SHEEO Announces 2025 Excellence Awards Recipients

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Alabama, New Jersey, Tennessee recognized

WASHINGTON – The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) is pleased to announce recipients of the 2025 SHEEO Excellence Awards. The awards recognize the leadership, dedication, and innovation of exceptional SHEEOs, agency staff, and agencies at a time when state postsecondary policy is increasingly linked to student success, social mobility, and states’ workforce and economic prosperity.

  • The Exceptional Leader Award recipient is Jim Purcell, Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education.
  • The Exceptional Agency Award goes to the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.
  • The David L. Wright Memorial Award recipient is Amanda Klafehn, Chief Strategy Officer at the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

Reflecting on the SHEEO Excellence Awards, Dr. Robert Anderson, SHEEO President, said: “We are honored to recognize the unwavering commitment of our state higher education executive officers, their agencies, and the dedicated professionals who serve within them. Their tireless efforts, innovative thinking, and steadfast resolve play a crucial role in shaping systems that better serve students and advance our nation’s postsecondary landscape. The recipients of this year’s SHEEO Excellence Awards exemplify this mission, and it is a privilege to celebrate their contributions.”

Exceptional Leader Award

The Exceptional Leader Award is presented to a current state higher education executive officer from a member agency who has shown exceptional leadership, a commitment to higher education, a contribution to the greater good, and service to the SHEEO association.

This year’s recipient of the Exceptional Leader Award, Dr. James E. Purcell, is the Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE). Dr. Purcell has dedicated over three decades to public service and higher education leadership. His distinguished career at state-level coordinating and governing higher education boards spans five states – Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Rhode Island, and Alabama. He is the only individual to serve as a SHEEO in four states. He currently holds the longest active tenure among all SHEEOs, with more than 17 years of service under the leadership of governors across the political spectrum. 

Purcell is nationally recognized for championing access, affordability, and alignment between postsecondary education and workforce needs. His leadership has consistently driven performance-based funding reforms and initiatives to improve student outcomes and institutional effectiveness.

Since 2017 in Alabama, Purcell has tripled the state’s need-based aid, significantly increased FAFSA completion among high school seniors, and launched several workforce-focused initiatives for postsecondary undergraduates, including All in Alabama, Retain Alabama, (Re)Engage Alabama, and Recall Alabama. Most recently, he led the development of Pathway to Progress, a 2025 state-funded initiative that aligns workforce training and credentialing efforts with the needs of communities facing sizable economic challenges. 

Purcell’s career is marked by vision, adaptability, and sustained excellence. His leadership has transformed educational systems, expanded students’ opportunities, and established a legacy of bipartisan collaboration and measurable impact on the future of higher education.

“Congratulations to Alabama’s own, Jim Purcell, on being awarded the 2025 SHEEO Exceptional Leader,” said Alabama Governor Kay Ivey. “I applaud him for the work he has done for our state and public higher education. Here in Alabama, we have a variety of exceptional public colleges and universities that I am proud to continually support.”

Amy Price, ACHE Board Chair, said, “Congratulations to Dr. Purcell on this outstanding honor! We could not be more proud of the work he has done on behalf of ACHE in Alabama. Dr. Purcell has built bridges with higher education leaders across our state and has been an advocate for student success at all levels. His work on FASFA completion rates, coupled with his work on expanding dual enrollment, has positively impacted the lives of many Alabamians.”

Exceptional Agency Award

The Exceptional Agency Award is presented to a member agency whose innovative actions, policies, or practices advanced student success in their state; which displayed exceptional governance practices; overcame exceptional challenges; or displayed other meritorious attributes. SHEEO has selected the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (NJ OSHE) as this year’s awardee.

Recent initiatives in New Jersey reflect OSHE’s continued commitment to students, the state’s future workforce, and institutional stability.

