Mary A. Papazian Named UDI Global Fellow
National higher education leader and governance expert joins UDI to advance innovation, leadership and institutional transformation.
The University Design Institute (UDI) at Arizona State University is pleased to welcome Mary A. Papazian as a UDI Global Fellow. A nationally recognized higher education leader, governance expert and scholar of Renaissance literature, Dr. Papazian brings more than 35 years of experience guiding universities through complexity, transformation and change.
Dr. Papazian currently serves as Senior Fellow and Consultant at the Association of Governing Boards (AGB), where she recently completed a two-year term as Executive Vice President. She also serves as Senior Education Advisor at CodeSignal, contributing to the development of skills-based education models aligned with the evolving demands of an AI-transformed economy. Across these roles, she has worked at the intersection of governance, innovation and workforce alignment, helping institutions adapt while preserving their core academic values.
Her leadership journey includes serving as the 30th president of San José State University (SJSU) and as president of Southern Connecticut State University. At SJSU, Silicon Valley’s public university serving approximately 40,000 students, she led a campus-wide transformation agenda that strengthened equity, advanced digital innovation and reinforced the university’s public mission. During her tenure, the institution closed graduation rate equity gaps, hired nearly 100 diverse faculty members and navigated significant fiscal challenges while advancing its “Transformation 2030” strategic initiative.
At Southern Connecticut State University, Dr. Papazian stabilized the institution during a period of transition, expanded philanthropic support and launched new academic and industry partnerships. Across her presidencies and prior roles as provost and dean, she developed a reputation for combining strategic clarity with inclusive leadership — aligning mission, governance and operational execution to drive lasting institutional impact.
Beyond executive leadership, Dr. Papazian has played influential roles in national and international governance. She currently chairs the Board of Trustees of American Public University System and serves on multiple boards and advisory bodies spanning education, global development and philanthropy. Her work with governing boards has focused on strengthening institutional vitality, clarifying fiduciary and strategic responsibilities, and reinforcing the public trust in higher education.
“Mary has led at every level of the higher education ecosystem — campus, system and national governance. She understands how mission, leadership and structure must align to create lasting impact,” said Minu Ipe, Vice Chair & Managing Director of UDI. “At this inflection point for higher education, her experience across the sector will help institutions navigate uncertainty with clarity and confidence. We are thrilled to welcome her to UDI’s global community of design leaders.”
Papazian's expertise in governance, leadership development and mission-driven innovation will strengthen the UDI’s capacity to support institutions navigating profound change seeking to align purpose, design and impact.