Mary E. Heiss
Senior Vice President, Academic and Student Affairs
Ph: 202.728.0200 x253
mheiss@aacc.nche.edu
Mary E. Heiss is senior vice president for academic and student affairs at the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and a member of AACC’s Executive Leadership Team. Heiss directs a department focused on implementing strategies and programs to advance student success in the nation’s community colleges. She is responsible for sustaining AACC’s academic and career pathways priorities. She also oversees programming to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion; professional development for mid-level community college leaders and aspiring community college presidents; activities with the National Science Foundation through the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program; and international programs and services.
Heiss serves as liaison to the AACC Board of Directors’ Committee on Program Initiatives and Workforce Training, AACC’s Commission on Student Success, and AACC’s Commission on Structured Pathways. She also serves as liaison to the Instructional Technology Council (an AACC-affiliated council).
Heiss is an ex-officio member of The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Roundtable on Systemic Change in Undergraduate STEM Education. She also serves as a member of The Micro Nano Technology Education Center’s National Visiting Committee.
Prior to joining AACC in 2006, Heiss worked for two nonprofit organizations in Washington, DC, including a national foundation focused on the improvement of public education. Earlier, she held increasingly responsible positions in global corporations for more than 15 years. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and attended St. Clair County Community College (MI).