Through its Some College, No Degree Initiative, OSHE—together with ReUp Education and 22 partner institutions—has helped more than 11,800 New Jersey residents re-enroll in postsecondary education, with over 1,100 earning their degrees so far. Nearly $5 million has been awarded to campuses to support returning students, cover basic needs, application fees, credit for prior learning assessments, and to support campuses in developing personalized programming and adult-friendly policies for returning learners.

New Jersey is leading the way with its first-in-the-nation Statewide Student Mental Health Partnership, which provides free, 24/7/365 access to teletherapy and wellness services at 45 institutions. More than 18,200 students have registered for the platform, logging over 78,000 counseling sessions—saving students an estimated $2.2 million in out-of-pocket costs. 

To promote institutional sustainability, OSHE launched its Inaugural State-Level Fiscal Monitoring Program, offering a comprehensive review of public higher education finances under new fiscal accountability laws. While no institutions were found to be at imminent risk of closure, the program has encouraged proactive financial planning and long-term stability across the sector, supported by training and a statewide CFO community of practice.

Finally, OSHE continues to expand its Career Accelerator Internship Grant Program, helping students gain early-career experience with New Jersey employers. In summer 2024 alone, the program placed 574 students in paid internships with 133 organizations across key industries. Since 2022, over 1,200 students have benefited from this initiative, with growing interest for 2025.

It is these innovations that make New Jersey a fitting choice for the Exceptional Agency Award.

“Higher education is a cornerstone of New Jersey’s education and workforce continuum,” said Dr. Brian Bridges, New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education. “In recent years, NJ OSHE has worked intentionally with our community colleges and public and private four-year institutions to build an ecosystem rooted in equity and student success, one that proactively reengages stopped-out learners, offers expanded mental health and financial supports, and collaborates effectively. By implementing New Jersey’s first fiscal accountability measures, we’ve also worked to safeguard returns on the investments of students, their families, and the state in higher education. And with a focus on partnerships across education, health, labor, innovation, and economic development, we are creating aligned, scalable strategies that accelerate upward mobility and promote meaningful postsecondary pathways for the benefit of all New Jerseyans.” 

“Under Dr. Bridges’ leadership, NJ OSHE has sought to build and deepen partnerships across higher education sectors, state agencies, and national organizations to ensure more residents are afforded the opportunity to start, stay, and succeed through college and into careers,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. “Higher education is an important part of our vision for a stronger and fairer New Jersey, and this recognition is evidenced in all we have worked to accomplish. By supporting our institutions and learners through increased strategic investments and innovative initiatives, we are better positioned than ever before to create opportunity for communities and ready the workforce needed to fuel our future.” 

“This award is evidence to the fact that New Jersey’s higher education community is strongest when we work together at every level to center the student experience,” said Dr. Michael Avaltroni, Chair of the New Jersey Presidents’ Council. “We have particularly appreciated Secretary Bridges’ thoughtful and collaborative approach to leadership at NJ OSHE, fostering trust and creating space for innovation while working to align institutional goals with state priorities. This has ensured that every student, no matter where they begin, has the opportunity to benefit from a diverse ecosystem that is responsive, coordinated, and deeply committed to their success.” 

David L. Wright Memorial Award

The David L. Wright Memorial Award is named in honor of the late David Wright, an esteemed colleague and leader in state higher education who served in the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, and the Florida Governing Board. This award recognizes a current SHEEO agency staff member from a member agency who embodies the exceptional commitment, work ethic, and ethical practices of David Wright and who has made outstanding contributions to their agency. This year’s David L. Wright Memorial Award is presented to Amanda Klafehn, Chief Strategy Officer at the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC).

Klafehn reflects the wisdom, vibrancy, and thoughtful leadership that David Wright brought to the field of higher education. Her contributions, both visible and behind the scenes, have made a profound difference to Tennessee and the broader SHEEO community.

