Worcester Polytechnic Institute President Laurie A. Leshin, PhD, has been named to the Board of Directors of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), the 1,400-member organization of accredited public and private colleges, community colleges, research universities, and comprehensive universities. President Leshin’s appointment was announced at the AAC&U 2017 Annual Meeting in January.
“I am honored to join the AAC&U board of directors,” said Leshin. “As the president of a technological university, I have seen first-hand the value in providing students with opportunities to apply their skills and technical ability to solve real problems in every corner of the world. Across AAC&U, I see a membership of thousands of professionals from institutions of every kind who are similarly focused on helping the next generation make a positive and lasting impact on society.”
Founded in 1915, AAC&U is the leading national association concerned with the quality, vitality, and public standing of undergraduate liberal education. AAC&U functions as a catalyst and facilitator, forging links among presidents, administrators, and faculty members who are engaged in institutional and curricular planning.
“AAC&U is fortunate to have the leadership of a strong and dedicated board of directors committed to making liberal education and inclusive excellence the foundation for institutional purpose and educational practice,” said AAC&U president Lynn Pasquerella. “Laurie's extraordinary vision and leadership will be invaluable as we strive to shape the agenda for higher education around liberal education and equity. I look forward to continuing our work together to ensure AAC&U’s mission is enacted in meaningful ways on the campuses and in the communities of our member institutions.”
AAC&U members represent institutions of higher education dedicated to ensuring that the advantages of a liberal education are available to all students, regardless of background, enrollment path, academic specialization, or intended career. AAC&U’s mission is to reinforce the collective commitment to liberal education and inclusive excellence at both the national and local levels, and to help individual institutions keep the quality of student learning at the core of their work as they evolve to meet new economic and social challenges.
