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National accreditation body selects Dr. Selena Grace following extensive national search
REDMOND, WA (July 10, 2025) — The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) announced today the appointment of Dr. Selena Grace as its new president and CEO. Dr. Grace brings more than two decades of experience in higher education leadership, public policy and accreditation to the role. The announcement comes after the Board of Commissioners conducted a robust, national process in partnership with the highly respected executive search firm Academic Search.
Dr. Grace most recently served as executive vice president of NWCCU, where she worked closely with member institutions, as well as state and federal regulatory agencies. She is widely recognized for her leadership in education reform, support for Tribal Colleges, and supporting diverse institutional missions.
“On behalf of the Board of Commissioners, I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Selena Grace as the next president and CEO of NWCCU,” said Dr. Scott Finnie, chair of the NWCCU Board of Commissioners. “Dr. Grace brings deep expertise, visionary leadership and a steadfast commitment to equity and excellence in higher education. We are grateful to the Board search committee and Academic Search for leading a thorough and inclusive national process. We are excited to embark on this next chapter under Dr. Grace’s leadership.”
Throughout her career, Dr. Grace has led initiatives in institutional effectiveness, accreditation processes and academic strategy. Her previous roles include vice provost at Idaho State University and chief academic officer at the Idaho State Board of Education, where she developed and managed the Complete College Idaho plan and worked collaboratively with Idaho’s five federally recognized tribes. A first-generation college graduate, she holds a Ph.D. in public policy and administration from Boise State University, an M.F.A. in creative writing from George Mason University, and a B.A. in English with a minor in Native American studies, also from Boise State.
Dr. Grace was selected following a rigorous national search led by Academic Search, which contacted more than 4,000 individuals and engaged a wide network of college and university leaders across the country. Following a thorough evaluation process, nine candidates were selected for semi-finalists interviews, four advanced to finalists interviews in Seattle. The process resulted in a strong and diverse candidate pool from which Dr. Grace emerged as the choice of the search committee and board.
“I am honored to serve as the next president and CEO of NWCCU,” said Dr. Grace. “This organization stands on a strong foundation built on advancing quality, student success and continuous improvement in higher education. I’m eager to build on that legacy and innovate for the future, ensuring that we meet the evolving needs of our diverse member institutions, students and communities. My commitment to NWCCU’s core mission remains firm: strengthening our engagement with members and partners to boost student achievement and success.”
Dr. Grace takes over from Dr. Jeff Fox who served as interim president.
About the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) is recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) as an accreditor of public and private higher education institutions throughout the United States by applying data- and evidence-informed standards and processes to support continuous improvements and promote equitable student achievement and success. Through its peer evaluation process, NWCCU ensures that its accredited and candidate (pre-accredited) member institutions are eligible for Title IV of USDE’s Higher Education Act programs in accordance with 34 CFR Part 602.10.
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