IHEP Elects New Officers to Board of Directors

Washington, DC (December 10, 2024) – At its recent final meeting of 2024, the Institute for Higher Education Policy’s (IHEP) Board of Directors elected new officers. MaryEllen McGuire, founder and president of the Postsecondary National Policy Institute (PNPI) will serve as chairperson; Ajita Talwalker Menon, president and CEO for Calbright College, will serve as vice chairperson; and Denisa Gándara, associate professor of educational leadership and policy at The University of Texas at Austin will serve as board secretary.

“As a mission-driven research and advocacy organization, IHEP is enriched by the insights and perspective shared by its board members,” said Mamie Voight, IHEP president & CEO. “Our board routinely offers guidance to deepen the impact of our research, advocacy, and fiscal operations. All of us at IHEP are delighted MaryEllen, Ajita and Denisa will steward the board, and we are grateful to each board member for their ongoing commitment to service with IHEP.”

IHEP Board Chairperson MaryEllen McGuire is the founder and president of the Postsecondary National Policy Institute (PNPI). Prior to creating and launching PNPI, Ms. McGuire served on the White House Domestic Policy Council as President Obama’s Senior Advisor for Education. In this capacity she focused her efforts on developing and advancing the president’s higher education agenda. Apart from her work with the administration, Ms. McGuire previously served as the senior education policy advisor to Senator Chris Dodd on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and as majority staff director of the Senate Subcommittee on Children and Families.

IHEP Vice Board Chairperson Ajita Talwalker Menon is the president and CEO for Calbright College. She leads the college in its mission to help underserved Californians gain greater economic mobility and to provide skilled talent for hiring employers. Ms. Menon has dedicated her career to supporting government agencies, higher education institutions and systems, and non-profit organizations to drive better and more equitable outcomes in higher education and workforce training.

IHEP Board Secretary Denisa Gándara is an associate professor of educational leadership and policy at The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Gándara’s research examines the development of higher education policy decisions and the effects of these decisions on students who have been excluded from and underserved in higher education. An additional line of her research explores how various approaches to funding colleges and universities might promote or hinder social equity. Her work is driven by a desire to expand postsecondary educational opportunities and outcomes for students from marginalized communities.

Dr. Peter Nwosu, president of State University of New York-Oswego, concluded his term as IHEP’s board chairperson. He will continue his service as an IHEP board member.

“Peter’s steadfast commitment to our mission, practical insights, and extensive campus experience have helped to strengthen IHEP’s efficacy during his tenure as chair,” Voight continued. “I remain inspired by his passion, fortitude, and dedication to advancing student success.”

The IHEP Board of Directors manages fiduciary responsibilities and establishes policies that further the organization’s growing research, advocacy, and program portfolio.