President Eighmy elected chair of APLU Commission on International Initiatives

NOVEMBER 11, 2020 — The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, an organization dedicated to strengthening the work of public universities in the U.S., has elected UTSA President Taylor Eighmy as the chair of the APLU Commission on International Initiatives and a member of the executive committee of the board of directors.

“We’re delighted to have Taylor Eighmy as the chair of the APLU Commission on International Initiatives and a member of the APLU board of directors,” said APLU President Peter McPherson. “We know the pandemic creates new challenges for public research universities’ work in the international arena, but it has underscored the central importance of global collaboration.”

“We look forward to the leadership Taylor will bring not just to the international space but to all of public higher education’s work as we aim to increase public higher education’s positive impact across the country and world,” said McPherson.

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“We share a common goal in expanding opportunities for our students and acting as a bridge to their future.”

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Founded in 1887, APLU is North America’s oldest higher education association, with a membership of 264 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems and affiliated organizations. UTSA’s participation with APLU allows for connections to universities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Aligning with Eighmy’s vision for UTSA to be a model for student success, a great public research university and an exemplar for strategic growth and innovative excellence, the APLU aspires to improve student success, promote research, and build healthy and vibrant communities. The position allows Eighmy, as a thought leader in higher education, to collaborate with other participating universities and expand on the foundation UTSA has already laid out while promoting more opportunities for scientific and scholarly research.

“I believe passionately in the work that APLU is doing to strengthen public universities,” Eighmy said. “We share a common goal in expanding opportunities for our students and acting as a bridge to their future. I’m thrilled to play a leadership role in an organization that dedicates its time to furthering those goals on a national level.”

As the chair of the APLU Commission on International Initiatives, Eighmy will be working alongside other education professionals to identify critical issues, gather information and create opportunities to foster the development of globally competent students, internationally engaged faculties, and institutions capable of addressing global challenges.

The role will allow him to be involved in all conversations surrounding internationalization. Members of the commission will also be leading the advocacy agenda on international issues of interest to public universities, so Eighmy will be able to advocate for public universities such as UTSA on a broader scale.

Eighmy’s term on both the Commission on International Initiatives and the APLU board of directors will last for two years.

— Alyx Bowles

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