SHEEO launches national coalition of 20 states and territories to scale Work-Based Learning & Quality Coaching

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Eight states to participate in an intensive learning community

The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) is pleased to welcome a 20-state coalition participating in Advancing State and Systems Strategies for Work-Based Learning, a national, multi-state initiative designed to help states build sustainable, scalable approaches to work-based learning experiences and quality education-to-career coaching.

Significant interest in this initiative reflects growing demand among states to strengthen the connection between education and employment and to ensure that more students have access to the guidance, information, and experiences they need to translate education into meaningful career outcomes.

“State higher education agencies are uniquely positioned to help institutions expand access to high-quality work-based learning,” said John Lane, SHEEO Vice President for Academic Affairs. “By strengthening the connection between education and career pathways, states can help more students engage in meaningful learning experiences and improve outcomes, especially for students who face barriers to high-quality apprenticeships, internships, and additional work-based learning experiences.”

SHEEO’s Advancing State and Systems Strategies for Work-Based Learning project is supported by philanthropic grants from the Strada Education Foundation, JPMorganChase, and Ascendium Education Group.

Connecting work-based learning with quality coaching

Work-based learning (WBL) can help close gaps between education and workforce readiness. Learners who complete at least one internship are 48.5% less likely to be underemployed after graduation than peers who have no internships. Still, many states find that policies and practices are lacking to advance high-quality WBL across disciplines, institutional sectors, and regions at scale. Effective education-to-career guidance, known as quality coaching, helps students understand their talents and interests, provides access to timely and actionable labor market information, and uses education and employment outcomes data to help students understand which pathways are most likely to lead to their goals.

One coalition, differentiated support

Eight of the 20 states and territories were identified to participate in an intensive learning community and will receive structured assessment, individualized technical assistance and coaching, peer learning, and support in developing and advancing state-specific policy agendas.

Participants in the learning community include California, Hawai‘i, Indiana, Louisiana, New York, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, and Rhode Island. SHEEO will support states in assessing their experiential learning and advising ecosystems, developing coherent and durable policy agendas, and advancing sustainable models that improve student persistence, completion, and postsecondary career outcomes. Those participating in the learning community will receive research-backed guidance and tools needed to advance lasting reforms that center on students, their programs of study and career aspirations, and institutional missions in education-to-career guidance that leads to quality experiential learning.

Due to the significant interest in quality work-based learning strategies, SHEEO is welcoming 12 additional partner states to participate in a broader coalition, including Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington. Partner states will attend an in-person convening, monthly webinars, and receive technical assistance in WBL and education-to-career guidance strategies.

“Work-based learning is one of the most powerful tools for career success, yet a majority of students lack access to paid opportunities,” said Laura Love, Strada Senior Vice President of Work-Based Learning. “This national coalition will help state leaders bring proven strategies to scale, ultimately strengthening outcomes for students, employers, and regional economies.”

“The extraordinary response from states sends a powerful signal: there is real momentum to ensure that education leads to opportunity,” said Craig Robinson, Strada Senior Vice President of Quality Coaching. “States increasingly recognize that work-based learning, quality coaching, labor market information, and outcomes data cannot operate as separate strategies. This coalition creates undeniable momentum to improve opportunities for millions of learners.”

“This 20-state coalition represents the significant interest we’ve seen year after year in workforce alignment policies and practices to advance student success before and after graduation,” said Rob Anderson, SHEEO President. “We’re grateful to collaborate with states and our philanthropic partners on strategies vital to sustaining and scaling transformative opportunities.”

Learn more about this project at https://sheeo.org/project/work-based-learning-quality-coaching/.

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 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.