SHEEO launches national initiative to expand holistic advising for student success

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Seven state teams to participate

The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) today announced the launch of a new, two-year national initiative designed to strengthen state leadership in building research-based advising systems that support all students. Holistic Advising for Student Success will engage seven participating states—Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, South Carolina, and Washington—in a sequenced program of assessment, coaching, and in-person collaboration.

Despite strong evidence that proactive, relationship-centered advising improves retention, accelerates completion, and enhances student success, advising systems across the country remain fragmented—often split among academic planning, financial aid, basic needs, and career pathways. This fragmentation can slow student momentum, especially for learners who are furthest from opportunity. State leadership is essential to bridge these gaps and align funding, data systems, accountability measures, and expectations to enable institutions to implement holistic advising at scale.

Supported by generous funding from ECMC Foundation and in partnership with MDRC, a nonpartisan research and policy organization, SHEEO will lead a two-year, multi-state learning community focused on strengthening advising ecosystems through evidence-based strategies, policy design, and cross-sector collaboration. Participating states will receive individualized technical assistance, coaching, and access to peer learning opportunities to assess their current advising landscapes, identify policy levers for reform, and advance durable models that center students and their full range of needs. 

“This learning community recognizes that advising is not just an academic function but is a critical driver of student belonging and success,” said John Lane, Vice President for Academic Affairs at SHEEO. “By equipping states with the tools and partnerships needed to align advising across systems, we can ensure every student receives coordinated support from enrollment to completion.” 

Dr. Alex Mayer, Director of MDRC’s Postsecondary Education Policy Area at MDRC, adds, “Holistic advising is at the heart of the most effective student success strategies in higher education. We’re excited to be part of this ambitious initiative to help states use rigorous evidence to enhance and strengthen their advising strategies to help more students succeed.”

State teams will develop policy agendas to scale holistic advising statewide and ensure lasting improvements in student persistence, completion, and postsecondary attainment.

For more information about the Holistic Advising for Student Success project, visit https://sheeo.org/project/holistic-advising-for-student-success/. 

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 MDRC

MDRC was founded in 1974 on the idea that high-quality research and evidence can play a vital role in reducing poverty and expanding opportunity in the United States. A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, MDRC conducts rigorous studies of programs and policies that affect people with low incomes, actively disseminates the lessons to policymakers and practitioners, and works directly with programs and agencies to help improve their effectiveness and efficiency.

New Grapevine Data Shows Softening State Support for Higher Education in FY 2026

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The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) today released the latest Grapevine data, providing an initial look at state support for higher education in Fiscal Year 2026. The latest findings reveal that state support reached $133.1 billion, an increase of 1.0% over Fiscal Year 2025.[1] This represents the smallest year-over-year increase in Grapevine reporting since 2021, when state support increased by 0.6%. Between Fiscal Years 2022 and 2025, year-over-year changes averaged 7.8%. The latest 1.0% increase represents the fourteenth straight year of non-inflation adjusted increases in state support for higher education. 

Key findings from the FY 2026 tables include:

  • Slowing Growth in State Support. Between FY22 and FY25, state support increased nominally by at least 6.7% each year, mirroring strong state revenue growth coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 1.0% increase in FY26 mirrors the less robust tax revenue growth states have experienced lately.
  • State Level Differences. While 33 states reported increases in state support, ranging from 12.1% in Montana to 0.1% in Florida, 17 states and Washington, D.C., reported decreases in state support, ranging from -13.6% in Arizona to -1.6% in North Carolina. Seven states reported reductions in higher education support of 5.0% or more, while only five states reported increases of the same caliber.
  • Improvement in State Effort. Due to robust increases in state support, buoyed by federal stimulus funding coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, state effort to support higher education increased over the last five years. State support per $1,000 of personal income increased 5.3% from $4.86 in FY21 to $5.12 in FY26. However, state support per $1,000 of personal income has not kept pace with recent income growth, as the $5.12 reported in 2026 is 3.9% below 2025 and 3.2% below 2024. State support per capita increased nearly 32% between 2021 and 2026. The $390 in state support per capita nationally was 0.5% higher than 2025 and 6.0% higher than 2024. 
  • Uses of State Support: Of the total state support in FY 2026, 47.6% was allocated to operational support at public four-year institutions, while 20.9% supported operations at public two-year institutions. Financial aid accounted for 12.9% of state support, research, agriculture, and medical appropriations accounted for 10.8%, and an additional 7.8% was appropriated for other uses, which could include non-credit and continuing education appropriations or operational support to independent institutions and/or state agencies.

