University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy recently concluded her tenure as chair of the Board of Directors of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. She was succeeded by Joan Gabel, chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh, during the organization’s annual meeting.
The transition concluded a milestone year for the 138-year-old association. In 2025, for the first time in its history, APLU’s president (Waded Cruzado), board chair (Ferrini-Mundy) and chair-elect (Gabel) were all women.
The meeting was highlighted during a special session titled “2026: Women in Leadership: Pathway to the Presidency.” Ferrini-Mundy, Gabel and Cruzado reflected on their professional journeys and offered guidance on cultivating the next generation of women presidents in public higher education.
