Barbara Mistick is president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). During her tenue, she has worked to ensure private, nonprofit colleges and universities are equitably treated.

Mistick has expanded NAICU’s mission to secure institutional aid, along with student aid. She has enhanced NAICU’s communication efforts and virtual tools to keep members informed of federal efforts and opportunities for assistance. These efforts were critical to ensuring the health and safety for our nation’s campuses and the communities they serve. Mistick also led the development and publication of NAICU’s first-ever national economic and community impact study, Private, Nonprofit Higher Education: Shaping Lives and Anchoring Communities. The study found that the private, nonprofit sector of higher education generates nearly $80 billion in local, state and federal tax revenue, supports 3.4 million jobs while directly employing over 1 million people, and produces over 1 million graduates annually.

During the course of her 30-year career in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Mistick has been an entrepreneur, educator and leader at institutions such as Wilson College (PA), the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the H.J. Heinz School of Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University (PA), the National Education Center for Women in Business at Seton Hill University (PA), and at various businesses she managed and/or founded.

 Mistick’s book, Stretch: How to Future-Proof Yourself for Tomorrow’s Workplace, was designated as an Amazon Editor’s Pick and ranked #12 on the 800-CEO-READ’s Best Seller list. She is a graduate of Carlow University (PA) and the University of Pittsburgh (PA), and earned a doctor of management from Case Western. Reserve University (OH).