With nearly nine years at THEC, Klafehn restores trust across sectors by confronting cultural and leadership challenges, owning her mistakes with humility, and championing policies rooted in fairness and evidence. Her candor and courage have improved data quality statewide and fostered an environment where transparency and innovation can thrive.

Klafehn leads the Bureau of Policy, Planning, and Research, which oversees THEC’s data collection, management, reporting, and analytics functions, as well as strategic partnerships for the agency. Through her leadership of THEC’s Fiscal Policy Division, she stewards the state’s Outcomes-Based Funding Formula to allocate approximately $1.7 billion annually to Tennessee’s public institutions. Klafehn is also the architect of THEC’s ambitious data modernization strategy and THEC’s Data Strategy Division, which positions quality information as a cornerstone for effective public policy. Under her guidance, the agency has moved toward more transparent, accessible, and actionable data—benefiting not only state leadership but also the institutions, students, and communities they serve.

Before assuming her current role, Amanda served as Senior Director of Research and Strategy, guided the division through multiple leadership transitions, established partnerships with worldclass research universities to evaluate the state’s merit- and need-based financial aid programs, and streamlined THEC’s analytics to maximize both impact and clarity.

Some of Klafehn’s recent accomplishments include:

  • Spearheading the state’s higher education master plan, a strategic vision for higher education in the state of Tennessee for the next decade.
  • Advanced the sharing of state financial aid data into Tennessee’s statewide longitudinal data system, TN DATA, to facilitate research and evaluation on state financial aid.
  • Initiated THEC’s Data Strategy effort, which led to the establishment of the agency’s first data governance program, a partnership with the Harvard Strategic Data Project, and enhancements to THEC’s data quality, usage, and literacy.
  • Launched the state’s inaugural college-going report, providing critical information about high school college-going patterns and information by student groups, sparking a multi-year campaign to address college-going challenges coming out of the pandemic.  

“I’m incredibly proud that Amanda Klafehn has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the SHEEO David L. Wright Memorial Award,” said Dr. Steven Gentile, Executive Director, Tennessee Higher Education Commission. “From her first day at THEC, Amanda has brought extraordinary care and focus to our mission of advancing opportunities for students, supporting institutions, and strengthening the promise of higher education for all Tennesseans. While this award honors staff from any SHEEO agency, it’s especially meaningful to see someone I trust and respect so deeply carry forward the legacy of David Wright—my former supervisor, colleague, and friend. Tennessee has struck gold once again.”

Jonathon Attridge, Chief Evaluation Officer, Tennessee’s Office of Evidence and Impact, had the following to say, “Amanda Klafehn is one of those rare leaders who not only sees what’s possible but actually brings it to life. Her vision for using data and evidence to strengthen higher education in Tennessee is bold and inspiring—but what truly sets her apart is her ability to make things happen and bring people along with her. She’s collaborative, strategic, and deeply committed to the work. Amanda is incredibly deserving of the David Wright Memorial Award, and I can’t think of anyone better to carry forward his legacy of using data to drive meaningful change.”

During the 2025 Annual Meeting on July 15, SHEEO also recognized outgoing Executive Committee Board Chair Clayton Christian, Commissioner of Higher Education, the Montana University System. 

Learn more about SHEEO Excellence Awards, including past winners: https://sheeo.org/membership/sheeo-awards/. 

SHEEO welcomes Gheesling as new Associate Vice President

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The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) is pleased to welcome Dr. Corey Gheesling to the team. In his role as Associate Vice President, Dr. Gheesling will focus on building SHEEO’s workforce development portfolio to complement and engage state higher education agencies in their continued efforts to meet economic and workforce demands. With a distinguished career in higher education policy and practice, Dr. Gheesling brings expertise in aligning academic systems with evolving workforce needs and fostering cross-sector collaboration.

Dr. Gheesling joins SHEEO from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, where he most recently served as Associate Director for Workforce Development. In that role, he led statewide efforts to align academic programs with economic and workforce development priorities, supported strategic outreach around South Carolina’s Public Agenda for Higher Education—Ascend 60×30—and advanced frameworks for transfer efficiency and credit mobility.

