Biography

Mr. Wallace E. Boston, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer;
Member, Board of Trustees;
Member, Board of Directors

Wally Boston joined the American Public University System (APUS) in 2002 as its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.  He was responsible for implementing a number of financial, operational, and information systems critical to the University’s development and growth.  In 2004, he was promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer of the System and its parent company, American Public Education, Inc.
 
He led APUS through its successful accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association in 2006.  In addition, he initiated the institution’s successful application to be the first totally distance learning university to receive Federal Student Aid after the repeal of the 50/50 rule in 2006.  He is a member of the APUS Board of Trustees.  In 2007, Wally led American Public Education, Inc. to a successful initial public offering on the Nasdaq Exchange, and he is a director of the company.

In addition to his service to the University, Wally is a member of the West Virginia Governor’s Advisory Council for Technology in Education and serves as a Board Member of the Education Alliance, a non-profit organization promoting public/private partnerships serving K-12 public schools in West Virginia.  He is a Board Member of the Jefferson County (WV) Development Authority and a Board Member of the Gateway New Economy Council.  Wally previously served as a Board Member and Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the McDonogh School, a private, non-profit K-12 school in Owings Mill, Maryland.

Prior to joining APUS, Wally held financial and operational leadership positions in several large healthcare companies.  From 1985 to 2002, he served as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, or Chief Executive Officer of the following companies: Meridian Healthcare, Manor Healthcare, NeighborCare Pharmacies, and Sun Healthcare Group.  During his tenure with these companies, he led them through key transitions including mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, asset sales and dispositions, and initial public offerings.  Prior to his healthcare industry experience, Wally served as a Manager in the Management Consulting Practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers and launched a real estate development and syndication start-up.

Wally is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant, and Fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.  He earned an A.B. degree in History from Duke University and an MBA in Marketing and Accounting from Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business Administration.  In 2008, the Board of Trustees of APUS awarded him a Doctorate in Business Administration, honoris causa.