DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Mar 5, 2013
DeVry University appointed Richard L. Rodriguez chair of its board of trustees and Jill Albrinck, Barbara Higgins, Alan G. Merten, Grace Ng, David J. Pauldine and Newton Walpert as board members in November 2012. The board is the institutional governing body for DeVry University, overseeing academic, operational and financial policies.
“The DeVry University Board of Trustees ensures that we further our mission to foster student learning through high-quality, career-oriented education,” said Pauldine, president of DeVry University. “We are confident Richard’s leadership will be invaluable, as we continue to meet the needs of a diverse student population and prepare students to excel in a changing, increasingly competitive marketplace.”
Rodriguez is currently vice president and business development director at Lend Lease, one of the world's leading, fully-integrated property and infrastructure solutions providers. His previous experience includes key leadership roles with the Chicago Department of Environment, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Chicago Department of Aviation, and other critical organizations within the City of Chicago infrastructure.
Profiles of the six board members are as follows:
Jill Albrinck is chief operating officer of DeVry University. Prior to joining DeVry University, she worked for the Luxottica Group, a leader in the optical industry and owner of high profile retail brands, and was chief operating officer of LensCrafters. Albrinck’s previous experience also includes various leadership roles with Chiquita Brands International, and partner with Booz, Allen & Hamilton, where she led both strategic and operational transformations for Fortune 500 companies.
Barbara Higgins is senior vice president of customer experience and retention at Allstate Insurance Company. Previously vice president of customer experience at United Airlines, she has more than 20 years of experience in operations, market research, brand management and leadership. Higgins serves as a member of the executive committee for the board of the Lincoln Park Zoo and participated in the 2009-2011 Emerging Leaders Program with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
Alan G. Merten is president emeritus of George Mason University. He served as president from 1996 to 2012, and remains a member of the faculty. Previously dean of the Johnson Graduate School of Management of Cornell University, Merten has held academic appointments in both engineering and business, and academic and business positions in Hungary and France. He serves on the board of directors of DeVry Inc., the parent organization of DeVry University; the Greater Washington Board of Trade and the Northern Virginia Technology Council, and is a Trustee of First Potomac Realty Investment Trust and Legg Mason Partners Fixed Income Mutual Funds, among other advisory roles.
Grace Ng is the director of defined contribution plans in the portfolio investments group for The Dow Chemical Company, where she is responsible for global investment oversight and strategic design. Ng has more than two decades of experience with the company in positions ranging from regional treasurer for Singapore and Malaysia to director of mergers and acquisitions.
David J. Pauldine is president of DeVry University and executive vice president of DeVry Inc. His more than 30 years in private sector higher education include 17 at DeVry University and 16 at Education Management Corporation (EDMC), where he was president of The Art Institute system of schools. He currently serves as chairman of the board of the Association of Private Sector Colleges & Universities (APSCU).
Newton Walpert is vice president and general manager of U.S. Enterprise Sales for the printing and personal systems organization at Hewlett-Packard Company. His more than two decades of experience with the company includes positions as president and general manager of U.S. Sales for the Personal Systems Group (PSG), and general manager for the company’s North America Business Customer Sales Organization (BCSO), sales and marketing division. Walpert is a former trustee of the American Kidney Fund and serves on the National Advisory Board of DeVry University.
For more information about the DeVry University Board of Trustees, visit: https://newsroom.devry.edu/board-of-trustees/.