Dr. Gheesling’s previous roles include leading the academic affairs division at the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, where he managed more than $20 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds and chaired a statewide task force on the Future of Work and Higher Education. Dr. Gheesling began his career in education as a social studies teacher and coach before transitioning to higher education as an instructional designer and technologist at Furman University. 

He is a 2025 graduate of the Furman University Riley Institute Diversity Leaders Initiative Fellowship and a former participant in LEAD Tennessee, the state’s executive leadership development program.

Dr. Gheesling holds a doctorate in higher education leadership and policy from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University, a master’s degree in youth development leadership from Clemson University, and a bachelor’s degree in history and sociology with secondary educator certification from Furman University.

Learn more about the SHEEO team at https://sheeo.org/about/sheeo-staff/.

SHEEO welcomes McGuire and Castrejón as State Policy Interns

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The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) is pleased to welcome Adalberto “Beto” Castrejón and Lauren McGuire as State Policy Interns this summer.

Over the next few months, Beto will support SHEEO’s Examining Funding Models for Unintentional Disparities project, including synthesizing curated equitable funding research for state policymakers and highlighting actionable steps SHEEO agencies can take toward analyzing existing higher education funding structures. Lauren will support SHEEO’s Strong Foundations project, where she will analyze the 2025 survey results and share the findings through reports and dashboard developments. Lauren will also support the rural focus of this project by conducting focus groups and analyzing the findings to share with research and data professionals at SHEEO agencies. 

Lauren is a doctoral candidate at North Carolina State University studying educational leadership, policy, and human development. Her research interests include labor organizing in higher education, state policy diffusion and collaboration, civic education, and college access.

Lauren earned her bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from Michigan State University, where she learned the value of research-practice partnerships. She also holds a Master of Public Policy from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development. While at Vanderbilt, she leveraged her data analysis skills to improve academic affairs policies and procedures, in addition to gaining valuable research administration experience.

Beto is currently a doctoral student in the educational policy studies program at UW-Madison, where he is also an Interdisciplinary Training Program in Education Sciences (ITP) Fellow and Education Graduate Research Scholar (Ed-GRS) in the School of Education. He holds a B.A. in business marketing from the University of Northern Iowa and an M.A. in Higher Education and Student Affairs, along with a graduate certificate in Institutional Research and Effectiveness from the University of Iowa.

Beto seeks to promote equity in college preparation, access, and success using quantitative research methods to evaluate policies and programs aimed at enhancing equitable outcomes for historically underserved communities. His research interests have been formed from his identity as a first-generation Mexican American, his professional work in college admissions, and in supporting college student success.

Learn more about the SHEEO team at https://sheeo.org/about/sheeo-staff/.

SHEEO launches national initiative to expand postsecondary education for justice-impacted students

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Five states to join the multi-state learning community

The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) today announced the launch of a new, national initiative aimed at expanding access to quality postsecondary education for justice-impacted students across the United States. The initiative follows the reinstatement of Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated students in July 2023 — a pivotal policy shift opening new doors to educational opportunity.

With support from Ascendium Education Group and in partnership with the Vera Institute for Justice, SHEEO is convening a one-year, multi-state learning community that includes Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Virginia. Through this initiative, states will work to evaluate relevant policies, remove barriers to access, and promote high-quality, workforce-aligned educational experiences for justice-impacted students. The effort will also work to strengthen collaboration among higher education agencies, corrections departments, and other key partners to build equitable pathways for incarcerated learners.

Advancing Postsecondary Success for Justice-Impacted Students will support participating states in:

  • Assessing current prison education program (PEP) policies to identify gaps and opportunities;
  • Streamlining access to postsecondary education for incarcerated learners;
  • Aligning educational offerings with workforce needs to ensure credentials earned in carceral settings have labor market value;
  • And fostering stronger partnerships across sectors to sustain and scale these efforts.

