The Presidents’ Trust Membership of the AAC&U

The former president of Pacific Union College, Dr. Heather Knight is a pioneer in education administration - the first black woman to serve in several leadership positions in higher education institutions. Besides being an inspiration for African American women, Dr. Heather Knight also engages with professionals in her field by participating as a member of associations such as the Council of Independent Colleges and the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) as a member of The Presidents’ Trust.

AAC&U is a leading national association founded in 1915 to advocate for democracy in education. The association has over 1,400 member institutions, which include public and private colleges, universities, community colleges, and others. There are four ways to join AAC&U, and one of them is The Presidents’ Trust.

The Presidents’ Trust is a membership type open to chief executive officers of foundations, associations, and AAC&U institutional members. It consists of a diverse network of leaders in higher education who commit to the mission of AAC&U of advancing the public standing of liberal education.

This AAC&U membership provides access to the AAC&U monthly newsletter and publications, as well as to the Presidents’ Trust Symposium, a seminar held during the AAC&U Annual Meeting. Trust members receive quarterly email updates with curated articles, summaries of relevant research, and other points of interest. 

PUC Garners Top School Rankings

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Image from: puc.edu/

Dr. Heather Knight became president of Pacific Union College (PUC) in 2009. During her eight-year tenure as president, Heather Knight, PhD, increased financial aid, embarked on major renovations and facilities improvement, and developed a new strategic plan known as the PUC Advantage. Under her leadership, the school garnered attention from various corners, including being ranked as U.S. News and World Report’s Most Diverse National Liberal Arts College in America in 2016.

Located in Napa Valley, California, PUC continues to receive national recognition, including being ranked No. 4 in Best Value Schools in the U.S. News and World Reports 2020 rankings. The ranking takes into consideration the school’s academic quality and the cost for an attending student recipient of the average amount of need-based financial aid. The higher the academic quality and the lower the cost, the higher the value.

U.S. News and World Report also ranked PUC No.10 in its Best College in Regional Colleges West category. The factors considered in producing the rankings include the school’s ability to retain and graduate students, faculty resources, expert opinion, student excellence, and alumni giving.