• WSCUC Appoints A. Maria Toyoda President and CEO

    January 21, 2025 - WSCUC

A. Maria Toyoda

Accomplished and Strategic Higher Education Leader Begins Tenure March 10

Alameda, CA — A. Maria Toyoda, the chief academic officer of Western New England University, has been named president and CEO of the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), effective March 10, 2025. The Commission unanimously approved Toyoda’s appointment following a nationwide search.

Toyoda brings strategy expertise and business and political acumen cultivated over nearly three decades as a scholar, professor, and administrator in higher education. In her current role as executive vice president and provost at Western New England University, Toyoda leads institutional strategy and financial sustainability efforts, and oversees accreditation, assessment, student success, and other key areas. She previously held faculty and administrative roles at Stanford, Villanova, and Suffolk universities.

A distinguished scholar of international finance and government, Toyoda has spearheaded interdisciplinary programs both domestically and abroad. She has been a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and the Social Science Research Council and was a visiting researcher at the International Monetary Fund.

“Maria is a versatile and decisive leader whose strategic mindset, savvy, and collaborative style make her the ideal person to lead WSCUC in this pivotal time for accreditation and higher education,” said WSCUC Commission Chair Tracy Poon Tambascia. “Her vision for WSCUC deeply aligns with our focus on quality, rigor, and innovation and dedication to equitable student success. The Commission is pleased to welcome Maria, and we are excited for WSCUC’s next chapter.”

As WSCUC’s president and CEO, Toyoda will lead the organization in navigating a rapidly changing postsecondary landscape and accreditation’s role in it, while guiding a dedicated staff in ongoing policy development and implementation and institutional review. She succeeds Jamienne S. Studley, who stepped down as president and CEO of WSCUC in December 2024. WSCUC Interim President Christopher Oberg will conclude his transitional role in March.

“The current climate is challenging for accreditors but the work they do could not be more critical,” said Toyoda. “Colleges and universities are navigating the ethical, pedagogical, financial and competitive implications of new technologies, regulatory uncertainty, and ongoing conversations about the value of higher education. I am energized by the opportunity to lead WSCUC in its continuing work to ensure high quality educational access to all who want to learn and all who strive for social and economic mobility.”

Toyoda earned a bachelor’s degree in human biology from Stanford University and master’s and doctorate degrees in government from Georgetown University.

WSCUC’s presidential search was facilitated by Academic Search.

Download photo of A. Maria Toyoda.

The WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education that serves public and private higher education institutions around the world. WSCUC accreditation aids institutions in developing and sustaining effective educational programs and assures the educational community and the general public that an accredited institution has met high standards of quality and effectiveness.

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