Dayton Appoints Dr. Wright to Midwestern Higher Education Compact

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3/31/2011

 

Contact: Sandy Connolly, Director of Communications
Office of Higher Education
(651) 259-3902

St. Paul, MN - Governor Mark Dayton has appointed Dr. Sheila Wright, Director of the Office of Higher Education, to the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC), one of four interstate compacts in the nation devoted to improving the quality of higher education in its region.

Dr. Wright was appointed Director of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education by Governor Dayton in January 2011. Prior to this, she served as a professor and dean in the School of Education at Hamline University.

"Dr. Wright will be an outstanding representative of Minnesota on the Midwestern Higher Education Compact," said Governor Dayton. "Her leadership will assist the Compact in fulfilling its important mission to improve the quality of higher education throughout the Midwestern Region."

Dr. Wright has dedicated her career in education to addressing the crucial issues of teacher quality and the achievement gap, working in P-12 and higher education, as well as in state government and non-profit organizations. She is widely respected as an innovator in the areas of faculty governance, assessment, general education, tenure, diversity, and community partnerships.

"I want to thank Governor Dayton for the honor of serving on this important collaborative team," said Dr. Wright. "The future strength of higher education in Minnesota will be enhanced by the combined efforts of education professionals across our region."

Since 1992, MHEC has undertaken several initiatives designed to increase productivity, reduce administrative costs and increase student access to higher education. With headquarters located in Minneapolis, MHEC is comprised of two commissioners from each of its member states: Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

"I look forward to working with the other members of this compact on expanding access to higher education, reducing costs, and meeting the challenge of creating the necessary jobs of the future," said Dr. Wright.