New slate of officers elected to Excelsior University Alumni Leadership Council
Clockwise from top: Ruth Lown Turman, Christopher Arima, Christopher Hirschler
ALBANY, N.Y. — Excelsior University today announced the election of a new slate of officers to its Alumni Leadership Council (ALC). The group consists of Excelsior graduates Ruth Lown Turman, president; Christopher Alan Hirschler, first vice president; and Christopher Martz Arima, second vice president. In their leadership roles within the 12-member council, officers will help guide initiatives in alumni engagement and outreach, strengthen the network of more than 200,000 Excelsior graduates, and act as official representatives of the University over the course of their terms.
“It’s an honor to serve with such an experienced and passionate Alumni Leadership Council at this moment of tremendous momentum for Excelsior,” said Turman. “My own journey has been profoundly shaped by this community, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to support, celebrate, and elevate our extraordinary alumni, whose determination and commitment to lifelong learning continue to lift us ever upward.”
Ruth Lown Turman, B.S. ’96, of Columbia, South Carolina, currently serves as senior sales operations manager at Optum Serve (UnitedHealth Group). Her experience spans health care, technology, and financial services, with a focus on proposal management, process design, and cross-functional leadership supporting complex federal and commercial programs. An active and engaged alumna, Turman previously served in roles on the Alumni Leadership Council as secretary and first vice president, contributing to initiatives focused on alumni engagement, recognition, governance effectiveness, and the development of enduring alumni legacies. As ALC president, she will emphasize stewardship of alumni resources, operationalizing effective alumni leadership practices, and strengthening connections between alumni leaders and the University community. Turman maintains a strong record of professional and volunteer leadership. Her service includes past membership on the International Board of Directors of the Association of Proposal Management Professionals, reflecting a sustained commitment to mentorship, professional standards, and collaborative leadership.
Christopher Alan Hirschler, B.S. ’98, of Sheffield Village, Ohio, is the dean of the Health and Wellness Sciences Division at Lorain County Community College in Elyria, Ohio. Hirschler is also an adjunct faculty member for Excelsior University. He is passionate about student success and encouraging alums to give back to their institution. Hirschler serves on several boards, and he is the author of numerous publications and journal articles. In addition to his 1998 Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts from Excelsior University (then Regents College), he earned a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from SUNY Brockport and a Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Education from Cleveland State University. He holds the Master Certified Education Specialist (MCHES) credential and has earned certificates from Harvard, Yale, and Cornell.
Christopher Martz Arima, B.S. ’18, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is an assistant district attorney with the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. A veteran and practicing attorney, Arima’s career bridges public service, legal advocacy, and education. Before joining the District Attorney’s Office, he managed his own law firm, Arima Law, and previously served as a public defender with the New Mexico Law Offices of the Public Defender. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in mediation, constitutional law, and criminal justice at Excelsior University. A member of the American Bar Association, the New Mexico State Bar, the Albuquerque Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the Justinian Society, and the Young Democrats of New Mexico, Arima has served as Chair of the ABA Young Lawyers Division Committee on Criminal Justice and as liaison to the Committee on Homelessness and Poverty. Arima earned his Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law (cum laude, with a Certificate in National Security and Counterterrorism Law), a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts from Excelsior University, and an Associate of Arts in Arabic from the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center.
The council membership also includes Sena Amegbletor, Matthew Baumgartner, Annie L. Hough-Everage, Pamela Monk, Morgan CJ Morgan, Douglas Perry, Tony Spearman-Leach, and Samuel T. Watkins Jr. Made up of Excelsior graduates representing a wide range of professions and backgrounds, the ALC reflects the diverse nature of Excelsior’s alumni population.
Find more information on the ALC, including individual member biographies, here.
Media contact Excelsior University:
Jason Bonafide, jbonafide@excelsior.edu, 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.
