Thomas P. Foley
President
(717) 232-8649
Thomas P. Foley
Tom Foley has held leadership positions over the last four decades in four fields: education, workforce development, volunteer service and public policy. He is the author of over 150 published articles on a wide range of subjects and was keynote speaker at more than 500 events here, in Ireland and Northern Ireland. He has testified more than 50 times before governmental and legislative bodies in Harrisburg, Belfast, Dublin and Washington, chaired 9 statewide Boards and Commissions and served in state and national leadership positons in voluntary service, education, workforce development and public policy. As educator, Foley is a first generation college grad--thanks to scholarships from Dartmouth College, University College (Dublin, Ireland) and Yale Law School and holds an honorary doctorate (jointly, with his wife Michele) in Humane Letters. He served almost a decade as President of Mount Aloysius College (named by the White House in 2015 as one of four “Engines of Opportunity” in the country for its work with low income students), as Chair of the Conference of Mercy Colleges in America and as Chair (and now President) of AICUP, the association of 90+ independent non-profit colleges in PA (the second largest such grouping in America). During his time as President of the statewide United Way, Tom was a key leader in the effort that led to the first PA public investment in pre-school education and now serves as co-chair of the Governor’s Early Learning Investment Committee (ELIC). On workforce issues, Tom served in Governor Casey’s Cabinet as the youngest Secretary of Labor and Industry in PA history—the agency that was home to federal and state job training and citizen service initiatives (and that was itself larger than the entire state governments of 20 states). Tom helped create a network of 80 Job Centers across PA, widely recognized at that time (Harvard Kennedy School Innovation Award semifinalist) as a national model for government service delivery and workforce development. After that service, he joined the US Labor Department as Regional Assistant to Secretary Alexis Herman, where he led efforts on lifelong learning and workplace safety, and from whom he received the Secretary’s Award for Exemplary Public Service. As public service volunteer, Tom spent two years as a fulltime volunteer with the Nobel Prize winning Peace People in Belfast at the height of that country’s Troubles (while on leave from Yale Law School). He co-founded the non-partisan Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ—recipient of both the Reebok and the Council of Europe Human Rights Prizes) and co-chaired (with civil rights lawyer/author Tom Hadden) its first public assembly. Continuing his volunteer work, he spent four years in the 1990s as Chair of PennSERVE (which he helped to create in 1987), the PA-bred precursor to AmeriCorps. He then spent more than a decade leading the two largest volunteer-based organizations in PA--as President of the United Way of Pennsylvania (a PA network of 89 local UWs) and as CEO of the second largest chapter of the Red Cross in the country (where he spent time on the front lines in Haiti after the earthquake and in Mississippi and New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina). On public policy, Tom served in both the executive and legislative branches of the federal government, working for Congressman James Shannon and then-Senator Joe Biden, whom he served as speechwriter and legislative aide. He did intensive work in DC on issues involving peace and justice in Northern Ireland and Central America. He has written on a wide range of public policy topics, including on issues of justice, foreign policy, preschool education, sports, workforce development and Irish history. Tom has been the recipient of over 100 awards for his endeavors, was named a Top 100 Irish American in both education and law (one of only two to receive both honors), is the recipient of the Centennial Medal for Service, the Liberty Bell Award and numerous humanitarian awards, and is an honorary member of the Philadelphia Fire Department. Tom and his wife Michele, a lifelong educator, are parents of three sons, an historian, an architect and a family physician, and have four grandchildren. Tom grew up in a family of 12 siblings, and is the grandson of Irish immigrants.
