University president joins national board

University president joins national board

Richard Pappas. Courtesy Davenport University

The head of a local university has been named to a national higher education board.

Davenport University President Richard Pappas is on the board of directors for the American Council on Education, or ACE, the major coordinating body for the nation’s colleges and universities.

His one-year term began in March 2019.

ACE’s mission is to mobilize the higher education community to influence public policy and practice, ACE President Ted Mitchell said.

“We are fortunate to have leaders from across the diverse landscape of American colleges and universities who are dedicated to helping us achieve these goals,” Mitchell said.

“It’s a privilege to work alongside some of the finest leadership in academia — all focused on improving outcomes for students in higher education, with the goal of helping them earn successful careers,” Pappas said.

Pappas has more than 40 years of experience in higher education, including 30 years as a college and university president.

He is the past board chair for the Heart of West Michigan United Way and serves on the board of The Right Place and the West Michigan board for Fifth Third Bank.

Pappas is a participant in the West Michigan Strategic Alliance’s Talent 2025 initiative. He is also a past chair of the board of Michigan Independent Colleges and Universities.