“The return of Pell eligibility opens the door to transformative change in how we support justice-impacted learners,” said John Lane, project lead and Vice President for Academic Affairs at SHEEO. “This initiative will help states evaluate and improve postsecondary opportunities to meet the best interests of justice-impacted students and their state’s workforce landscape.”

For more information about the Advancing Postsecondary Success for Justice-Impacted Students project, visit https://sheeo.org/project/pell-grants-for-prison-education/. 

About SHEEO

The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) serves the chief executives of statewide governing, policy, and coordinating boards of postsecondary education and their staff. Founded in 1954, SHEEO promotes an environment that values higher education and its role in ensuring the equitable education of all Americans, regardless of race/ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic factors. Together with its members, SHEEO aims to achieve this vision by equipping state higher education executive officers and their staffs with the tools to effectively advance the value of higher education, promoting public policies and academic practices that enable all Americans to achieve success in the 21st century, and serving as an advocate for state higher education leadership.

About Vera Institute for Justice

The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. Vera’s headquarters is in Brooklyn, New York, with offices in Washington, DC, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit vera.org.

About Ascendium Education Group

Ascendium Education Group® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization driven by the belief that learning after high school gives people the power to build better futures. Our national philanthropy focuses on increasing opportunities for learners from low-income backgrounds to achieve upward mobility through postsecondary education and workforce training. We partner with organizations whose objectives align with our core strategies to expand opportunity, support learner success, and connect and align systems. Our grantees include postsecondary education and workforce training providers, intermediaries, researchers, and media organizations from across the U.S. To learn more, visit ascendiumphilanthropy.org.

State funding to public colleges sees a minimal increase beyond inflation

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FY24 brought increases in state financial aid, large declines in tuition revenue

The latest State Higher Education Finance (SHEF) report finds that in 2024, public higher education appropriations per full-time equivalent (FTE) increased 0.8% beyond inflation, surpassing pre-COVID-19 pandemic funding levels in 2019 by 17.9%. The SHEF report also finds that public FTE enrollment increased for the first time after 12 consecutive years of declines. Yet fiscal year 2024 marks the largest decline in tuition revenue per FTE since the start of the SHEF dataset in 1980.

After a short recession in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, historical patterns following economic recessions reversed. Instead of the typical decrease in state funding following a recession, education appropriations increased for the 12th straight year, rising $1,774 per FTE from pre-COVID-19 levels. Additionally, inflation-adjusted education appropriations per FTE were greater than pre-recession funding levels in 2008 by 9.0%, or $969 per FTE. The increase in education appropriations per FTE over time can be attributed to three notable trends: increasing state commitments to higher education funding, a sharp decline in FTE enrollment, and generous federal stimulus funding. 

Additional findings from this year’s report include:

