CPE President Thompson named to SHEEO executive committee

October 08, 2020

President Aaron Thompson, head of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, has been appointed to the executive committee of the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO), a national advocacy group focused on higher education policy.

The executive committee is responsible for shaping SHEEO's federal priorities and strategies and leading its communications with Congress, the U.S. Department of Education and other federal agencies.

"Higher education is facing one of the most challenging times in memory, and I'm thankful for this opportunity to help move us toward a more innovative and equitable future," Thompson said. "SHEEO is driving progress on many of our most critical issues – areas like financing, attainment and diversity – and I'm looking forward to working with such a distinguished group of leaders from across the nation."

SHEEO serves as the national association of the chief executives of statewide governing boards and coordinating boards for postsecondary education. It works to assist members and states in developing and sustaining excellent systems of higher education.

"We are excited to have Dr. Thompson join SHEEO's executive committee," said the group's president, Robert E. Anderson. "His vast experience at both the campus and state level will benefit our nation as we strive to make postsecondary education more affordable and equitable."

During Thompson's tenure, he has focused on an ambitious goal to raise educational attainment from 45% of working-age Kentuckians to 60% by the year 2030, helping improve economic opportunity and meet the state's workforce needs.

His priorities include building a broad understanding that higher education is key to personal opportunity and economic growth and ensuring that more students earn degrees or certificates regardless of race, income, age or geography. Thompson has also sought to preserve college affordability and improve instruction on essential workforce skills.

Learn more about the return on investment of higher education: http://cpe.ky.gov/kyhigheredmatters/index.html.