Internet2 Announces 2026 Board of Trustees Elections, Appointments, and New Officers

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Internet2, the advanced technology nonprofit powering U.S. research and higher education (R&E), today announced the 2026 election results and appointments for its Board of Trustees, including new board officers, three new trustees, and three trustees returning for second terms. Composed of university presidents, chief information officers, researchers, and other R&E executives, the board provides strategic direction, leadership, and oversight for Internet2.

Cynthia Larive, chancellor of the University of California, Santa Cruz, was elected board chair, and M. Brian Blake, president of Georgia State University, was elected vice chair. Both began their terms in November 2026. Larive previously served as vice chair, and Blake joined the board in 2025.

The announcement comes as Internet2 marks its 30th anniversary with a community of 520 member organizations, spanning universities, federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, regional R&E networks, and industry. Led by Tripti Sinha, president and CEO, Internet2 provides the high-performance national network, integrated cloud solutions, secure trust fabric, and collaborative forums that enable its members to drive the next generation of scientific and academic discovery.

Newly Elected and Appointed Trustees

The board held its annual election this fall, electing one new trustee, Marc Parlange, president of the University of Rhode Island. He is serving a three-year term from November 2026 through October 2029.

Earlier this year, the board filled two mid-term vacancies by appointment:

• Louis Fox, president and CEO of CENIC, the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California
• Ellen Granberg, president of George Washington University

Fox and Granberg's appointed terms end in October 2027.

Trustees Returning for Second Terms

Three trustees are serving second terms, each running from November 2026 through October 2029:

• Ewa Deelman, research professor of computer science and principal scientist at the University of Southern California Information Sciences Institute
• Aimee Heeter, senior vice chancellor for finance and administration at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Michele Norin, senior vice president and chief information officer at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

Acknowledging the Service of Outgoing Trustees

Internet2 extends its sincere appreciation to outgoing trustees Gregory Washington, president of George Mason University, and Jennifer Cowley, former president of the University of Texas at Arlington, for their leadership, dedication, and service to the R&E community.

During his tenure as chair of the Internet2 Board of Trustees, Washington provided valuable leadership and guidance, helping advance Internet2's mission and strategic priorities during an important period for the organization. Cowley, who served as a trustee, contributed her time, perspective, and commitment to the board's work. Internet2 is grateful to both for their dedication to the organization and the broader R&E community.

Learn more about the Internet2 Board of Trustees.

About Internet2
Internet2^® is a nonprofit, member-driven advanced technology community founded by the nation's leading higher education institutions in 1996. Internet2 serves 353 U.S. universities, 57 government agencies, 46 regional and state education networks and through them supports more than 80,000 community anchor institutions, over 1,000 InCommon participants, 64 leading corporations working with our community, and 70 national research and education network operators that represent more than 100 countries.

Internet2 delivers a diverse portfolio of technology solutions that leverages, integrates, and amplifies the strengths of its members and helps support their educational, research, and community service missions. Internet2's core infrastructure components include the nation's largest and fastest research and education network that was built to deliver advanced, customized services that are accessed and secured by the community-developed trust and identity framework. For more information, visit https://internet2.edu.

SOURCE Internet2