CCCU Appoints Andrea Thies to Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — This week, the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities announced that Andrea Thies has been named senior vice president and chief of staff. Thies will replace Jill Hartness, who has taken on a new role as executive director of the Christian Education Charitable Trust with the Maclellan Foundation.

Thies joined the CCCU in 2024 as vice president for advancement. Prior to assuming this role at the CCCU, she served as vice president of advancement and admissions at Warner University. During her tenure at Warner, Thies led the advancement and marketing teams in donor engagement and financial gifts, generating $40 million in gift revenue for the university and record numbers in new student enrollment.

“Throughout her career, Andrea has demonstrated a deep dedication to Christian higher education alongside excellent strategic thinking and a capacity for building connections,” stated CCCU President David A. Hoag. “As senior vice president and chief of staff, she will be optimally positioned to advance the mission of the CCCU in service of our staff and the member institutions we serve.”

As senior vice president and chief of staff, Thies is responsible for the daily operations of the Office of the President, Conferences and Events, and Facilities. She serves as a senior advisor to President Hoag, executing his agenda, advising him on key priorities, interfacing with key constituencies on the President’s behalf, managing organizational business rhythms and coordinating operations and special projects across departments.

Thies holds an MBA from Greenville University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (SIUC).

“I am honored to take on the role of chief of staff at the CCCU,” Thies said. “I look forward to continuing to serve alongside an incredible team as we advance Christian higher education and equip leaders who make a difference for Christ.”

All media inquiries should be directed to Dr. Amanda Staggenborg, vice president of communications, at astaggenborg@cccu.org.

About the CCCU 

The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities is a higher education association of more than 170 Christian institutions around the world. Since 1976, the CCCU has served as the leading voice of Christian higher education. With campuses across the globe, including more than 130 in the U.S. and Canada and more than 30 from an additional 18 countries, CCCU institutions are accredited, comprehensive colleges and universities whose missions are Christ-centered and rooted in the historic Christian faith. Most also have curricula rooted in the arts and sciences. The CCCU’s mission is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help our institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.  

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