Teri Cannon

A lawyer and academic with 45 years’ experience in academic leadership, Ms. Cannon has consulted with more than 40 educational institutions on issues related to accreditation, student learning and achievement, governance, innovation, global learning, and organizational change. She was one of the founding members of Minerva University when the university was established in 2012 and led the University as its Founding President until 2023. She developed its organizational structure, student experience and affairs function and global rotation, and led its successful accreditation process.

Prior to 2012, Ms. Cannon served as the Executive Vice President of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior Commission, was dean of two California law schools and associate dean at a major public university. She also held positions with other accrediting agencies, including the California Committee of Bar Examiners and the American Bar Association.

She currently serves on the governing boards of several educational entities and has published and presented extensively on innovation and related issues in higher education, including contributing to a book about Minerva for MIT press and co-authoring an article in Daedalus. Ms. Cannon holds an undergraduate degree from UCLA and a law degree from Loyola Law School Los Angeles.