Who We Are

APLU’s day-to-day operations are led by President Mark Becker and more than 65 staff members. The Board of Directors provides oversight and direction for their work and is charged with setting membership and governing policies for the association.

Our President

Mark Becker, who became president of APLU in September 2022, came to the association with a deep knowledge and appreciation of the association, having previously served as a member of its Board of Directors and as Chair of the Board for the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities, which has a permanent partnership with APLU – something for which he was a vocal and leading advocate. Prior to leading APLU, Becker spent more than three decades at many of the different types of universities that comprise APLU’s membership, having served as a post-doctoral fellow, professor, dean, provost, and president at flagships, land-grants, and urban serving institutions.

Our Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is the governing and ultimate policymaking body of the association. Under APLU’s bylaws, representatives from the association’s councils and commissions, seven president/chancellor representatives, and five elected officers constitute the board. Each representative is elected to a three-year term, with the exception of the officers, who are elected to one-year terms.

Our Staff

APLU has attracted a bright and talented cadre of public higher education experts – a quarter of whom hold Ph.Ds. Vice presidents of each office and their staffs work with colleagues across member institutions to undertake a broad array of projects and initiatives. APLU offices also work to directly serve the association’s membership through the work of councils and commissions and the planning and coordination of dozens of meetings each year.