Ashford University Board of Trustees
Dr. Meredyth A. Leahy, Chairperson
Dr. Meredyth A. Leahy has over 30 years experience working with adult educators and adult learners in basic literacy, secondary, continuing and higher education, in both public sector and military education venues, including Temple University and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Cabrini College, Muhlenberg College, and Excelsior. From 1994 to 2008 she served as Dean, School of Liberal Arts, Excelsior College, Albany, New York. Since her retirement, she has served as distance education adjunct faculty for Excelsior College teaching an undergraduate course on the history and philosophy of American education, and North Carolina State University where she taught a graduate course on the adult learner. She recently joined the American Council on Education's Military Installation Voluntary Education Review (MIVER) as a program review team member. Dr. Leahy earned her Bachelor's degree from Edinboro State Teachers College and her Master's and Doctorate degrees in adult education from Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Ms. Polly Bukta
Polly Bukta has served seven terms in the Iowa House of Representatives. In 2010, she made the decision not to seek re-election. During her political career, she held positions on the Education, Public Safety, Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, and Ways and Means Committees and became one of Iowa's most illustrious leaders. In 2007, she was the first woman named speaker pro-tem of the Iowa House. Mrs. Bukta has been instrumental in elections of candidates from school boards to the White House. With a passion for education, she began her career as a fifth-grade teacher and was an educator for 33 years prior to becoming a legislator. Mrs. Bukta, who has lived in Clinton since 1967, is an active member of numerous business and civic organizations. She earned her Bachelor's degree in elementary education with a minor in French from Mercyhurst College, Erie, PA.
Dr./Sister Ruth Cox, OSF
Sister Ruth Cox presently serves as an Adjunct Faculty at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Previous to her role with Kirkwood Community College, Sister Ruth served as President and CEO of The Alverno in Clinton, Iowa. She has served professionally in many roles, including the Leadership Council of the Sisters of St. Francis and the Iowa Advisory Board for the Iowa Foundation for Medical Care. Sister Ruth has delivered numerous papers and presentations on the topic of nursing. Her many academic assignments include the Curriculum Committee for the College of Nursing at Loyola University of Chicago, among others. Sister Ruth holds a PhD from the University of Iowa, and earned her MA and BS from Loyola University of Chicago.
Dr. Paula Kelly
Dr. Paula Kelly is currently the Director of Development for International Relief Teams (IRT). Previously, Dr. Kelly served as the Vice President of Development for the Monarch School and prior to Monarch School she was the Dean of the College of Extended Studies at San Diego State University. Dr. Kelly has a background in entrepreneurial education and international business. She traveled to more than 30 countries in Asia, Europe, South America, and the Middle East to market and develop the College of Extended Studies' international training and development programs for SDSU. Dr. Kelly earned her MBA and doctorate at the University of San Diego and later served as the Director of Development at that institution. She has served on the Boards of the World Trade Center, Asian Business Association, and St. Vincent de Paul Village.
Mr. Damen Lopez
In 2004, Damen Lopez founded the No Excuses University Network of Schools. This endeavor helps to build a bridge for all students to attend college as it begins promoting a comprehensive college readiness model starting in kindergarten. After just two years of sharing this message with thousands of educators across the country, there are currently 117 schools participating as part of the No Excuses University revolution. To date, this work – which is now influencing the lives of nearly 68,000 students in 18 different states – has received national attention and has been featured in numerous television and newspaper stories. In 2006, Damen co-founded TurnAround Schools and now works with schools, districts, and educational organizations throughout the country in an effort to support the development of six exceptional systems that result in academic success for all. Damen’s enthusiasm for providing leadership to ensure every student, especially those living in poverty, will be both academically successful and college ready is widely respected. He, along with his staff, continues to be honored by the positive changes that schools have made as a result of the lessons learned from the Los Penasquitos Elementary School story.
Dr. Peter Negroni
Dr. Peter J. Negroni is Senior Vice President of Relationship Development at the College Board. A career educator with more than 30 years experience as a teacher and administrator, Dr. Negroni began his career in education as a New York City teacher before moving into administrative roles, including principal and community college district superintendent. From 1989 through 2000 he was superintendent of the Springfield (Mass.) public school system. In 1998 he was named Superintendent of the Year by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Dr. Negroni earned a Bachelor's degree from Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y., a sixth-year certificate in student administration from City College of New York and a doctorate from Fairleigh Dickenson University in Teaneck, N.J.
Dr. Randy Ward
Dr. Randolph E. Ward was hired as San Diego County Superintendent of Schools on June 29, 2006, and began his official duties in the new position on August 14 of that year. Under his leadership the San Diego County Office of Education completed its first formal Strategic Plan, working with leaders throughout the county to craft the plan. Dr. Ward and his staff coordinated the local education community's response to the San Diego County wildfires of 2007, and worked closely with County Health officials and local schools in response to the H1N1 pandemic in 2009. Dr. Ward serves on several local boards of directors, including the Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Council, the USS Midway Education Museum, the Workforce Investment Board, Junior Achievement, and the Financial Crisis Management Assistance Team.
Dr. Karen Paulson
Karen Paulson is a Senior Associate at the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS). Her areas of expertise include assessment, evaluation, accreditation, and the use of data in state policymaking; she has worked at over 40 postsecondary institutions and in 30 states. She conducts evaluations for institutions and consortia with externally funded projects including the State Scholars Initiative, Title III, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) Comprehensive, and Learning Anytime Anyplace Partnership grants. She is the author of "Developing Public Agendas for Higher Education: Lessons for Comparative State Higher Education Policy," in State Postsecondary Education Research: New Methods to Inform Policy and Practice, edited by K. M. Shaw and D. E. Heller in 2007, "Adult Learners in the United States: A National Profile" (co-authored with Marianne Boeke for the American Council on Education, 2006), and "A Data Audit and Analysis Toolkit to Support Assessment of the First College Year" (2003). She holds engineering degrees in addition to her higher education study. Her Ph.D. is in Higher Education with a minor in Policy Analysis from The Pennsylvania State University.
Ms. Karen Steinberg
Ms. Steinberg is the Executive Vice President for the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL). As Executive Vice President, she acts as the CFO of the organization and has responsibility for operations. Previous to her current position with CAEL, Ms. Steinberg was a Senior Vice Chancellor with the United States Open University (USOU). Ms. Steinberg holds an MBA from the University of Nevada and earned her BA from the California State University at Chico.
Dr. Elizabeth T. Tice
Dr. Elizabeth Tice currently serves as President of Ashford University. In that capacity, she oversees all academic operations of both the on-campus and online programs. Prior to her appointment as President of Ashford University, she served as the Provost of Ashford University since 2005. Before that, Dr. Tice served as Dean of Academic Development and Instruction with Bridgepoint Education, parent company of Ashford University. She is an Assessment Mentor with the Higher Learning Association of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and an alumna of the American Council on Education's Institute for Chief Academic Officers. Dr. Tice has more than 24 years experience as a faculty member and administrator in higher education sector. She has degrees in Recreation Management and Educational Psychology, with a PhD in Human Science. She also completed a two-year post-graduate program in Gestalt psychology. Dr. Tice has authored numerous articles, book chapters, and books. She is widely traveled in Mexico and fluent in Spanish.