legislation. At the Penn Hills Group, he helps clients identify and secure their policy goals with Congress, the Administration, and congressional and presidential campaigns. He also helps clients better communicate their policy goals and objectives to policymakers and the public.

Prior to his position with Penn Hill Group, Nock served as the Democratic deputy staff director for the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor. From 2007–10, Nock oversaw all aspects of the committee’s work on elementary and secondary education, higher education, disability policy, early childhood education, health care, retirement security, workplace safety, mine safety, workforce training and national service.

Nock has led numerous reauthorizations while working on Capitol Hill, including the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Workforce Investment Act, the Higher Education Act, the Head Start Act, and Federal child nutrition laws. Nock also played key roles in advancing and securing passage of the two major higher education budget reconciliation bills in 2008 and 2010, as well as the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.

He also served as the director of the Commission on No Child Left Behind, a bipartisan, independent effort to improve the No Child Left Behind Act. Prior to the commission, Nock developed education and social policy on Capitol Hill. He held several positions, including U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, . Nock, Rep. Matthew G. Martinez (D-CA), the Human Resources Subcommittee, the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor, and Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD).

Nock holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Maryland.

Scott D. Nostaja
Senior Vice President and National Organizational Effectiveness Practice Leader, New York, Segal

Scott Nostaja has more than 20 years of experience with specialized expertise in organizational effectiveness and in creating high-performing organizations. Nostaja leads Segal’s Organizational Effectiveness Practice and provides a wide range of services to clients including strategic planning and initiatives involving organizational, operational and cultural transformation.

He has led large scale institutional assessments, transformations and comprehensive strategic planning efforts at several leading institutions of higher education including Virginia Tech, University of Massachusetts, Amherst College, Bucknell University (PA), NC State University, Texas Christian University, University of Alabama, the University of California system, University of Denver, California State University System, the University of Louisville, and many others.

Prior to joining Segal, Nostaja served as the president and CEO of Excelcor, a leading higher education consulting firm. Segal acquired Excelcor in 2014.  In prior roles, he served as the chief operations officer at the University at Buffalo and served as the senior vice president of human resources and administration for Universal Studios, where he guided the company’s global workforce across all operating divisions, including motion pictures, television, theme parks and music.  He held similar position with CBS Television and SONY Pictures. He also led the West Coast Change Management at Accenture. 

Nostaja earned a BS degree from the California State University - Northridge. He has served on numerous boards and commissions including the State of California Workers Compensation Task Force, the State of California Tourism and Marketing Commission, and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. 

Elizabeth Paul, Ph.D.
President, Nazareth University (NY)

Elizabeth Paul has served as president of Nazareth University (NY) since 2020. Paul’s strategic acumen has enabled her to successfully lead Nazareth through the COVID-19 pandemic, a transition from a college to university, and its centennial celebration. She continues expertly navigating Nazareth through turbulent waters in both society and the higher education industry. 

Previously she served as president of Capital University (OH), and senior academic officer at Stetson University (FL) and as vice provost and professor of psychology at The College of New Jersey.

Paul earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and a doctorate in personality psychology, both from Boston University. She did a pre-doctoral training fellowship with the National Institute of Mental Health, and earned a certificate in higher education administration from Harvard Institute for Educational Management.

James W. Smith, Ph.D.
Senior Consultant, Gonser Gerber

James Smith has more than 20 years of advancement and nonprofit leadership experience in a variety of senior leadership roles. At Gonser Gerber, he provides advancement and leadership consulting services to faith-based ministries, higher education, K-12 independent schools, healthcare systems, foundations, arts, social service, and other non-profit organizations. His areas of expertise include expanding philanthropic capacity through annual, capital, major and planned gift programs; campaign planning and execution; strategic planning and visioning; advancement team building; public relations; integrated marketing; executive search; and other aspects of institutional advancement.

Prior to joining the firm, Smith served at Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Ohio for 16 years in positions of increasing responsibility in areas ranging from recruitment and financial aid to marketing and advancement.  His entire higher education career was focused on the two revenue-generating areas on campus:  Enrollment/Marketing and Advancement.

