Statement on the Passing of Marvalene Hughes

Contact:
Kellee Edmonds
(202) 478-4662
[email protected]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13, 2026-T

he American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) mourns the passing of Marvalene Hughes, a pioneering leader in higher education and one of the founders of AASCU's Millennium Leadership Initiative. She passed away on Jan. 3, leaving a legacy of service, mentorship, and transformational leadership.

Hughes devoted her life to strengthening institutions and supporting the next generation of higher education leaders. She served as president of Dillard University, guiding the community through the extraordinary challenges of Hurricane Katrina, and previously as president of California State University, Stanislaus. She also held senior administrative roles at the University of Minnesota, the University of Toledo, Arizona State University, and San Diego State University.

Through the Millennium Leadership Initiative, founded in 1999, Hughes helped prepare senior leaders aspiring to be college and university presidents or chancellors, connecting them to the communities, expertise, experiences, and resources they need to advance and thrive.

AASCU extends its deepest condolences to Hughes' family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched. Her vision, dedication, and commitment to higher education will continue to inspire those who follow in her footsteps.

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The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) is a Washington, D.C.-based higher education association that represents the sector of over 500 regional public colleges, universities, and systems whose members share a learning- and teaching-centered culture, a historic commitment to serving today's students, and a dedication to research and creativity that advances their regions' economic progress and cultural development. These are institutions delivering America's promise.