Governance and advocacy groups are organizing to defend institutional autonomy. The Association of Governing Boards (AGB) named Ross Mugler its president and CEO after an interim year, tapping a longtime trustee and public‑sector finance official to lead nonpartisan board education and stewardship efforts. At the same time a newly formed Alliance for Higher Education announced it will work to protect colleges from what it calls government overreach—mobilizing trustees, legal experts and institutional leaders to push back on state and federal actions perceived to threaten academic freedom and institutional autonomy. AGB and the alliance emphasize strengthening board capacity, nonpartisan governance practices and legal supports for institutions as political scrutiny grows. Their coordinated efforts aim to give trustees practical tools to respond to legislative and regulatory pressures while preserving mission‑driven leadership.