Wood elected to national board for presidential assistants

Jacob Wood, the chief of staff at Northwest Missouri State University, recently was elected to join the Board of Directors of the National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education (NAPAHE).

Wood was elected during the organization’s 39th annual national conference and business meeting March 11-13 in San Antonio, Texas. He will serve a three-year term extending to 2029.

As chief of staff at Northwest, Wood is responsible for supporting the University’s executive leadership and partnering with its president to advance priorities and initiatives.

Wood began his employment with Northwest in 2017 as a hall director in the Office of Residential Life. He served as a student affairs coordinator from 2021 until transitioning to the Office of the President in 2022 as an executive assistant. He was appointed chief of staff in February.

He is a two-time graduate of Northwest, earning a bachelor’s degree in 2017 in mass media with a multimedia journalism emphasis and a master’s degree in 2024 in recreation with a sports management emphasis.

NAPAHE is the premier professional organization for individuals who support senior leaders in higher education. It offers programming, networking and professional development opportunities that address the broad range of roles fulfilled by its membership.