The full Grapevine report, including tables summarizing the results of the FY 2026 Grapevine survey, can be found on the SHEEO State Higher Education Finance (SHEF) website at https://shef.sheeo.org/grapevine. 

[1] Grapevine values are not adjusted for inflation. While actual inflation data are not available for fiscal year 2026, data for the first 6-months of most states’ fiscal years (July – December) show inflation increases between 2.7% and 3.0%. https://www.bls.gov/charts/consumer-price-index/consumer-price-index-by-category-line-chart.htm

About Grapevine

Since 1961, the Grapevine report has provided the earliest look at state support for higher education in the current fiscal year. Grapevine provides initial data on state tax support for higher education, including general fund appropriations for universities, colleges, community colleges, and state higher education agencies. Prior year data are revised and updated with each data collection as final appropriations become available. Grapevine data are presented in their raw form; they are not adjusted for inflation or any other measures. 

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 staff 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.

Now Hiring – State Policy Summer Interns

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SHEEO seeks candidates for two paid internships for the summer of 2026. We are looking for candidates who are motivated, active learners interested in higher education policy, state governance, and policy analysis. This internship is appropriate for students pursuing a career in higher education, public policy, public administration, and related fields. Your work will center on policy areas that may include college attainment, student success, data systems, workforce development, or higher education finance. Interns will work toward achieving professional goals alongside a talented SHEEO team.

This year, interns will be primarily working on one of the following SHEEO projects: A) advancing holistic advising for student success by using research and evidence to support states in developing policy agendas that improve student persistence, completion, and postsecondary attainment, or B) creating a database of governance structures and conducting research into effective governance functions. Interns will have the opportunity to work on other projects as workload permits.

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Create and maintain state policy and news inventories. 
  • Curate unique data sources for analysis. 
  • Perform data analysis and discover trends to support publications. 
  • Assist with active survey administration. 
  • Generate and review website content. 
  • Contribute to meeting agenda planning. 
  • Design and build data visualizations. 
  • Draft various publications (e.g., blog posts, social media content, reports). 
  • Complete an independent project using SHEEO resources. 
  • Attend and assist SHEEO staff with our annual Higher Education Policy Conference.

The internship duration is flexible and will last for approximately 12 weeks, beginning in late May or early June. Interns may work remotely or on a hybrid schedule in our Boulder, Colorado, or Washington, D.C., office. Interns are invited to the Washington, D.C. office at the beginning of the internship. Toward the end of the internship period, interns are additionally invited to attend and help host the SHEEO Higher Education Policy Conference in Chicago, which will be held from August 3-6, 2026. Travel and lodging will be provided and/or reimbursed by SHEEO. Interns are expected to work a minimum of 30 hours per week, with schedules determined by mutual arrangement. Working schedules can be flexible, but should overlap with standard business hours. This internship is paid at $23 per hour. 

SHEEO encourages applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.

Application Process:

The application deadline is March 8, 2026. Please apply through this website and include the following:

  1. A cover letter addressing:
    • Which SHEEO priorities are most interesting to you?
    • Any previous class, work, and/or outside research projects related to higher education policy.
  2. A resume or curriculum vitae.
  3. Names and contact information of three professional references. (References will not be contacted until you have given permission for us to do so.)

Application reviews begin immediately following the deadline. Successful candidates will be contacted for an interview in March, and decisions will be made by the end of April.

Learn more about this position and how to apply at https://bit.ly/SHEEOintern26.

Now Hiring – SHEEO Administrative Coordinator

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SHEEO is seeking an Administrative Coordinator to support our staff, members, and national convenings. Reporting to the Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff, this role is central to keeping the organization running smoothly day-to-day and to ensuring a high-quality experience for SHEEO members and partners. 

