Lisa Marsh Ryerson

Lisa Marsh Ryerson currently serves as president of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). As SNHU's sixth president, Lisa's connection to the university and love for its mission spans more than two decades and includes six years of service on the SNHU Board of Trustees and two years as Provost.As president of the largest nonprofit provider of higher education in the United States, Lisa is focused on serving SNHU's more than 200,000 learners across the globe and advocating for the more than 40 million Americans with some credit but no degree or credential. Rooted in radical collaboration and disciplined decision making, Lisa's leadership style empowers others and is driven by evidence and data.A champion of SNHU's "learners first" culture, Lisa believes learner-centered design is key to the equitable attainment of a degree that, for many, can change the trajectory of their lives. As a first-generation college graduate, Lisa understands the impact a degree can have on a person, family, and community.A trusted leader in the nonprofit space and champion for improving quality of life, Lisa served as president of the AARP Foundation, the charitable affiliate of the AARP, for nearly nine years before joining SNHU. Prior to that, she served as university president and CEO of Wells College for 18 years.Lisa has also served on boards of higher education and nonprofit organizations and currently sits on the boards of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the American Council on Education, the National Women's History Museum, the New Hampshire College and University Council, and the AGB Council of Presidents, and is vice chair of the NE10