Waded Cruzado is President of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), the nation’s oldest higher education association dedicated to strengthening and advancing public and land-grant universities across North America. She assumed the role in July 2025 following her retirement as President of Montana State University, where she served from 2010 to 2025 and oversaw record enrollment and growth. At APLU, she is focused on ensuring member institutions are equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities of today while continuing to expand educational access, drive research innovation, and foster community engagement. A nationally recognized higher education leader, she was named the 2011 Michael P. Malone Educator of the Year, appointed by President Barack Obama to the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (2012–2020), and served on Montana’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Task Force. She has also contributed to numerous educational and civic boards, including PayneWest Insurance prior to its 2021 acquisition by Marsh & McLennan Agency. A first-generation college graduate, Cruzado earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico and her master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Texas at Arlington.