AZ529 Plan Advisory Committee
The statewide AZ529, Arizona’s Education Savings Plan Advisory Committee assists the Treasurer’s Office in promoting and raising awareness of the AZ529 Plan in accordance with A.R.S. § 41-179. The Advisory Committee’s purpose is to increase access to the Plan among all Arizonans, with a special emphasis on economically disadvantaged, minority and underrepresented student populations.
The Advisory Committee members are subject-matter experts in multiple important facets of education and civic leadership, including urban and rural colleges, public and private schools and universities, vocational training and apprenticeship programs. The AZ529 Advisory Committee is the next step in Treasurer Yee’s initiative to help Arizona families save for post-high school educational expenses.
The 13-member AZ529 Advisory Committee, chaired by Treasurer Kimberly Yee, meets on a quarterly basis. The public and media are welcome to attend. Please see the list of the AZ529 Advisory Committee members and their corresponding membership spots below.
AZ529 Advisory Committee Appointees
Urban Community College District Representative: Susan Bitter Smith, Governing Board President, Maricopa Community Colleges
Rural Community College District Representative: Keith Alexander, Special Assistant to the President for Community and Government Relations, Eastern Arizona College
ABOR Public University Representative: Dr. James Rund, Senior Vice President for Educational Outreach and Student Services, Arizona State University
Private Educational Institution Offering Advanced Degrees Representative: Brian Mueller, President, Grand Canyon University
Private Vocational Training Institution Representative: David Eaker, Campus President, The Refrigeration School
Apprenticeship Program Representative: Gary Schleuger, Vice President of State Government Affairs and Relations, University of Phoenix
Private School or Organization offering K-12 Instruction Representative: Chris Schoenleb, Head of School, North Valley Christian Academy
Teacher Representative: Karen Mensing, Technology Integration Facilitator, Paradise Valley Unified School District
Tribal Representative: Honorable Shaandiin Parrish, Council Delegate, Navajo Nation
Public Member: Charlie Shields, Senior Managing Partner, Shields Company Inc/480 Endowment Consultants
Public Member: Christine Burton, Co-Founder, Burton Family Foundation
Public Member Representing an Arizona-Based Nonprofit Organization: Susan Ciardullo, Executive Director, Life Long Learning Inc.