Dr. Andrew C. Sund, Ph.D., embarked upon his journey as President of Heritage University on July 1, 2017, ushering in an era of profound institutional advancement and innovation.
Under his stewardship, Heritage University has experienced a remarkable 30% growth in its endowment. His leadership has also engendered a culture of philanthropy, resulting in the establishment of prestigious endowed scholarships and the creation of an endowed chair for the esteemed nursing program.
Diversity and inclusivity have thrived under Dr. Sund’s guidance, with a faculty body now boasting 47% representation from diverse backgrounds, most of whom are accomplished women scholars. Driven by a commitment to excellence, he has expanded the university’s program offerings and service initiatives. These include a groundbreaking workforce development program, a pioneering law school preparation program developed in collaboration with the three law schools in Washington State, and the construction of a cutting-edge Early Learning Center. Furthermore, Dr. Sund’s strategic vision has extended Heritage University’s reach into the Tri-Cities region by establishing a regional site in Kennewick.
Dr. Sund’s dedication to academic excellence is evident through his leadership in navigating the university through two comprehensive strategic planning cycles and rigorous accreditation processes. During his tenure, Heritage University has developed various new academic degrees, including a bachelor’s degree in social science and a master’s degree in reading.
Heritage University’s remarkable achievement of being designated both a Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institution (NASNTI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution by the US Department of Education stands as a testament to his unwavering commitment to diversity and educational access, a distinction unmatched in the state of Washington.
Prior to his tenure at Heritage University, Dr. Sund served as President of St. Augustine College in Chicago, where he orchestrated a remarkable renaissance. He presided over a period of uncertainty, guiding the institution along a trajectory of heightened academic distinction, recognition, and stability. Dr. Sund’s tenure witnessed the introduction of pioneering academic programs, the establishment of additional campus sites, strategic partnerships with many public and private entities, and a remarkable 35% increase in enrollment. His visionary leadership culminated in the development of the college’s inaugural fundraising strategy, a pivotal milestone celebrated by accolades such as the Maestro of Community Service award from Latino Leaders Magazine and the prestigious recognition of St. Augustine as the Outstanding Institution of the Year by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities in 2013.
Beyond academic administration, Dr. Sund’s career includes co-authoring an American History textbook in Spanish and pioneering multimedia integration in educational settings. He has had the opportunity to set a forward-looking agenda for higher education as the past president of the Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education (ILACHE) and as a governing board member of prominent organizations, including the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), the Yes We Must Coalition and the Yakima Humane Society. Dr. Sund is fluent in Spanish, proficient in four additional languages, and embodies a global perspective in his leadership.
Dr. Sund’s academic journey is distinguished by a bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master’s degree in history from Northwestern University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Dr. Chris Gilmer is the President of Heritage University, assuming the presidency on July 1, 2025. Before arriving at Heritage, he served as Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Social Justice and as a tenured Professor of English at Tougaloo College, a Historically Black College (HBCU) in Mississippi, his second tenure at Tougaloo.
Previously, he was President of two Appalachian universities: West Virginia University Potomac State College, and West Virginia University at Parkersburg (WVUP). Earlier, he served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Adams State University, Colorado’s oldest federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), and as a faculty member and administrator at three HBCUs—Tougaloo College where he was Chair of the Department of English and Modern Foreign Languages, Jackson State University where he served as a faculty member, and Alcorn State University where he led Alcorn’s Vicksburg, Mississippi, campus and also directed online education for the Alcorn system.
Dr. Gilmer is the founder of the National Institutes for Historically Underserved Students. He is currently chair of the board of directors for the International Society for College and University Planning (SCUP). He has served on the Tougaloo College Board of Trustees, the Community Colleges of Appalachia Board of Directors, and other national and local boards. Dr. Gilmer was the co-founder of the U.S. Department of Education’s Research Alliance on Promoting Post-Secondary Success at HBCUs. He is a published author of numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed articles on higher education and social justice, as well as creative nonfiction published alongside Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning authors. He was chosen a Paragon President by Phi Theta Kappa upon the nomination of his students at WVUP and has served as the Scholar-in-Residence for the Tennessee Williams Festival at the playwright’s birthplace.
Early in his career, Dr. Gilmer was the inaugural national chair of a network of technical assistance centers funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for all 50 states and all U.S. jurisdictions. For many years, he has served as a senior consultant to the U.S. Department of Education’s regional educational labs at Florida State University, RMC Research Corporation, and Educational Testing Service (ETS), having led significant educational consulting projects in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He earned a Ph.D. degree in English from the University of Southern Mississippi and has been a faculty member throughout his entire administrative career.