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Mark Milliron to Join National U as President and CEO

• By Rhea Kelly
• 08/11/22

National University, the San Diego-based nonprofit institution focused on working learners, has selected Dr. Mark David Milliron to serve as president and CEO. Milliron will begin in the new role on Oct. 1.

Milliron has a long history serving across the K-12, higher education, philanthropy, corporate, and nonprofit sectors, most recently as senior vice president at Western Governors University and executive dean of its School of Education. He also serves as board chair of the Trellis Foundation, an organization focused on improving postsecondary attainment for low-income students and students of color in Texas; vice chair of the Board of Trustees for Bennett College, a historically black liberal arts college for women in North Carolina; and as a professor of practice in the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin.

His previous roles include co-founder of student success analytics platform Civitas Learning, deputy director for postsecondary success with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and president and CEO of the League for Innovation in the Community College.

"Mark brings an exceptional breadth and depth of experience to the position, combined with a genuine passion for NU's mission and vision," commented Ruthann Heinrich, chair of the National University System Board of Trustees, in a statement. "We are confident he will extend NU's legacy of student-focused innovation into the future."

Milliron will take the helm from Dr. Michael R. Cunningham, chancellor of the National University System, who is retiring at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year. "As I prepare to retire, I cannot think of a better person than Dr. Milliron to ensure that the university continues to positively impact the lives of our students, communities, and workforce," Cunningham said. "I look forward to working closely with him over the next year to support the transition of leadership and continued transformation of National University."

"With NU's rich history and deep commitment to innovating around striving student success, helping lead the way with this team into the next half century feels like meaningful work worth doing," said Milliron. "Like NU's students when they cross the graduation stage, I am excited about the possibilities on the road ahead!"