Nearly a year ago, "NEJHE" launched its "New Directions for Higher Education" series to examine emerging issues, trends, and ideas that have an impact on higher education policies, programs, and practices. In this installment, DiSalvio interviews Muriel A. Howard, president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. AASCU is a Washington-based higher education association of nearly 420 public colleges, universities and systems. In addressing both the challenges and opportunities that confront public higher education today, AASCU seeks to be a transformative influence in American public higher education through advocacy, leadership and service. Topics discussed in this interview include: expectations for nationwide education appropriations; the prospect of rewarding states whose higher education funding practices align with the federal government's commitment to making higher education more affordable; AASCU's position on the Obama administration's proposed Postsecondary Institutional Rating System; how state colleges and universities are coping with the challenge of of state-level higher education budget cuts; and how federal and state policy priorities will guide the association's government relations and advocacy efforts, and how these policies may affect higher education academic leadership.