National recognition honors visionary presidents who redefine the future of higher education through bold innovation and measurable results
Dr. Melik Peter Khoury, President and CEO of Unity Environmental University, has been named a recipient of Insight Into Academia magazine’s 2026 Trailblazer in Higher Education Award, a national honor recognizing senior leaders whose bold, strategic innovation strengthens institutional excellence and delivers measurable impact.
In an era of widespread disruption across higher education, shifting demographics, rising costs, and heightened expectations for outcomes, Dr. Khoury has led Unity through a period of significant growth and transformation centered on affordability, access, workforce equity, and real-world learning. Under his leadership, the University has scaled to serve learners across delivery modalities while expanding hands-on experiences in Maine.
“Melik’s leadership has been defined by expanding access and outcomes at scale, without losing sight of the individual learner,” said Sharon Reishus, Board Chair, Unity Board of Trustees. “This recognition reflects what we see every day at Unity: a president who pairs bold strategy with disciplined execution, strengthening affordability, opportunity, and measurable impact for students, employees, and the regions we serve.”
Insight Into Academia selected Dr. Khoury in recognition of Unity’s continued transformation and results-driven leadership, including:
- Freezing undergraduate tuition through 2030, ensuring long-term affordability and financial predictability for students and families.
- Raising the minimum annual salary for full-time employees based in Maine to $50,000, strengthening Unity’s commitment to workforce equity and regional economic impact.
- Ranking in the top 1% nationally on the 2025 Social Mobility Index, and being recognized as No. 1 in Maine for the third consecutive year, reflecting sustained progress in advancing social and economic mobility.
- Becoming the first institution in Maine to announce and accept applications for fully accredited 90-credit Applied Bachelor of Science degrees, following approval from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), creating faster and more affordable pathways to completion.
“I’m honored to receive the Trailblazer in Higher Education Award,” said Dr. Melik Peter Khoury, President & CEO. “This recognition belongs to the people of Unity, our students, faculty, and staff, who prove every day that higher education can expand opportunity, and strengthen the workforce by delivering outcomes at scale. We’re building a model that prioritizes affordability, workforce equity, and real-world learning, and we’re just getting started.”
“We believe the future of higher education depends on leaders who are willing to challenge convention and embrace bold, impactful innovation,” says Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of Insight Into Academia magazine. “The 2026 Trailblazer honorees represent the highest levels of strategic leadership in the field, and we are proud to celebrate their extraordinary accomplishments.”
In addition to being named a recipient of Insight Into Academia magazine’s 2026 Trailblazer in Higher Education Award, Dr. Khoury was also selected to receive the 2025 Eileen Tosney Award for Career Service in Higher Education from the American Association of University Administrators (AAUA), recognizing a sustained record of leadership and service in higher education. Dr. Khoury will be featured alongside other distinguished honorees in the March 2026 issue of Insight Into Academia magazine. For more information about the Trailblazer in Higher Education Award, visit Insight Into Academia visit insightintoacademia.com.