He earned a doctorate in higher education administration at Azusa Pacific University focusing on highly regarded, higher education, senior leadership teams.

André Stephens, Ph.D.
President, Fresno Pacific University (CA)

André Stephens has served as president of Fresno Pacific University (CA) since July 2022, bringing over 30 years of experience in higher education. Under his leadership, FPU has advanced policies and programs that prioritize student success and integrate faith with learning. Stephens is committed to fostering academic excellence, spiritual growth, and holistic development for all students.

Previously, he served as vice president for student development at Biola University (CA), where he led a team that provided authentic, meaningful learning experiences to foster the Christian character of students through areas such as spiritual development and chapel programs, athletics, new student orientation and community life, comprising the offices of Housing and Residence Life, Student Care, Global Student Programs and Development, Commuter Life, Campus Engagement, the Student Health Center, the Learning Center and Student Government.

Stephens completed a bachelor's degree in communication with a public relations emphasis from Biola, a master's in speech communication with an emphasis in intercultural/interpersonal communication from California State University at Fullerton, and a Ph.D. in education with an emphasis in higher education administration/student affairs from Claremont Graduate University (CA).

Larry Stimpert, Ph.D.
President, Hampden-Sydney College (VA) 

Larry Stimpert has served as the 25^th president of Hampden-Sydney College since 2016. Reflecting his deep commitment to the liberal arts and the college’s distinctive mission, “to form good men and good citizens,” his presidency is focused on providing students with an extraordinary educational experience and outcomes. Under his leadership, the college has implemented curricular and co-curricular enhancements, including an experiential learning initiative, a four-year leadership program, and new programs in entrepreneurship and outdoor education. The college also has set fundraising records in each of the last five years and it has pursued a vigorous building and renovation agenda.

Previously, Stimpert served as vice president for academic affairs and professor of economics and management at DePauw University (IN) and for 17 years as a professor in the Economics and Business Department at Colorado College.

While serving as Hampden-Sydney’s president, Stimpert has chaired the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV) and the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC), and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). Stimpert earned a B.A. in economics from Illinois Wesleyan University, an M.B.A. from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois.

He is currently a member of the NAICU Board of Directors.

Suzanne Stokes Vieth
Director of State Relations and Outreach, NAICU
 
Suzanne Stokes Vieth is responsible for cultivating and managing the association’s network of state executives, tracking emerging higher education issues at the state level, and serving as primary liaison with the Congressional Independent Colleges Caucus. She joined NAICU from the Population Association of America/ Association of Population Centers where she served as deputy director for government affairs. Previously, she served as the manager of congressional relations for the Association of Public Television Stations and began her career as a legislative assistant in the office of former U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT). Vieth is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI)
Chair, House Committee on Education & the Workforce

Tim Walberg is currently serving his ninth term in Congress as the representative of southern Michigan, making him dean of the Michigan congressional delegation. He serves as chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee. He also serves on the House Natural Resources Committee.

The diverse constituency of Michigan’s 5th District encompasses Branch, Cass, Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee, Monroe, and St. Joseph Counties, along with portions of Berrien, Calhoun, and Kalamazoo Counties. Since first taking office, Rep. Walberg has hosted hundreds of coffee and town hall meetings to better understand the thoughts and concerns of the district.

Prior to his time in public office, Rep. Walberg served as a pastor in Michigan and Indiana, as president of the Warren Reuther Center for Education and Community Impact, and as a division manager for Moody Bible Institute. He also served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1983 to 1999, and is proud to bring his reputation as a principled legislator, fiscal reformer, and defender of traditional values to Washington.

Based on his record of legislative accomplishment, Rep. Walberg holds the designation as Michigan's most conservative Member of Congress, based on the American Conservative Union's lifetime score. He was also ranked by the Center for Effective Lawmaking, a non-partisan collaboration between Vanderbilt University and University of Virginia, as the most effective member of Michigan's congressional delegation in the 115th Congress. In the following session of Congress, the Center for Effective Lawmaking once again recognized Tim for his policymaking success, naming him the top Republican legislator on technology issues.