2020 Henry Paley Memorial Award

Tina Bjarekull

Advocate, innovator and partner. These are words that define the 16–year tenure of Tina Bjarekull as president of the Maryland Independent College and University Association (MICUA) and managing director of the Independent College Fund of Maryland. She distinguished herself, not only among her NAICU state executive colleagues, but also among federal, state and local officials.

During a time when advocates are increasingly partisan and combatant, Bjarekull has always conducted herself with a combination of poise and tenacity, based on both a deep conviction to the mission of independent colleges and through an ethic of hard work. She excelled at analyzing the details of legislation and promoting pragmatic solutions.

Over the past decade, Bjarekull has lead her state association colleagues in ensuring that any federal provisions that provide money to states for new higher education programs cannot be used by states to raid funds from state-based programs for private colleges or the students they serve. Even in the days before her retirement, Bjarekull was hard at work helping NAICU negotiate language to this effect in the current Higher Education Act bills under consideration in Congress. She was drafting new options and reaching out to colleagues in affected states to ensure any federal language worked for their states, institutions and students. 

Bjarekull was even more effective at the state level. During her tenure, she effectively communicated the value of independent higher education and worked well with elected officials to develop sound public policy that prioritized students. Bjarekull also forged new partnerships with public and private entities in Maryland and beyond, positioning MICUA as a national model. Under her leadership, MICUA established the Guaranteed Access Partnership Program to enable debt free college for economically disadvantaged Maryland students at MICUA member institutions. Bjarekull also established consortium programs and negotiated joint purchasing agreements to advance campus efficiencies and improve institutional effectiveness. Through her business acumen and smart fiscal management, MICUA accumulated enough reserves to purchase a building in Annapolis to house its operations.

Andrea Chapdelaine, Ph.D., president of Hood College and chair of the MICUA Board of Trustees, observed: “She has made an indelible impact on the Association, its member institutions, and most importantly, our students. She leaves the organization stronger and more united in its mission.” 

Prior to joining MICUA, Bjarekull served as the deputy superintendent for finance at the Maryland State Department of Education and was responsible for the administration of fiscal policy, human resource management, procurement, school facilities, pupil transportation, and nutrition. Earlier in her career, Bjarekull served as assistant secretary of finance for the Maryland Higher Education Commission. She handled all fiscal issues related to state aid for public and private higher education institutions, including operating and capital budget requests and student financial aid.

Bjarekull started her career in the State of Maryland in the Department of Fiscal Services (DFS), an agency responsible for providing professional staff support to the Maryland General Assembly. While working for DFS, Bjarekull served several years as a senior analyst to the Maryland Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. Prior to moving to Maryland, she worked for over ten years in the insurance and banking industries in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Throughout her career, Bjarekull has served on numerous state and national boards, commissions, and task forces. In the past, she has served on the NAICU Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, and as chair of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities State Executives (NAICUSE). Bjarekull holds an M.B.A. from Loyola University Maryland and an undergraduate degree from the University of Baltimore.

For her dedication, talent and perseverance in service to Maryland’s private, nonprofit colleges and universities, faculty and students, NAICU awards Tina Bjarekull the 2020 Henry Paley Memorial Award.

Named for Henry Paley, president of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities of New York from 1975–1984, the Paley Award recognizes an individual who embodies his spirit of unfailing service toward the students and faculty of independent colleges and universities. The recipient of this reward has set an example for all who would seek to advance educational opportunity in the United States.

February 2020