News

July 27, 2026

SHEEO welcomes two new policy staff – Cuellarsola and Walker

The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) recently welcomed two new staff members to support state policy initiatives to help advance student success and strengthen postsecondary systems. Lily Cuellarsola joined SHEEO as a Senior Policy Analyst on July 20, while Joshua Walker joined as a Policy Analyst on July 27. Lily will support SHEEO’s policy initiatives and projects in basic needs data, academic programs, and student success. Before SHEEO, Lily…

SHEEO Announces 2026 Excellence Awards Recipients

Montana, Rhode Island, Utah recognized WASHINGTON – The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) is pleased to announce recipients of the 2026 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 Clayton Christian, Commissioner of…

Sachith Patabendi joins SHEEO as new Executive Assistant/Operations Manager

The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) is pleased to welcome Sachith Patabendi to the team. Sachith joined the SHEEO staff as Executive Assistant and Operations Manager earlier this week. In this role, Sachith will manage the daily operations of the organization and the Washington, D.C. office. He will focus on supporting the SHEEO staff, streamlining organizational workflows, managing complex scheduling, assisting with SHEEO events, and ensuring the office…

SHEEO welcomes State Policy Interns

The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) is pleased to welcome two State Policy Interns for the summer. Mya Haynes and Jaden Mikoulinskii joined SHEEO’s team this week. Over the next few months, Mya Haynes will support SHEEO’s Holistic Advising for Student Success project, including analyzing baseline assessments of seven states’ advising ecosystems and identifying research on best practices at the state level. Jaden Mikoulinskii will aid SHEEO’s efforts in creating…

Early Bird Registration Now Open for 2026 Higher Education Policy Conference

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