Board of Directors

John Ware

Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools

President

2026 – 2027

John Ware has served as Executive Director of the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools since 1997 and is responsible for the oversight and regulation of Ohio’s 230 career colleges and schools. In addition to the Board’s general oversight responsibilities,
John is responsible for drafting and implementing Ohio’s rules and regulations governing career colleges including academic standards, admissions standards, and regulations governing the recruitment and solicitation of students.

Prior to joining the Board of Career Colleges and Schools, John served as an Ohio Assistant Attorney General for education, providing legal counsel to numerous state education agencies including the Ohio Board of Regents and the Ohio Department of Education. While
serving as an Assistant Attorney General, John was responsible for the implementation and prosecution of administrative enforcement actions against state licensed teachers, private elementary and secondary schools, as well as licensed career colleges. John received his
Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University and his Juris Doctorate from The Ohio State University.

John is also active on many state and national education organizations and previously served as President of NASASPS from 2009-2015. This is his fourth term on the NASASPS Board of Directors since serving previously as President and Treasurer.

Sean Seepersad

Connecticut Officer of Higher Education

Vice President

2026 – 2027

Sean Seepersad, Ph.D. is the Division Director of the Academic Affairs Division in the Connecticut Office of Higher Education (OHE). The division he manages has regulatory oversight over private institutions of higher education (IHEs) and private career schools. The
division also oversees the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) and authorization of out-of-state schools and institutions. The state approving agency (SAA) for institutions and programs utilizing veteran’s benefit is also within the division. At OHE Sean
has worked on improving equity and access at IHEs, postsecondary education legislative and regulatory reform, outreach efforts to students and administrative officials, and technology improvements. He also works with Connecticut IHEs and related regulatory entities.
Currently he serves as the chair of the Regional Steering Committee of N-SARA. He has an applied PhD from the University of Illinois in Human Development and Family Studies.

This is his first term serving on the NASASPS Board of Directors.

Heather DeLange

Colorado’s Office of Private Postsecondary Education

Treasurer

2026 – 2027

Heather DeLange is the Director of the Office of Private Postsecondary Education for the Colorado Department of Higher Education. Heather has worked for the Department of Higher Education since2003 and has been overseeing the authorization of private, degree-granting institutions operating in Colorado since 2008. Heather graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and earned a Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership & Administration from Adams State University.

This is Heather’s second term on the NASASPS Board of Directors.

Maggie Rivers

Associate Executive Director/GA-SARA Coordinator for the Georgia Nonpublic
Postsecondary Education Commission

Director

2026 – 2027

Magda Rivers is the Associate Executive Director and SARA Coordinator at the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC), where she has dedicated over 11 years to advancing higher education policy and institutional compliance. In her tenure at GNPEC,
Magda has held multiple leadership roles, contributing to the development of best practices in regulatory compliance, legislative and policy initiatives, agency communications, strategic planning, and operations.

Her experience in higher education administration and the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) has been instrumental in expanding access to quality education for Georgia students and institutions, both within the state and across the nation.

This is her first term serving on the NASASPS Board of Directors.

Sandra Freeman

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia

Director

2026 – 2027

Sandra Freeman is a dedicated advocate for educational integrity and student protection, leading Virginia’s Office of Private Postsecondary Education since 2021. With a tenure at State Council of Higher Education for Virginia since 2006, she has been instrumental in overseeing state authorization for more than 300 private institutions while shaping policies that safeguard students and promote institutional excellence.

With a B.S. in Management and Leadership from Bluefield College and an M.P.A. from Virginia Tech, Sandra brings a strategic, student-centered approach to education policy and compliance. Her passion lies in fostering quality education, consumer protection, and equitable opportunities in higher education.

When she’s not championing student rights, Sandra enjoys traveling the world, exploring diverse cuisines, and creating memorable experiences with her family. This is her first term on the NASASPS Board of Directors.

This is her first term serving on the NASASPS Board of Directors.

Sam Loftin

Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC)

Director

2026 – 2027

Sam Loftin has served as the Director of Consumer Protection at the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) since 2017.  WSAC’s Consumer Protection division includes a state authorization team that administers Washington’s state authorization statute in the oversight of degree-granting institutions that operate in the state; a State Approving Agency (SAA) team that approves and oversees institutions and programs that use veterans’ education and training benefits; and an Office of Student Loan Advocacy team that provides information, resources, and advocacy for student loan borrowers.

Prior to his current role, Sam was a Legal Aid attorney and represented rural, low-income clients in a wide variety of civil cases, then served as a community college instructor and administrative leader for over ten years.  Sam holds a BA from Louisiana State University, a MA and MEd from Oregon State University, and a JD from the University of Tennessee.

This is his second term serving on the NASASPS Board of Directors.

Kim Verneuille

Director of the Commission on Proprietary Schools & College Registration

Director

2026 – 2027

Dr. Kim Verneuille is a seasoned leader in higher education administration and regulatory compliance, currently serving as the Director of the Commission on Proprietary Schools & College Registration (CPSCR) for the State of Mississippi. In this capacity, she
oversees the regulation and support of 75 career education institutions, ensuring adherence to state standards and promoting student success.

In addition to her role at CPSCR, Dr. Verneuille serves as the Methods of Administration (MOA) Coordinator for the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB). In this role, she develops and maintains agency documents and manuals related to the Methods of
Administration, ensuring compliance and effective implementation across the state’s 15 community colleges.

Prior to her current position, Dr. Verneuille was the Academic Dean at an online career college, where she was instrumental in launching the college’s online education program. Her extensive experience also includes ten years as a teacher and department chair,
reflecting her deep commitment to education and leadership.

Dr. Verneuille holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Middle Tennessee State University and an Associate of Science in Graphic & Web Design from Antonelli College. She earned both her Master of Education and Doctorate in Educational Technology from the
University of Phoenix.

This is her first term serving on the NASASPS Board of Directors.