Partnering with WICHE since 1953
Executive Director, Arizona Board of Regents
Executive Director, Arizona Board of Regents
John Arnold was named executive director of the Arizona Board of Regents in July 2018. He is responsible for guiding the board’s strategic plan, with ambitious goals to increase educational attainment by 2025 and to advance the public higher education enterprise to serve students and impact Arizona’s economy. Arnold had served as interim managing director of the board beginning in May 2018, and had joined the board office in March 2015 as vice president of business management and financial affairs, developing financial policies and procedures for the university enterprise, addressing capital development and state budget requests, and coordinating systemwide analysis of complex financial issues.
With more than 20 years serving Arizona, Arnold brings significant public service experience and a deep commitment to higher education to the position. He has an exceptional background in financial affairs and a proven track record of leadership, having served as Gov. Jan Brewer’s state budget director, a role in which he was instrumental in providing fiscal direction and solutions for the state during the Great Recession, and in implementing the budget and advising the governor on related matters. Throughout his career, he has worked with leaders in education from K-12 to college. As director of the Arizona School Facilities Board, he managed programs for new school construction, building renewal, and energy savings. Arnold is married with five children. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting and his master’s degrees in accounting and public administration from Brigham Young University.
President, Northern Arizona University
President, Northern Arizona University
Rita Hartung Cheng serves as the 16th president of Northern Arizona University, which enrolls more than 31,000 students in nearly 250 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. President Cheng’s strategic focus is to expand upon the university’s historical strengths, providing access to an affordable quality education for all students and pursuing the discovery, advancement, and application of knowledge in research areas unique and important to the region. Previously, she was chancellor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and she spent more than 20 years on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, serving in various administrative roles including provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. She is internationally recognized for her research in government and nonprofit accounting. She earned a Ph.D. in accounting from Temple University’s Fox School of Business and Management, an M.B.A. from the University of Rhode Island, and a bachelor’s in business administration from Bishop’s University in Quebec. Committed to service, Dr. Cheng also serves on a variety of local and national boards.
President/CEO, Midwestern University
President/CEO, Midwestern University
Kathleen H. Goeppinger, Ph.D., has since 1995 been president and chief executive officer of Midwestern University, an upper-division institution specializing in graduate-level health professions with two campuses (in Downers Grove, IL and Glendale, AZ) enrolling 7,200 students. Previously, Goeppinger had been a tenured professor and director at Loyola University Chicago for the Institute of Industrial Relations and Center for Organizational Development. Prior to her time in academia, she worked in the private sector as a management consultant in health care and organizational development and held corporate management roles in human resources and training. She has served Midwestern University since 1985, initially serving on the board of trustees and as chairman of the board. She is a member of numerous boards of directors in the Greater Phoenix and Downers Grove areas, and among other honors was named as one of 25 most admired CEOs by the Phoenix Business Journal for her leadership, dedication to, and impact on higher education. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Carthage College in Kenosha, WI, and her master’s degree in industrial relations and doctorate in comparative international policy from Loyola University in Chicago.
Senator, Arizona State Legislature
Senator, Arizona State Legislature
Representative, Arizona State Legislature
Representative, Arizona State Legislature
Senator, Arizona State Legislature
Senator, Arizona State Legislature
Representative, Arizona State Legislature
Representative, Arizona State Legislature
Search among hundreds of undergraduate degrees offered at the WUE rate of 150 percent of resident tuition (or less) by over 160 public colleges and universities across the West. Find the school and program that fits your geographic and educational goals.
Search hundreds of public master’s, graduate certificate, and doctoral options offered through WRGP and pay up to 150 percent of the enrolling university’s resident tuition no matter which of the WICHE states and territories you reside in. Find the university and program that fits your educational and career goals.