Meet our Trustees
ICHE trustees consist of outstanding academics and administrators who have spent the majority of their careers in the field of postsecondary education, as well as public figures with information or experience that is beneficial to the accrediting process.
Trustees are responsible for examining member institutions and programs, as well as defining education standards, rules, and expectations that safeguard student value and promote public faith in higher education.
The following commissioners serve on the Board of Trustees at present: (Executive Committee members noted by asterisk). To contact a trustee, send an email to trustees@icohe.org. View The Role of ICHE Trustees or refer to the Bylaws part of the Accreditation Criteria for further information on the duties and responsibilities of commissioners.
Chairperson of the Board: Carina Aguirre
Juris Doctor, Texas A & M University
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Journalism, Texas A & M University
Trustee: Leon Townsend III
DBA, Ezra University
MBA, California Lutheran University
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, California Lutheran University
James Powell
Trustee, Audtor
MBA, Pepperdine University
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of Southern California
Chief Financial and Operating Officer: M.S. Kahler
EdD in Organizational Leadership, Argosy University
MA in International Relations, California State University Sacramento
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Babson College
Chief Knowledge Officer: Amanda Kenderes
PhD in Education, University of California Los Angeles
MA in Education, Aquinas College
Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Grand Valley State University
Trustee: Erik Castillo
Associate of Arts in General Education
Trustee: Christina Baker
PhD in Curriculum & Instruction, Capella University
MBA Specializing in Non-Profit Management, Hope International University
Trustee: Armando Yepes
MBA, Pepperdine University
Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality and Gaming, University of Nevada Las Vegas
Sailesraj Bala Murali
Role: Auditor for Trade Schools and Organizations, Southeast Asian Region
Associate of Science, Putra Intelek International College
Kenneth Maxwell
Role: Auditor, West African Region
Master of Public Health, Hipdet University
Bachelor of Computer Science, Ecole Superieure Sainte Felicite Benin republic
Loretta Karwa
Role: Auditor, East and South African Regions
Master of Business Administration
Bachelor of Business and Commerce, Strathmore University
Guy Langvardt
Role: Auditor
PhD in Business, Capella University
MBA in International Business, Thunderbird School of Management
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Valparaiso University
James Powell
Role: Auditor
MBA, Pepperdine University
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of Southern California
Role of the Trustees:
ICHE trustees are distinguished academics, administrators, and members of the community who have devoted most of their lives to education. The trustees, who were nominated or appointed to the Council by their peers, have gained the trust and confidence of students, educators, and professors during their service. The fact that they were selected by their peers demonstrates that their perspectives are highly appreciated and respected, and that they are considered as leaders in higher education.
ICHE trustees devote considerable time to their duties. Each trustee is required to commit at least 30 days per year to the accreditation review and policy-making procedures. The trustees are ready to serve and take their duties extremely seriously. They acknowledge that their choices can have a substantial influence on students and institutions and that they are obligated to safeguard student protections and inspire public confidence. In this spirit, they perform the responsibilities of:
Examining member organizations and programs
Developing educational standards, regulations, and expectations that protect student worth and enhance public confidence in higher education.
Before becoming an ICHE trustee, he/she must complete training on the avoidance of conflicts of interest and sign a statement committing to meeting or exceeding ICHE’s Standards of Ethical Responsibility, which provide clear requirements for avoiding even the appearance of impropriety, partiality, and actual or apparent conflicts of interest.
ICHE has created standards for risk management to guarantee that any actual or apparent conflict of interest is declared, examined, and eliminated from the assessment, policymaking, and decision-making processes.
If a commissioner is found to have broken one of the criteria, he or she may be dismissed by a vote of the entire board. In any situation where a violation is discovered, the Board is expected to take the appropriate measures to preserve the integrity of ICHE.
The different components of the higher education necessitate that ICHE trustees represent public, private nonprofit, career, and independent universities.
Accreditation is the formal process of peers holding peers accountable for quality and integrity standards, based on the widely held belief and practice that no one is more qualified to evaluate the quality and integrity of postsecondary education than expert practitioners of postsecondary education.