  • After 12 straight years of declines, public FTE enrollment increased, reaching 10.4 million in 2024, up 2.9% since 2023. Despite this increase, FTE enrollment was still down 10.8% from an enrollment peak in 2011. Nationally, public institutions have lost all the additional FTE enrollment gained following the Great Recession. 
  • State and local government funding for higher education totaled $139.1 billion in fiscal year 2024, including more than $624.1 million (0.4%) in federal stimulus funding. Inflation-adjusted federal stimulus funding for higher education declined 63.3% from fiscal year 2023.
  • Education appropriations per FTE decreased 3.3% at two-year institutions and increased 1.8% at four-year institutions. Without federal stimulus funding directed by states to higher education, inflation-adjusted education appropriations still would have increased 1.8% from 2023. Although national-level education appropriations have consistently grown since 2019, 22 states continue funding higher education at a lower level than prior to the Great Recession.
  • State public financial aid per FTE increased 4.8% from 2023 to 2024 and reached an all-time high of $1,155 per FTE enrolled student. These funds made up 9.9% of all education appropriations. Financial aid per FTE increased in 31 states in the last year.
  • Inflation-adjusted net tuition revenue decreased 3.7% in 2024 and has declined 8.1% in the last five years. Public institutions received $7,510 per FTE in net tuition and fee revenue in 2024. Public institutions in 40 states and Washington, D.C., collected less tuition revenue than they did five years ago. Decreases in net tuition revenue are largely due to increases in state financial aid and minimal tuition rate growth (lower than the rate of inflation). Despite recent declines, since 1980, net tuition revenue per FTE has increased in every state and has increased by more than 100% in 41 states.
  • Total education revenue decreased 1.0% from 2023 to 2024, reaching $19,092 per FTE. This marks only the second decline since 2013, the other being a 0.2% decrease from 2022 to 2023. Excluding federal stimulus funding, and if enrollment had held constant, total education revenue per FTE would have decreased 5.5% from 2023, but increased 0.5% from 2019. 
  • For the first time since 2010, the U.S. average student share dropped below 40%, decreasing to 39.3% in 2024. Thirty-two states saw declines, but student tuition and fees funding public higher education still comprised more than 50% of total revenues in 19 states. Continued increases in education appropriations and declines in net tuition revenue have reduced the proportion of total revenue financed by students. 

As these findings demonstrate, fiscal year 2024 showed only small growth in education appropriations and the first increase in FTE enrollment since 2011. The continued decline in net tuition revenue puts greater pressure on states to continue investing in public higher education in the coming years. As federal stimulus funds run out, some states may face difficult budgetary decisions.

“We are encouraged by the recent increase in enrollment and the impactful increase in state financial aid investments. With uncertainty on the horizon for federal and state budgets alike, we know states will be under greater pressure to fund higher education,” said SHEEO President Robert E. Anderson. “While each state is facing its own unique circumstances, we hope lawmakers will continue to view public higher education as an investment in their state’s future workforce.” 

The SHEF report broadly addresses the wide variation in how states fund public higher education. However, state-specific context is incredibly important when discussing higher education finance trends. “The trends detailed in the SHEF report reflect national and state averages, but there are almost always outliers in every trend. Even within states, there can be wide variation in the enrollment and revenue patterns at each institution,” said Kelsey Kunkle, Senior Policy Analyst at SHEEO and co-author of the report. “Nationally, 2024 showed slow growth, reinforcing the need for long-term, sustained investments as states explore new or different ways to address college affordability, educational quality, and inequality in educational attainment.”

The full SHEF report paints a more complete picture of differences in public higher education finance across states.

Explore the SHEF website to read the full report and customize the interactive data visualizations, including individual state profiles. Look for more data from SHEF to be added to the website in the coming months. 

Registration Now Open for the 2025 Higher Education Policy Conference

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The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) is pleased to host the 2025 Higher Education Policy Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 11-14, 2025, at the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel – The Depot. Registration is now open.

The annual Policy Conference is the preeminent gathering of leaders from the state higher education policy agencies, national higher education policy organizations, institutions, and state and federal governments. 

Look for the full conference agenda to be made available in the coming weeks. Register now through July 1 to take advantage of early bird pricing. Don’t forget to book your hotel!

We look forward to seeing you in Minneapolis!

SHEEO and Student-Ready Strategies Partner to Improve Student Success

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The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) and Student-Ready Strategies (SRS) are proud to announce the launch of a new initiative to improve student success through structural change on college campuses. Over the next three years, state higher education agencies from Nevada and Washington will participate in Constellation of Support: A Capacity-Building Approach to Institutional Change. 

This innovative initiative aims to tackle institutional capacity constraints that limit progress in student success. Participating states will lead cohorts of institutions in implementing high-impact, evidence-based strategies designed to improve student retention and completion.

