Scholarship America® Taps Leading Higher Education Expert as Board Chair
Published May 15, 2014
Minneapolis, Minn., Oct. 24, 2006—Scholarship America®, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit, privatesector scholarship and educational support organizations, announced today that higher education expert Jamie Merisotis will assume the role of board chair. Merisotis is the founder and president of the Institute for Higher Education Policy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization whose mission is to foster access and success in postsecondary education around the world. A leading authority on college and university financing, Merisotis will use his experience and expertise in higher education as the new chair of the board for Scholarship America.
“Increasingly, American families are strained to afford a higher education for their children, but higher education is essential for our country to remain competitive in the global economy,” said Merisotis. “This is a critical issue facing our country. I’m pleased to be a part of an organization whose mission is to help students realize their higher education dreams.”
As chair, Merisotis will assist Scholarship America in expanding access to education by involving and assisting communities, corporations, foundations, organizations and individuals in the support of students. He also will serve the organization as it focuses significant energy in the coming years on supporting students who are traditionally underserved and prepares for its 50th anniversary.
Merisotis has served as president of The Institute for Higher Education Policy since he founded the organization in 1993. He is recognized as a leading authority on college and university financing, particularly student financial aid, and he has published major studies and reports on topics ranging from higher education ranking systems to technology-based learning. Much of his work is focused on improving access to higher education for low-income, minority and other historically underrepresented populations. Previously, Merisotis served as executive director of the National Commission on Responsibilities for Financing Postsecondary Education, where he authored the Commission’s influential report, Making College Affordable Again. He is extensively published in the higher education field as an author and editor of several books and a frequent contributor to major magazines, journals and newspapers.
