Jim Johnsen Appointed NASH President to Take the Power of Systems to Scale

Former University of Alaska system president will succeed Nancy Zimpher

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, November 12, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH) has appointed James R. Johnsen as president to advance the impact of America’s public college and university systems, helping them achieve more by working together. A former University of Alaska system president, Johnsen will lead the association’s work to turn the scale of higher education systems into greater opportunity for students and the country. He succeeds Nancy Zimpher, who retires at the end of 2026, and begins his tenure on January 1, 2027.

“Jim brings a rare combination of intellectual depth and the resolve to lead,” said Clayton Christian, chair of the NASH Board of Directors and commissioner at the Montana University System. “He sees the possibilities in higher education and understands from experience the hard work it takes to realize them. We’re excited for the ambition he will bring to NASH as we build on Nancy’s leadership and pursue the full promise of public higher education systems.”

Johnsen’s appointment expands his longstanding involvement with NASH, including prior service on its Board of Directors and on the team that developed the Power of Systems strategic plan. As chief systemness officer, he has supported system leaders through research, publications, consulting, and leadership development, such as creating NASH’s innovative Executive Fellows program.

“Public higher education systems have the reach to make a real difference in students’ lives, but scale alone does not deliver results,” said Johnsen. “That takes deliberate work across campuses and a willingness to learn from one another. Through systemness, NASH helps systems realize their value to students and states that is greater than the sum of their parts. I look forward to listening to our members and building on the foundation Nancy and this team have established.”

Johnsen served as president of the University of Alaska system from 2015 to 2020. His career comprises more than 20 years in systems, including the University of Minnesota, as well as executive roles in the private sector, including as vice president of executive search at Greenwood Asher. He is the editor of Public University Systems: Leveraging Scale in Higher Education (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2024) and co-author of Systemness in Action: An American Experiment in Public Higher Education (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2027). He also served as a commissioner of the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, a member of the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, and a visiting scholar at the Center for Studies in Higher Education at the University of California, Berkeley.

His appointment comes as NASH expands practical support for its members, including system-level data tools, improvement science applications, workforce alignment initiatives, and leadership development programs. Johnsen will carry that work forward through NASH’s strategic framework, helping systems apply shared knowledge to the challenges facing their campuses and students.

“Jim has helped NASH make the case for what systems can accomplish. Now he will fearlessly lead the work,” said Zimpher. “The growth of this organization, and the reputation we’ve earned testing new approaches and scaling what works, fill me with pride. I am delighted that Jim will carry it forward. He understands the challenges our systems face and has the experience and imagination to help them shape what comes next for higher education.”

System leaders and national partners welcomed the appointment.

“Nancy has challenged us to think bigger about what public higher education can deliver, and we are so grateful for her leadership,” said Kim Hunter Reed, Louisiana’s Commissioner of Higher Education. “Jim brings a deep understanding of how systems work and what it takes to lead them. We look forward to working with him to connect that experience to the opportunities ahead for our students.”

“When a promising practice succeeds on one campus, a system is able to amplify and extend that opportunity to thousands of additional students,” said Mildred García, chancellor of the California State University and a member of NASH’s Board of Directors. “That is the power of ‘systemness.’ And that is the promise of working at scale. NASH gives system leaders a space to learn from one another. We need strategic partnerships that turn shared knowledge into action across systems, and I have every confidence that Jim can get us there.”

“Strong system leadership and effective governing boards depend on a clear understanding of their respective roles and shared responsibilities,” said Ross Mugler, president and CEO of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. “Jim brings a valuable perspective as both a former system president and a scholar of public university systems. AGB welcomes his appointment and looks forward to continuing our work with NASH.”

Johnsen earned degrees from the University of California, Santa Cruz; the University of Chicago; and the University of Pennsylvania.

About NASH
Founded in 1979, the National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH) is the only national organization representing all public higher education systems. NASH champions “systemness,” the coordinated action of institutions to achieve greater impact together than they could alone. By connecting leaders, building capacity, and scaling proven solutions, NASH helps cultivate a more accessible, resilient, and innovative higher education sector where students and communities can thrive. Learn more at nash.edu.
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Brendan Monahan
NASH
bmonahan@goodrebellion.com