Uncrowned Community Builders

Muriel A. Howard, Ph.D., is the first female president of Buffalo State College and the seventh president in the school's history. Dr. Howard led a campus of more than 11,000 students, approximately 1,700 faculty and staff, and a financial operation of more than $214 million.

A graduate of the City University of New York's Richmond College, Dr. Howard holds a master's degree in education and a Doctor of Philosophy in educational organization, administration, and policy from the University at Buffalo. She earned a certificate from the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University. She has also received six honorary degrees and many awards for her contributions to public higher education, for service to the community, and for her commitment to diversity.

She was the first female vice president at the University at Buffalo, serving as the vice president for Public Service and Urban Affairs. Dr. Howard served as the first African American female chair of the United Way campaign for Buffalo and Erie County in 1999. She also served on numerous boards including the Erie County Executive's transition team, Studio Arena Theater, Fleet Bank, and the Buffalo Museum of Science. She also chaired the subcommittee on Youth Services and Education.

Dr. Howard was named president of AASCU in April 2009. She is the first African American to lead one of the six presidentially based higher education associations in Washington, D.C. She is also AASCU's first female president. As AASCU president, Dr. Howard is an advocate for public higher education at the national level, working to influence federal policy and regulations on behalf of member colleges and universities; serving as a resource to presidents and chancellors as they address state policy and emerging campus issues; developing collaborative partnerships and initiatives that advance public higher education; directing a strategic agenda that focuses on public college and university leadership for the 21st century; and providing professional development opportunities for presidents, chancellors, and their spouses.

While in Buffalo, she received numerous awards for her contributions in education and services to the community. Among some of these are the Governor's State Division of Women Award for Excellence in Education, the American Jewish Committee Institute of Human Relations Award, the University at Buffalo's Distinguished Alumni Award, the Minority Bar Association of Western New York Award for Community Service, the Black Educators Association of Western New York's Educator of the Year award, and numerous others. She is the recipient of the State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service and was a charter inductee into the Western New York Women's Hall of Fame. Dr. Howard is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Buffalo Alumnae Chapter and the Erie County Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.

As a college president, Dr. Howard was an active member of AASCU for many years. Her volunteer involvement with AASCU includes serving as chair of the board of directors (2006-2007) and committee and commission memberships that include the Voluntary System of Accountability Presidential Advisory Committee, the Millennium Leadership Initiative, the Commission on Public University Renewal, and the Alliance for Regional Stewardship. Dr. Howard also served as a faculty member for AASCU's New Presidents' Academy.

Her professional and scholarly interests include educational leadership, women and minorities in the academy, and a long-standing personal commitment to public service. Dr. Howard serves on a number of boards including Air University; the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance; National Advisory Board of the National Survey of Student Engagement; Merchants Insurance Company; and Association Mutual Health Insurance Company.