Dr. Muriel A. Howard was named president of AASCU in April 2009. She is the first African-American to lead one of the six presidentially based higher education associations in Washington, D.C. She is also AASCU’s first female president.
As AASCU president, Dr. Howard is an advocate for public higher education at the national level, working to influence federal policy and regulations on behalf of member colleges and universities; serving as a resource to presidents and chancellors as they address state policy and emerging campus issues; and providing professional development opportunities for presidents, chancellors, and their spouses.
Formerly the president of Buffalo State College, State University of New York, Dr. Howard has been an active member of AASCU for many years. Her volunteer involvement with AASCU includes serving as chair of the board of directors (2006–2007) and committee and commission memberships that include the Voluntary System of Accountability Presidential Advisory Committee, the Millennium Leadership Initiative, the Commission on Public University Renewal, and the Alliance for Regional Stewardship. Dr. Howard also served as a faculty member for AASCU’s New Presidents’ Academy.
As president of Buffalo State College from 1996 to 2009, Dr. Howard led a campus of more than 11,000 students, approximately 1,700 faculty and staff, and a financial operation of more than $214 million. Prior to joining Buffalo State, she was the vice president for public service and urban affairs at the University at Buffalo, where she served in various leadership capacities over a 23-year period.
Her professional and scholarly interests include support of education, educational leadership, and a long-standing personal commitment to public service. Dr. Howard has served on numerous national, state, and community professional boards, including that of the American Council on Education; Air University; Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities; National Advisory Board of the National Survey of Student Engagement; National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Presidents’ Council; State University of New York, University Council of Presidents; Board of Directors, Center for Russia and the United States; H.H. Richardson Center Corporation Commission; Western New York Consortium of Higher Education; Niagara University Board of Trustees; United Way of Buffalo and Erie County; and King Center Charter School.
A graduate of the City University of New York’s Richmond College, Dr. Howard holds a master’s degree in education and a doctor of philosophy in educational organization, administration, and policy from the University at Buffalo. She earned a certificate from the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University. She has also received many awards for her contributions to public higher education, for service to the community, and for her commitment to diversity.
Dr. Howard succeeds Constantine W. (Deno) Curris, who had served as president of AASCU since 1999.