Three Distinct Leaders Applauded with Prestigious Higher Ed Awards

Three Distinct Leaders Applauded with Prestigious Higher Ed Awards

Persico, Flanagan, Eremita to be Honored at Statewide AICUP Annual Meeting, March 24

For Immediate Release

March 18, 2025

(Harrisburg, PA) – Three distinct leaders from varied careers in higher education, advocacy, and finance, are being honored for their service by the 85 member institutions of the Association of Indepdendent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP) at the AICUP annual meeting on Monday, March 24. In a special “recognition by their peers,” the award ceremony at the Hilton Harrisburg will be attended by dozens of college presidents from across the Commonwealth as well as legislators and VIP guests. The three honorees for 2025 are:

• Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., former president of Marywood University and AICUP Chair Emeritus, receiving the Francis J. Michelini Award for Outstanding Service to Higher Education.
• Sarah Flanagan, NAICU Vice President for Government Relations and Policy Development, receiving the Robert P. Casey Medal for Distinguished Achievement.
• Linda Eremita, a leader in education finance and a trustee for several universities and nonprofits, receiving the Benjamin Franklin Medal for Distinguished Achievement.

“This is truly a rare honor. We put a lot of effort in the selection process, and it’s not a given that we will give any award each year,” said Thomas P. Foley, President of AICUP. “I hope that fact speaks to the magnitude of this recognition, because each of these three leaders have gone above and beyond to serve independent nonprofit higher education in such a way that needed to be recognized. And to present all three awards at the same time is indeed unique.”

2025 AICUP Annual Meeting Awardees:

SISTER MARY PERSICO

Francis J. Michelini Award for Outstanding Service to Higher Education

Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D. is the President Emerita and Director of Special Projects at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where she previously served as the University’s 12th President, from 2016 through 2024. With her leadership, her University built a stronger fiscal foundation and increased enrollment. She is a past chair of the Association of Indepdendent Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP), served on several community boards, and she served on the Governor’s Higher Education Working Group.

SARAH FLANAGAN

Robert P. Casey Medal for Distinguished Achievement

Independent nonprofit higher education has long had a vocal champion in Sarah Flanagan, a stalwart advocate in DC with over three decades of service at the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). As the NAICU Vice President for Government Relations and Policy Development, Flanagan is a trusted expert and leader on all policy matters relevant to our sector, “from Aid to Zoning.” Before joining NAICU, Flanagan was a higher ed staff leader on the Senate Subcommittee on Education under Senator Claiborne Pell (for whom the “Pell Grant” was named). She also serves as a university trustee. Flanagan announced her retirement from NAICU for spring 2025, and AICUP wishes her well and thanks her for her work and service.

LINDA EREMITA

Benjamin Franklin Medal for Distinguished Achievement

Linda Eremita’s career spans over four decades in investment banking and service to higher education. Through her trusted expertise and leadership, Eremita helped dozens of schools to secure and further their financial health and longevity, ultimately benefiting tens of thousands of students. Before retiring in 2023, she led the higher education bond financing program at Stifel, which oversees the AICUP Debt Financial Advisory and Bond Program. In previous executive roles, Eremita led the education and nonprofit-focused divisions at PNC Capital Markets, M&T, Standard & Poor’s, and National City Capital Markets. Eremita has served several universities and nonprofits as a trustee or board director, including at three AICUP member universities.

Media Contact: Tony Gilbert

Phone: (717) 232-8649 x232

Email: Gilbert [at] AICUP.org

Press Release PDF Link: https://aicup.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AICUP-awards-release-3.18.25.pdf

The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP) advocates for 85 independent nonprofit institutions of higher education. Learn more about AICUP online at www.AICUP.org

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