This position is ideal for someone who enjoys being at the center of operations – coordinating logistics, supporting colleagues, managing details, and serving as a reliable, professional point of contact for members. You will work across teams, interact regularly with senior leaders and external partners, and play a key role in creating a welcoming, well-organized workplace. 

What you’ll do:

Support Staff and Organizational Operations:

  • Provide administrative support across the organization, including scheduling, light research, drafting and distributing agendas and correspondence, maintaining lists and databases, and coordinating projects.    
  • Ensure consistent administrative processes and communication for staff working across two physical office locations and fully remote team members. 
  • Communicate clearly and professionally with staff, members, and external partners. 
  • Anticipate needs and follow through on tasks with accuracy and attention to detail. 
  • Oversee day-to-day office operations, including supplies, inventory, vendor relationships, and coordination with building management. 
  • Help maintain an organized, functional physical workspace (light lifting may be required). 
  • Assist with recruitment and onboarding logistics, including posting positions, managing applicant communications, scheduling interviews, and coordinating onboarding activities.

Location and Travel: 

This position is based in Washington, D.C., and is eligible for a hybrid remote/in-office work schedule. Occasional national travel is required to support meetings and events.

Application Process:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a priority deadline of February 18, 2026.

Learn more about this job opening and how to apply here.

Solicitation for Session Proposals for 2026 Higher Education Policy Conference

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The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) is pleased to host the 2026 Higher Education Policy Conference in Chicago, Illinois, August 3-6.  

The annual Policy Conference is the preeminent gathering of leaders from state higher education policy agencies, national higher education policy organizations, institutions, and state and federal governments. SHEEO seeks timely, thought-provoking proposals for sessions aligned with our organizational vision to promote an environment that values higher education and its role in ensuring educational opportunity for all. Proposals are due February 27, 2026.

SHEEO invites proposals that consider:

  • Promoting the value of higher education
  • Workforce alignment and economic development
  • Communications, advocacy, and government relations
  • Effective use of postsecondary data systems
  • Educational opportunity and student success
  • Enrollment and demographic trends
  • Higher education finance and financial aid
  • Student affordability and student loan debt
  • Postsecondary education alignment with K-12
  • Mitigating disparities in access, persistence, or completion
  • Strategic planning and accountability
  • Other topics of interest to state higher education leaders.

Developing a Proposal

SHEEO encourages the submission of proposals for sessions that will bring together perspectives from multiple SHEEO agencies, states, and organizations. Most available sessions will be 45 minutes in length. We encourage a diverse selection of speakers and welcome a wide range of ideological perspectives. 

Proposals must include: 

  • Name, title, agency/institution, email address, biography (100-word limit), and headshot of each member of the proposed session. If selected, this information will be used on our Conference website. 
  • No more than four speakers per session.
  • A brief description of your proposal (1,000-word limit), including:
    • Purpose and topic
    • The type of content to be presented, such as:
      • A report on an innovative approach to policy, practice, finance, and/or data use
      • Original research 
      • A summary of existing knowledge 
      • Best practices 
    • Why the topic is important to current policy discussions
  • Proposed session title (100-character limit) and session description (2,500-character limit)
  • Intended audience (100-word limit) 
  • Participant goals and hoped-for outcomes (400-word limit)

Submitting a proposal and other important information

  • Please submit your proposal by uploading all relevant documents to the proposal website: https://bit.ly/PC26Proposals
  • There will be no compensation for traveling to, or speaking at, the event. 
  • Paid conference attendance is required of all session speakers. 
  • If you are proposing a panel, all program determinations will be communicated directly to the submitter. The submitter is responsible for communicating all status updates to panelists and for collecting and submitting complete and accurate speaker information, including biographies and headshots, to SHEEO by the deadline specified at the time of acceptance. 
  • Proposals are being solicited from SHEEO members, member agencies, nonmembers, and the broader higher education community. 
  • SHEEO reserves the right to edit or make changes to proposed session titles, descriptions, modes of presentation, panels, and moderators. Changes will be communicated with submitter.
  • Incomplete submissions will not be considered. 

