Liberal Arts Accreditor Appoints Jacqueline Merrill to Board
Aug 08, 2018
WASHINGTON, DC – August 8, 2018 – The American Academy for Liberal Education (AALE) today announced that it has appointed Jacquie Pfeffer Merrill, executive director of the Fund for Academic Renewal, to serve on its Board of Trustees.The AALE accredits PreK-12 schools and higher education institutions that provide exceptional instruction in the liberal arts.
A former college professor, Dr. Merrill now leads the Fund for Academic Renewal (FAR), a program of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. FAR provides higher education philanthropists with pro bono assistance in structuring gift agreements to serve their intent and the institution’s academic mission.
“We are pleased to welcome Jacquie to the board and expect to benefit immensely from her steadfast commitment to advancing the liberal arts,” said Todd Breyfogle, chair of the AALE Board of Trustees. “Through her experience in academia, philanthropy, and nonprofit organizations, Jacquie has a unique and valuable perspective on the growing importance of a well-rounded liberal arts education to prepare students for a rapidly changing world.”
The AALE accredits institutions through a peer-review process that evaluates how effectively the program or school realizes its stated liberal arts mission and meets standards of excellence for liberal arts learning. It also provides support to member colleges’ efforts to advance best practices in liberal arts instruction.
“Liberal arts education provides students with a rich knowledge base in which to contextualize today’s world, and it develops the analytic and creative thinking skills so necessary in a changing job market. In a time when we need strong liberal arts programs more than ever, I am delighted to join the AALE board,” said Dr. Merrill. “I look forward to working with the entire AALE team to serve the unique needs of its member schools and to advance the cause of liberal arts education.”
###
About the American Academy for Liberal Education
The mission of the American Academy for Liberal Education (AALE) is to promote excellence in liberal education by providing recognition of schools and programs that maintain the highest standards of liberal arts learning. AALE achieves its mission by articulating standards designed to support excellence in liberal arts learning and teaching, offering rigorous peer-review accreditation, and fostering dialogue on the ends and means of quality liberal arts education.
About the Fund for Academic Renewal
The Fund for Academic Renewal (FAR) is the leading provider of a unique suite of services for donors who aspire to make a difference at America’s colleges and universities. FAR works with donors and, as appropriate, their advisors to craft targeted, tax-advantaged gifts, and it provides them the opportunity to pool gifts with like-minded donors to maximize their impact. FAR is able to offer its services at no cost, thanks to the generous support of the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation.
