Dr. Mary A. Papazian is a nationally recognized higher education strategist, governance expert, and leadership advisor with more than 35 years of experience as a university president, senior administrator, tenured professor, and public intellectual. Through Arshag Consulting, she partners with colleges and universities, corporations, foundations, and nonprofits to navigate complex challenges in leadership, governance, institutional transformation, and the future of
work and learning.
 

In addition to her consulting practice, Dr. Papazian serves as Senior Fellow and Senior Consultant at the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB), Senior Education Advisor at CodeSignal, Global Fellow at Arizona State University’s University Design Institute, and Board Chair of the American Public University System (APUS)—a nearly 90,000-student online institution that awarded her an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service in 2025.