Tim Alexander
Vice President of Finance and Administration
(717) 232-8649, ext. 222
Tim Alexander
Tim Alexander is the Vice President for Finance and Administration at the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP) with core responsibilities in the areas of the Association finances, member group purchasing, member collaboration and member service program development. Tim has served in this capacity since August 1997 after spending over 9 years in Virginia as the state's debt manager for higher education (public and private) and as finance director for the closure of Virginia's student loan secondary market (VELA). Tim has his Bachelor of Science in Education from SUNY Cortland (1981) and his Master of Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University (1986).Nichole Duffy
Vice President of Government Relations
(717) 232-8649, ext. 227
Nichole Duffy
Nichole F. Duffy has served as Vice President for Government Relations at the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP) since February 2019. She previously held several leadership positions in State Government. After working in both K12 and higher education, Nichole began her career in government as a Pennsylvania Management Associate (PMA) during the Rendell Administration. She then spent several years in the Governor’s Budget Office specializing in education policy and budget development before heading to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). After service as Bureau Director overseeing the budget, food and nutrition programs, and state subsidies, she became PDE’s Deputy Secretary for Administration in the Corbett Administration. Immediately preceding her current position, she served as the senior education policy specialist for the Speaker in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where she oversaw all aspects of education- related legislation and budget. Ms. Duffy holds a BA in Political Science from Susquehanna University and a MEd from Lynchburg College. She resides in central Pennsylvania with her husband, two sons, and daughter.Ron Uroda
Vice President of Research
(717) 232-8649, ext. 236
Ron Uroda
Ron Uroda is the Vice President of Research for the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP), where he has served for the past 20 years. In this position he provides the AICUP President and Board of Directors with information summaries and analysis needed to support policy formation and decision making for the association. He also oversees the development of a variety of research reports for AICUP member institutions. Ron also serves as AICUP’s representative to the National Center for Education Statistics and manages AICUP’s participation in the national State Authorization Network distance education consortium (WCET-SAN) Previously, Ron served as the Director of the Center for Geographic Information Services at Penn State’s Institute of State and Regional Affairs. Ron has a bachelor’s degree from The University of Michigan and a master’s degree from The Pennsylvania State University.Gayle Baker
Manager of Research & Special Studies
717) 232-8649, ext. 229
Gayle Baker
Gayle has been with AICUP since August 2004. As Manager of Research and Special Studies, she constructs and manages the annual surveys. In addition to this, Gayle constructs and collects data for other regular and occasional surveys and studies throughout the year. Gayle holds a Master’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in American Public Policy from West Virginia University and a Bachelor’s degree in Government and Political Affairs from Millersville University.Camilla Brown
Executive Assistant to the President
(717) 232-8649, ext. 230
Camilla Brown
Camilla Brown serves as Executive Assistant to the President for AICUP. She received her bachelor’s degree from Bennett College in Greensboro, NC and her master’s degree from South Carolina State College in Orangeburg, SC. She spent two decades working for the PA state legislature in various capacities, served on the Harrisburg School Board and as a member of the State Advisory Board for Special Education.Kelly Carli
Manager of Collaboration Events & Outreach
(717) 232-8649, ext. 240
Kelly Carli
Kelly has worked at AICUP since March of 2008. Her daily mission is to connect those at AICUP member schools with solutions provided by AICUP endorsed & AMP providers and AICUP corporate affiliates. She also plans numerous events including the AICUP Campus Leaders Forum and the Good Citizen Scholarship Golf Outing. Kelly holds a Master’s Degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education and a Bachelor’s in Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.Casey Trinkaus
Manager of Communications
(717) 232-8649, ext. 232
Casey Trinkaus
Casey has served as the Manager of Communications at AICUP since March 2019, where she works directly with the President on multiple communication fronts. She brings a variety of experience in both the for- and non-profit marketing sectors to the position. Among other things, she oversees the process and final presentation for all AICUP publications, handles media relations, the AICUP website and their social media channels. Casey holds a Master’s Degree from Chatham University and a Bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University.Kyle Weber
Accounting Manager / Database Strategist
(717) 232-8649, ext. 235
Kyle Weber
Kyle is responsible for the day to day accounting functions of AICUP. He works to support the VP of Finance & Administration in multiple capacities. Kyle is also responsible for the maintenance and updates of the association contact database. He holds a Bachelor of Science from East Stroudsburg University.
AICUP’s staff is small but mighty, handling the day-to-day operations of our Association and ensuring that all 90+ member institutions are not only being advocated for but being kept informed of the changing landscape of higher ed.