Board of Trustees

Mary Ellen Petrisko

Mary Ellen Petrisko is an accomplished leader in higher education with extensive experience in accreditation, statewide higher education regulation, university administration, teaching, and research. She has dedicated her career to advancing quality assurance and institutional development in higher education.

Mary Ellen served as President of the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) from 2013 to 2018, overseeing accreditation processes for approximately 200 institutions in California, Hawaii, the U.S. Pacific, and beyond. Her leadership extended to collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education, national and regional higher education bodies, and global quality assurance organizations.

Previously, Mary Ellen was Vice President at the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, where she guided institutions through accreditation processes and led policy and procedural advancements. Her tenure at the Maryland Higher Education Commission as Deputy Secretary of Higher Education included oversight of statewide academic and fiscal policies for Maryland’s colleges and universities.

Her academic leadership includes serving as Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Maryland Global Campus, where she advanced innovative distance education programs, and at the Maryland University for Integrative Health, where she led the institution’s accreditation efforts and academic program development.
Mary Ellen holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Boston University and has taught and contributed to philosophical and educational scholarship. She continues to influence higher education as a board member and advisor to various organizations, contributing her expertise to initiatives in learning outcomes, institutional quality, and leadership.