“It is clear that colleges and universities want to transform their policies and structures to ensure student success, but they need more support. These states and institutions will be pioneers in an innovative effort to tackle capacity constraints and change how institutions change,” said Sarah Ancel, Founder and CEO of Student-Ready Strategies.

Through expert coaching, targeted workshops, and SRS’s Constellation platform, participating institutions will receive comprehensive support to implement a specific student success strategy at scale. Each institution will also receive a $20,000 capacity-building sub-grant to support their work.

This initiative builds upon both organizations’ longstanding commitment to helping states and institutions enhance student success. Nevada and Washington will focus on scaling the practice of access and affordability through Credit for Prior Learning (CPL).

The initiative also includes direct technical assistance for state agencies, including policy and process reviews to ensure alignment with institutional goals, maximizing the potential for long-term, system-level change.

“This partnership reinforces our shared commitment to ensuring institutions are ready for students—not the other way around,” said John Lane, SHEEO Vice President for Academic Affairs & Equity Initiatives. “We’re excited to support bold, statewide action that strengthens capacity for student success and provides a scalable model other states can use for structured change.”

Over the next three years, SHEEO and SRS will capture key learnings and promising practices, culminating in a public report to inform state and national efforts.

Learn more about the Constellation of Support initiative at sheeo.org/project/constellation-of-support/. 

About SHEEO 

The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) serves the chief executives of statewide governing, policy, and coordinating boards of postsecondary education and their staffs. Founded in 1954, SHEEO promotes an environment that values higher education and its role in ensuring the equitable education of all Americans, regardless of race/ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic factors. Together with its members, SHEEO aims to achieve this vision by equipping state higher education executive officers and their staffs with the tools to effectively advance the value of higher education, promoting public policies and academic practices that enable all Americans to achieve success in the 21st century, and serving as an advocate for state higher education leadership. For more information, visit sheeo.org. 

About SRS

Student-Ready Strategies (SRS) is a mission-driven technical assistance and capacity-building organization that partners with higher education institutions, systems, and organizations to design and implement student-centered policies and practices. With a focus on institutional transformation, SRS helps leaders move beyond one-size-fits-all solutions to implement sustainable, student-centered change. Through capacity support, student-ready training, research and thought leadership, and innovative tools like Constellation, SRS supports institutions in removing barriers to student success and fostering environments where all learners can thrive. For more information, visit studentreadystrategies.com.

SHEEO seeks nominations for David L. Wright Memorial Award

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The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) is excited to announce the eighth annual SHEEO Excellence Awards program to recognize the leadership, dedication, and innovation of exceptional SHEEOs, agency staff, and agencies. 

We are currently seeking nominations for:

The David L. Wright Memorial Award – named in honor of the late David Wright, an esteemed colleague and leader in state higher education, who served in the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, and the Florida Governing Board. This award recognizes a current SHEEO agency staff member, from a member agency, who embodies the exceptional commitment, work ethic, and ethical practices of David Wright, and who has made outstanding contributions to their agency. 

We are thrilled to have the opportunity to recognize the excellent work of our members and are eager to receive your nominations. Nominations are due by Friday, April 18, 2025. 

Learn more about the process and find the nomination form at https://bit.ly/sheeoawards25.

Any questions can be directed to Jessica Duren at jduren@sheeo.org.

Statement from SHEEO President Rob Anderson on Executive Order to Close the U.S. Department of Education

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Today’s executive order to close the U.S. Department of Education, along with sweeping workforce reductions at the U.S. Department of Education—including substantial layoffs at the National Center for Education Statistics, the Office for Civil Rights, and Federal Student Aid—have great cause for concern. 

We recognize the uncertainty these policy changes have for higher education leaders, educators, and students across the country. Simultaneously, we emphasize: 

  • The closure of the U.S. Department of Education is not legal without an act of Congress. 
  • Any restructuring or reassignment of duties to other federal agencies requires compliance with federal statutes and regulations.

