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.