
Founder & Chair
MARY ANN TUFT, MA, CAE
“THE TUFT TEAM IS AN EXCEPTIONAL BRAIN TRUST. OUR CONSULTANTS HAVE AMAZING CAREER PORTFOLIOS AS SUCCESSFUL CEOS AND DEANS, AND ACCOMPLISHED SENIOR STAFF OF MAJOR ORGANIZATIONS. EACH CLIENT BENEFITS FROM OUR INSIDER KNOWLEDGE AND FIRST-RATE CREDENTIALS.”
With more than 30 years of experience in recruitment and management within the nonprofit sector, Mary Ann Tuft is considered a leading authority on not-for-profit and association management and one of the nation’s foremost specialists in executive search for association, academic, and healthcare organizations.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Prior to founding Tuft & Associates in 1988, Mary Ann served for nearly two decades as chief staff officer of two nonprofit organizations: Radiological Society of North America and the 35,000-member National Student Nurses Association. Earlier, she served in key personnel, training, and consulting roles for the Girl Scouts of the United States of America at both the local and national levels.
BOARD SERVICE
Mary Ann previously served on the Advisory Board for the Cognitive Neurology & Alzheimer’s Disease Center of Northwestern University School of Medicine; as a trustee for the NSNA Foundation; and as a Charter Member of the President’s Advisory Council for the School of Nursing, Saint Xavier University. She was a member of the Council of 100 for the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago Chapter, and a former Fellow of the Institute of Medicine of Chicago. She is a Chicago Chapter and National Board Member for the American Friends of the Hebrew University.
Mary Ann previously served on the Advisory Board for the Cognitive Neurology & Alzheimer’s Disease Center of Northwestern University School of Medicine; as a trustee for the NSNA Foundation; and as a Charter Member of the President’s Advisory Council for the School of Nursing, Saint Xavier University. She was a member of the Council 100 for the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago; Chapter; and as a Fellow of the Institute of Medicine of Chicago. She is a Chicago Chapter and National Board Member for the American Friends of the Hebrew University.
HONORS
Mary Ann’s achievements have been honored by the New York Society of Association Executives with the First Outstanding Association Executive Award; by the NSNA, which established The Mary Ann Tuft Scholarship Fund; as an honorary member by Sigma Theta Tau International and NSNA; and by West Chester State College as a Distinguished Alumna. She is an honorary Fellow and Governor of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
EDUCATION
Mary Ann earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from West Chester State College in Pennsylvania, and a Master of Science in Education from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She is a Certified Association Executive.