According to the American University Bylaws (Article III, Section 2), Trustees other than ex officio members and members described in Section 5 of this Article III shall be divided into three approximately equal classes. Each year, one of the classes shall go out of office and successors be elected.

Ex-Officio Trustees

Sylvia M. Burwell
The president of American University holds a non-voting ex-officio seat on the Board.

Reverend Greg Bergquist
The general secretary of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church holds an ex-officio seat on the Board.

Bishop LaTrelle Easterling
The bishop of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church holds an ex-officio seat on the Board.

John Q. Heywood (2020-2022); Garret Martin (2021-2023)
Faculty trustees hold their non-voting positions on the Board from their executive position on the university's Faculty Senate. That is, the chair of the Faculty Senate holds a two-year term on the Board of Trustees, and the immediate past chair holds a one-year term on the Board.

Student Trustee & Trustee-Elect

Anusha S. Mannam (Trustee, 2021-2022) and Aisha Jallow (Trustee-Elect, 2021-22)
One full-time University student will hold a non-voting position on the Board, nominated by the Trusteeship Committee from among one or more candidates submitted to the Board by the University's undergraduate Student Government, the Washington College of Law Student Bar Association and the University's Graduate Leadership Council. During the first year, the Student Trustee-Elect attends meetings of the Board of Trustees as an observer. During the second year and subject to a vote of the Board of Trustees, the Student Trustee-Elect becomes the Student Trustee and serves as a regular member of the Board of Trustees for purposes of meetings, committee participation, and other general obligations of trusteeship, excpt for the power to vote.

Updated September 2021