Who We Are

APLU’s day-to-day operations are led by President Waded Cruzado 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

Waded Cruzado became President of APLU July 1, 2025. From 2010 to 2025, Cruzado served as President of Montana State University, where she led transformative growth and set records in enrollment, retention, academic excellence, research, and fundraising. Cruzado is well known for her passion in bringing greater public understanding to the importance of the Morrill Acts of 1862, 1890, and 1994 – which collectively created the public, land-grant university system for the benefit of all Americans.

Learn more about President Cruzado.

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.