MARLA J. BOBOWICK
Marla J. Bobowick is principal of Bobowick Consulting, LLC, and an independent consultant with extensive experience in board governance, strategy, research, and publishing. She has worked with nonprofit organizations of all types and sizes—colleges and universities, healthcare and social service providers, family and other private foundations, local and national offices of federated organizations, and professional associations. Bobowick is affiliated with BoardSource, currently as senior governance consultant and previously as vice president of publications, online products, and research. She serves as board vice chair of Maryland Nonprofits and is a Standards for Excellence® licensed consultant. Bobowick is former director of AGB Press at the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB). Previously, she was acquisitions editor at John Wiley & Sons, where she developed Wiley’s Nonprofit Law, Finance, and Management Series and the Association of Fundraising Professionals Fund Development Series. She holds a bachelor of arts degree from Amherst College and a master of business administration certificate in nonprofit management from Case Western Reserve University.
MERRILL P. SCHWARTZ
Merrill P. Schwartz is senior vice president for AGB Consulting at the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB). Her primary responsibilities include managing a consulting practice of governance experts serving AGB member colleges, universities, systems, and foundations. As a member of AGB’s leadership team, she contributes to achieving the organization’s strategic goals. Previously, Schwartz served as director of research at AGB and was responsible for conducting research on and writing about trusteeship, governance, and the academic presidency. She also managed book projects and conferences and served as liaison to AGB’s Board Professionals Leadership Group, a corps of volunteers who work with AGB to address the professional development needs of its members. Prior to joining AGB, Schwartz worked for almost a decade as a faculty member, director of institutional relations, and ultimately director of internships at the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. She holds a PhD in higher education administration and leadership from the University of Maryland as well as master of public administration and bachelor of arts degrees from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. The subject of her dissertation is assessing the performance of academic presidents.