Education Leadership Council

Thomas H. Jackson, J.D., served as president of the University of Rochester, NY from 1994 to 2005.  During President Jackson's administration, the university underwent a number of significant developments, including the integration of separate schools into the College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering; decentralization of the university's principal divisions; revitalization of the medical center as a nationally-recognized center for patient care and research; and distinctive curricular innovations throughout the university.  Author of bankruptcy and commercial law texts used in law schools across the country, Mr. Jackson formerly served as vice president and provost of the University of Virginia and dean of the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville.  Earlier, Mr. Jackson served on the law faculties at Stanford and Harvard and clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice William H. Rehnquist from 1976-1977.

Jeanne H. Neff, D.A., served as president of the Sage Colleges, Albany and Troy, NY from 1995 to 2008. In that role Dr. Neff led strategic organizational and academic program development, including the addition of doctoral degrees. Recognized for her outcomes-focused approach to planning, she oversaw a comprehensive facilities upgrade, including the restoration of historic buildings and expansion of technology infrastructure. A former American Council on Education Fellow, Dr. Neff has long been active in higher education associations, including the Association of American Colleges and Universities and the Women’s College Coalition. She helped to found the Associated New American Colleges, a national consortium of independent comprehensive universities, and served most recently as president of the board of the Council of Independent Colleges. Before becoming Sage’s president, Dr. Neff was the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty at Susquehanna University (PA). In addition to a Doctor of Arts degree in English from Carnegie-Mellon University, Dr. Neff also holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Rice University and Wheeling Jesuit University, respectively.

Edward A. Nicholson, Ph.D., served as president of Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, PA from 1989 to 2005. As president, Dr. Nicholson led the business college’s transformation into a broad-based liberal arts university, including expanding graduate programs, developing more research programs and creating community service initiatives. During his 40-year career in higher education he has held faculty and administrative appointments at five universities. During his tenure at each he was active in serving the non-profit community as a consultant or board member for more than forty organizations ranging from government commissions, to hospitals, social service agencies, and the performing arts. Earlier in his career, Dr. Nicholson was executive vice president and professor of management at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. Currently, Dr. Nicholson serves as board chair for the Ohio Valley General Hospital and the River City Brass Band. In addition, he is a director and a member of the executive committee of the National Aviary.