As the administration pursues far-reaching policy changes, it must prioritize effectiveness, compliance, and continuity in implementing programs and services that serve millions of students nationwide. We urge the administration and Congress to consider capacity constraints, anticipate possible disruptions to students and other stakeholders, and actively engage with the higher education community. 

Higher education is a shared responsibility between the states and the federal government, and SHEEO will continue to work with policymakers to represent the needs and concerns of our members. With our members and partner organizations, we will advocate for federal policy initiatives that bolster support for student success and workforce alignment. We will not shy away from promoting an environment that values higher education and its vital role in ensuring educational opportunities for all Americans. 

SHEEO seeks Associate Vice President to strengthen workforce connection

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About the position:

SHEEO is looking for an Associate Vice President to lead policy analysis, research, and project management on initiatives that strengthen the connection between higher education, workforce needs, and state economic development. Your work will focus on key higher education policy areas, including postsecondary attainment, student success, and workforce development, ensuring that state postsecondary agencies are responsive to labor market demands and contribute to state economic vitality. This position will report to the Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff. The Associate Vice President will collaborate with state agencies, policymakers, and institutional leaders to develop strategies that align education pathways with workforce opportunities, improve student career outcomes, and support state economic development objectives. Key responsibilities include managing projects that advance workforce-aligned higher education policies, conducting research and policy analysis on postsecondary education and labor market trends, developing publications, presentations, and learning experiences to inform stakeholders, collaborating with partners and funders, contributing to annual conference planning, and providing support to our members across the country.  

The successful candidate will have expertise in higher education policy, workforce development, and economic strategy. This role offers an opportunity to contribute to the development of successful education-to-career pathways and strengthen state-level policy responses to workforce needs.    

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Provide project, grants management, administrative, and logistical support to keep projects on track and ensure deadlines are met.
  • Conduct policy analysis and research on higher education and workforce alignment.
  • Produce reports, papers, and presentations to disseminate analysis and research to key stakeholders. 
  • Represent SHEEO at, and assist in planning and conducting, state, regional, and national meetings.
  • Provide thought leadership and subject matter expertise on the intersections between state and federal higher education, labor, and commerce policies.
  • Build and maintain collaborative relationships with SHEEO member agencies and partner organizations. 
  • Develop new opportunities for funded projects and build and maintain relationships with funders.
  • Respond to information requests from SHEEO members. 
  • Develop and maintain knowledge regarding current activities and future trends in public higher education.

Qualifications, Skills, and Experiences

We’re looking for a combination of the following qualifications, skills, and experiences:

  • A master’s degree in higher education, public policy, economics, workforce development, or a related field.
  • At least seven years of experience in a role with expanding responsibilities in a similar field. 
  • Leadership experience in a policy organization, government agency, higher education system, or nonprofit organization.
  • Experience developing and implementing statewide or national policies related to higher education and workforce alignment.
  • Experience collaborating with state agencies, policymakers, and business leaders. 
  • Demonstrated ability or potential to obtain outside funding for special projects.
  • Knowledge of or experience with SHEEO agencies.
  • Knowledge of or experience with partner agencies, organizations, and foundations.  
  • A passion for advancing educational and economic opportunity.

Travel: 

With offices in two locations and members across the country, the Associate Vice President will be required to participate in periodic overnight, out-of-state travel.

Salary and Benefits: 

Salary will be commensurate with the successful candidate’s level of education and experience, with a potential range of $100,00-$120,000. SHEEO is committed to supporting our staff’s physical, emotional, and financial well-being and, therefore, offers a comprehensive benefits package for you and eligible dependents. The benefits include a 10% contribution to employees’ retirement plans, 22 days of annual vacation, and 11 paid holidays in addition to the workdays between December 25 and January 1, and subsidized (i.e., 85% paid) health premiums. SHEEO also offers support for employee cost of attendance at professional meetings and for short-term courses related to an employee’s work responsibilities.  

Application Process:

The application deadline for this position has passed.