Belmont, CA, Sept. 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) today announced the election of Dr. Joe Sallustio, a nationally recognized higher education executive, author, podcast host, and thought leader, to its Board of Trustees.
Sallustio brings 25 years of higher education leadership experience spanning student experience, operations, online education, technology, and institutional transformation. He currently serves as Chief of Industry Engagement at Ellucian, where his work focuses on the intersection of technology, leadership, and policy in higher education.
“Joe brings to our Board an exceptional combination of operational experience, innovative thinking and a deep understanding of the forces reshaping higher education,” said Manny Nungaray, ‘01, MBA ’05, Chair of the NDNU Board of Trustees. “His perspective will be especially valuable as NDNU continues to evolve its educational model, embrace new technologies and strengthen the University’s ability to meet the needs of today’s learners. We are delighted to welcome him to the Board.”
Throughout his career, Sallustio has held senior leadership roles across nearly every aspect of the student experience. As a Chief Experience Officer, he led functions including enrollment, marketing, financial aid, registration, advising, retention, and student affairs. His experience also includes serving as an executive vice president and chief operating officer, vice president of enrollment and vice president of marketing.
“NDNU is at an important moment in its history, one that calls for both a respect for its mission and the willingness to think differently about how higher education serves students,” said President Leamor Kahanov, EdD, ATC/L. “Joe understands that transformation requires more than new technology or new programs. It requires institutions to rethink the entire student experience around access, flexibility, relevance, and outcomes. His experience and national perspective will be tremendous assets as we shape NDNU’s future.”
In 2020, Sallustio co-founded The EdUp Experience, which has grown into one of higher education’s most recognized media platforms. Through EdUp, Sallustio and his colleagues have interviewed more than 1,400 higher education leaders, including more than 500 sitting college and university presidents and chancellors. Those conversations have provided him with a distinctive perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing colleges and universities across the country.
His work has expanded to include EdUp Leadership, which transforms insights from the platform’s extensive interview archive into searchable intelligence for higher education leaders and boards, and
HigherEd PodCon, which brings together higher education media creators and leaders to examine how the sector communicates its value and tells its story.
“Joe has spent his career not only leading within higher education but asking important questions about where our sector needs to go next,” said Nungaray. “That combination of practitioner experience and intellectual curiosity is exactly what governing boards need as universities navigate changing student expectations, demographic pressures, artificial intelligence and rapidly evolving models of teaching and learning.”
Sallustio is also a nationally recognized speaker and moderator on artificial intelligence, governance, and the future of higher education. He works with conferences, governing boards, university cabinets, and system offices and leads AI bootcamps designed to help higher education leadership teams translate emerging technology into actionable institutional strategies.
“I have spent my career believing that higher education is worth defending, but also that the institutions that will thrive are those willing to evolve in meaningful ways,” said Dr. Joe Sallustio. “NDNU has a remarkable 175-year legacy of expanding access to education while responding to the changing needs of the communities it serves. I am honored to join the Board of Trustees and look forward to working with President Kahanov, my fellow trustees and the NDNU community to help build the next chapter of that legacy.”
Sallustio has authored three books examining the transformation of higher education: Beyond Survival: Reporting from The Front Lines of Higher Education’s War for Relevance; Digital Transformation for Colleges & Universities: How Boards Shape Strategy for Success; and Commencement: The Beginning of a New Era in Higher Education.
His election to the Board of Trustees comes as NDNU continues to advance a future-focused strategy centered on serving graduate, degree-completion, and modern learners through flexible educational pathways, strengthening connections with employers and community partners, and using technology and innovation to improve student experience.
About Notre Dame de Namur University
Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) is a not-for-profit coeducational institution serving modern learners from diverse backgrounds. Established in 1851 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, NDNU is the third-oldest college in California and the first authorized to grant women a baccalaureate degree. The university is WSCUC accredited and offers master’s degrees in business, education, and psychology, and undergraduate degree completion programs in business administration and psychology, along with teacher credential programs. NDNU maintains a strong commitment to academic excellence, social justice, and community engagement. For more information, visit www.ndnu.edu
Kurt Allen, Vice President, Enrollment, Marketing and Communications Notre Dame de Namur University 650-508-3533 pr@ndnu.edu
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