Mark Milliron to Join National U as President and CEO

Mark Milliron

Dr. Mark Milliron

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."

Listen

Dr. Mark Milliron spoke about reimagining higher education in season 3, episode 5 of the Campus Technology Insider podcast: "From Instructional Design to Learning Experience Design: Understanding the Whole Student."

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!"

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • layered glass panels and light trails

    Stanford Online Launches Immersive Learning Studio

    Stanford Online recently marked its 30th anniversary with the announcement of a new immersive learning studio, according to a university news release. The studio takes advantage of AI-powered and immersive learning technologies to continue delivering personalized and faculty-led education.

  • artificial intelligence on laptop

    OpenAI to Combine AI Products into Desktop 'Superapp'

    OpenAI is reportedly developing a desktop application that would combine several of its emerging AI products into a single platform, according to reports, marking the latest step in the company's effort to transform ChatGPT from a standalone chatbot into a broader productivity and automation environment.

  • Abstract futuristic digital network with glowing padlock icons

    Microsoft Intros New Agentic AI Security Multi-Model Defense System

    A new multi-model agentic AI security system built by Microsoft's Autonomous Code Security team helped researchers find 16 new vulnerabilities across the Windows networking and authentication stack, the company anounced in a recent security blog post.

  • Jason Palm

    AI, Identity, and Speed: Cybersecurity Priorities for Higher Ed

    Fortinet Security Operations Specialist Jason Palm explains how AI is raising new security challenges for higher education, requiring stronger governance, identity protection, threat detection, automation, and incident readiness.