Andrew K. Benton, President of Pepperdine University, was recently elected to a 19-month term as chair of the board of directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU).
Benton had previously served as vice-chair of the NAICU and was elected following the retirement of the previous chairman of the board.
NAICU is a national organization made up of presidents from accredited private, nonprofit colleges and universities. Presidents of nearby private universities such as Loyola Marymount, University of Southern California and California Lutheran University are members.
“This seems to be an especially important time for all institutions of higher learning to work closely together and, perhaps, especially those in the independent sector,” Benton said in a statement provided by the organization. “Our work is noble, aimed at the very future of this nation. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve and I simply cannot imagine finer colleagues with whom to do so.”