Bill Muse Retires as National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI) President

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  • William V. Muse

William V. Muse, who has served as President of the National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI) since 2008, announced his retirement at the NIFI Board of Directors meeting on December 3rd, 2015 in Dayton, Ohio. Including three years as a member of the Institute board, Muse provided ten years of leadership and support for the goals and programs of NIFI. Muse worked in higher education for forty years, including twenty years as president or chancellor of three universities--the University of Akron, Auburn University, and East Carolina University. During his tenure at NIFI, Muse helped to establish the Taylor Willingham Legacy Fund, the NIFI Ambassadors program, the Moderators Circle, and an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) program of courses for senior citizens that NIFI hopes to develop at universities around the country.

Succeeding Muse as President is Carol Farquhar Nugent, NIFI Vice President, and a longtime Kettering Foundation Associate. Nugent, a former Executive Director for Grantmakers in Aging, led the development of the OLLI program at the University of Dayton. "Carol is ideally qualified for this post and I look forward to working with her to achieve a smooth transition," said Muse. Muse was elected by the NIFI board to the position of President Emeritus, beginning January 1, 2016.

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Bill Muse

Jan Hartough's picture

Hi Bill,
This congratulations on your retirement is a bit late but heart felt! Doug and I have been doing a lot of traveling, so every now and then I do "catch up".
I just wanted to let you know how much I've enjoyed working with you over a good number of years. When we took on the MSU project, you were so supportive. Deliberation has made an impact in Michigan. Sometimes it doesn't happen as soon as we would like, but MSU Extension colleagues have embraced the deliberative process and they are using it in their communities. My long time work in Ireland has been fruitful with our community development work but also with the introduction of NIFI back in the early 2000's. They now have formed a structure to do deliberative work on their own and I'm so proud of what they have accomplished. It took a while, but it is reality now.
I'm hoping that our paths will cross in the near future and I hope you enjoy retirement, as my husband says to me, for the 2nd or 3rd time!
Bill, you are a great human being and I'm so glad our paths crossed!!

My Best,
Jan Hartough