ALBANY, N.Y. — The Excelsior University Board of Trustees has named Tony Spearman-Leach, GPC, CNE, CDE, CNC, senior director of institutional advancement at the National Academy of Public Administration, among its six new trustees. The University’s governing body, the Board of Trustees includes leaders from across the country in business, education, and government. An Excelsior alumnus, Spearman-Leach recently concluded his term as president of the Excelsior University Alumni Association and its Alumni Leadership Council.
In his role at the U.S. Congressionally chartered National Academy of Public Administration, Spearman-Leach is dedicated to advancing the mission of good government, excellence in governance, and public service. A transformational fundraising leader, Spearman-Leach transcends traditional development work by building enduring cultures of philanthropy, launching visionary campaigns, and aligning donor investment with long-term mission impact.
“Expanding educational access is my legacy and avocational purpose. As the great-grandson, grandson, and son of educators who empowered many marginalized citizens through the power of sharing knowledge, I personally continue this ongoing effort through Excelsior University. Wherever I have lived—Robeson County, North Carolina; Detroit, Michigan; Baltimore, Maryland; or metropolitan Washington, D.C.—I have witnessed and paid forward the truly transformative power of attaining higher education, engaging in mentorship, and lifelong learning. I am truly proud to serve the Excelsior University community, and serving as a member of Excelsior’s Board of Trustees is a humbling honor,” said Spearman-Leach. “I look forward to joining this remarkable group of leaders at an exciting time in the University’s growth, as we expand our reach and extend educational access and opportunity to learners around the world.”
At the National Academy of Public Administration, Spearman-Leach spearheaded multiyear philanthropic initiatives, including the Academy’s Center for Intergovernmental Partnerships and its Extreme Weather Resilience Hub, and launched the Academy’s Diamond Anniversary Endowment Comprehensive Campaign during a period of significant federal funding disruption. He has collaborated closely with the Academy’s CEO and board to develop an entrepreneurial business model that positions the organization for sustained success, and he leads the Academy’s Celebration of the American Public Servant, aligning donor investment with America’s 250th anniversary.
Spearman-Leach has raised and stewarded resources from leading philanthropists, corporations, and foundations, combining technical expertise in grant writing and donor relations with an authentic, visionary leadership style. His global impact includes training hundreds of nonprofit and NGO leaders from more than 100 countries through the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program at the Meridian International Center.
A passionate advocate for community leadership, Spearman-Leach serves as treasurer of the Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union, chair of the Montgomery College Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology (PIC MC) Foundation, governance chair of Leadership Montgomery, advisory board chair of the Josiah Henson Park & Museum, and a federally appointed board member of the U.S. Selective Service System. He served as president of the Excelsior University Alumni Association from 2023–2025.
An Emmy and Telly Award–winning communicator and a recognized leader in advancing inclusiveness in philanthropy, Spearman-Leach is widely regarded as a strategist, storyteller, mentor, and fundraiser whose work strengthens institutions and communities in the United States and around the world.
Kent A.D. Clark, president and chairman of the board for the Clark Advisory Group LLC and CAG Federal, was appointed chair of the Excelsior University Board of Trustees. Other trustees appointed to the board include Diane Adams, chief learning officer of Mount Sinai Health System; Todd Greene, vice president of Work, Education, and Labor Division and executive director of WorkRise Urban Institute; Jessica Hinkle, senior vice president of Strada; Ruth Lown Turman, senior sales operations manager at Optum Serve of UnitedHealth Group; and Jeff Metzler, partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.
For more information on the Excelsior University Board of Trustees and full biographies of each member, visit excelsior.edu/about/leadership/trustees.
Media contact Excelsior University:
Jason Bonafide, [email protected], 518-608-8446
About Excelsior University
Excelsior University is an accredited, not-for-profit higher education institution focused on helping learners complete their degrees and advance their careers. Excelsior contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971 in Albany, New York, Excelsior meets students where they are — academically and geographically — removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.
Excelsior is a not-for-profit university with a main campus in Albany, New York, and an educational site in St. Petersburg, Florida. Excelsior University’s academic programs are registered by the New York State Education Department, with additional licensing for Florida-based programs.
Licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education (License No. 12928). Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL 323099-0400, toll-free number: (888)-224-6684.