Questions may be directed to Alicia Engels at aengels@sheeo.org. 

Learn more and submit your proposal at https://bit.ly/PC26Proposals.

Economic and workforce development, college affordability, top policy priorities for 2026 

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State higher education leaders across the country are balancing a wide array of policy priorities and concerns going into 2026. The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) asked its members to identify their top policy issues for the new year in a survey distributed to chief executive officers in November 2025. States face a multitude of higher education policy issues, with some topics consistently among the top priorities each year, while others represent emerging public policy concerns driven by the current higher education landscape. SHEEO’s report details the top 10 state policy priorities for 2026, with two additional issues noted as honorary mentions.

Economic and workforce development rose to the top priority, moving from number two in 2025. Ninety-seven percent of respondents identified economic and workforce development as important or very important. As the number one state higher education policy issue on average for four years, its status reinforces the longstanding value of workforce alignment between higher education and career readiness. Among the opportunities for states to address economic and workforce development this year is the expansion of Pell Grant eligibility to short-term job training programs through Workforce Pell. In addition, states have been taking action to implement a range of initiatives to address future labor market demands, including introducing key legislation to help higher education agencies work more closely with state workforce agencies, prioritizing financial aid to support high-need programs, exploring standardizing microcredentials, and aligning academic planning with state workforce needs.

College affordability jumped up to the second-most important policy issue, from sixth-most important last year. States have long served as a primary role in ensuring affordable postsecondary opportunities through the provision of operating support that enables public institutions to charge lower tuition rates, and through targeted financial aid programs. Both sources of support have remained steady or increased in recent years, resulting in lower net costs of attendance for students. 

Rounding out the top five priorities for higher education leaders are (3) higher education’s value proposition (return on investment), (4) state operating support for public colleges and universities, and (5) college completion and student success. All top five issues ranked within the top 10 in 2025. Other issues in the top 10 include (6) state impacts from federal policy changes, (7) state funding for financial aid programs, (8) retaining college graduates (“brain drain”), (9) student transfer pathways, and (10) dual enrollment, early college, and/or other K-12 connections. Honorable mentions include public perception of higher education, and the effective use of state data/data systems. 

“2026 holds a lot of unknowns as we look to see what state legislators will prioritize and how changes at the federal level will impact states,” said Tom Harnisch, SHEEO’s Vice President for Government Relations. “Economic and workforce development continues to be top of mind – and with the implementation of Workforce Pell rolling out later this year, we’re optimistic that states will continue to make advances in addressing workforce needs.”

This year, SHEEO added four new policy issues – state impacts from federal policy changes; and dual enrollment, early college, and/or other K-12 connections – both of which ranked in the top 10 – and proactive, guaranteed, and/or direct admissions; and academic program planning and/or review – which ranked 19th and 20th, respectively. Four issues were dropped for the 2026 survey – artificial intelligence; effects of inflation on costs of goods and services; faculty supply, salaries, and/or quality; and academic freedom. The full State Priorities for Higher Education in 2026 report can be found at https://bit.ly/Policy-Issue-Survey26.

SHEEO welcomes Mayfield as new Senior Policy Analyst

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The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) welcomed Dr. Stephen Mayfield to the team earlier this week. In his role as Senior Policy Analyst, Dr. Mayfield will focus on supporting SHEEO’s research and policy initiatives, with a focus on state postsecondary data systems, noncredit mobility, and student basic needs.

Dr. Mayfield most recently served as a Research Education Analyst at RTI International, where he worked on analytic tasks for the U. S. Department of Education’s major postsecondary studies, including the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS), and the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS). Dr. Mayfield led teams contributing to federal reports such as the Condition of Education and the Digest of Education Statistics, and conducted research on the nation’s college and university landscape for the National Science Foundation. 

Earlier in his career, Dr. Mayfield directed institutional research efforts at Gwinnett Technical College and served as Assistant Director of Foundation Relations at Georgia Gwinnett College.

Dr. Mayfield holds a Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree in international economics and modern languages from Georgia State University.

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

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/.