Gina M. Raimondo • Governor of Rhode Island • Chair

Connecticut

Andrea Comer • Vice President, Workforce Strategies • Connecticut Business & Industry Association
Freddy Cruz • Student • Eastern Connecticut State University
Maura Dunn • Vice President of Human Resources & Administration • Electric Boat
Mae Flexer • Representative • Connecticut General Assembly
Tyler Mack • Student • Eastern Connecticut State University
Elsa Núñez
• President • Eastern Connecticut State University
Mark Ojakian • President • Connecticut State Colleges and Universities
Jennifer Widness • President • Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges
Jeffrey Wihbey • Assistant Superintendent • Connecticut Technical High School System


Maine

Margaret Harvey • State Director of Career and Technical Education • Maine Department of Education
Laurie Lachance • President • Thomas College
Desirae LeBlanc • Student • University of New England
Cary Olson-Cartwright • Director, Corporate & Social Responsibility • Unum
James Page • Chancellor • University of Maine System
Janet Sortor • Chief Academic Officer • Maine Community College System
Paul Stearns • Representative • Maine State House


Massachusetts

Rosalin Acosta • Secretary of Labor & WorkforceCommonwealth of Massachusetts

Mohamad Ali • President and CEO • Carbonite
Susan Brennan • Associate Vice President of University Career Services • Bentley University
Alec Carstensen • Vice President, Human Resources and Talent • Carbonite
Christine Cruzvergara • Executive Director and Associate Provost for Career Education • Wellesley College
Nyal Fuentes • Coordinator, College, Career, and Technical Education • Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Kerry Healey • President • Babson College
Ellen Kennedy • President • Berkshire Community College
Jacqueline Moloney • Chancellor • University of Massachusetts Lowell
Carlos Santiago • Commissioner • Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
Alexandria Steinmann • Student • Bentley University


New Hampshire

Heather Bollinger • Alumna • Great Bay Community College

Sara ColsonDirector, Workforce Accelerator 2025 • Business & Industry Association of New Hampshire

Frank Edelblut • Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education • New Hampshire Department of Education
Ross Gittell • Chancellor • Community College System of New Hampshire
Rick Ladd • Representative • New Hampshire House of Representatives
Todd Leach • Chancellor • University System of New Hampshire
Paul LeBlanc • President • Southern New Hampshire University


Rhode Island

Brenda Dann-Messier • Acting Commissioner of Postsecondary Education • Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education
Lou DiPalma • Senator • Rhode Island General Assembly
Dan Egan • President • Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of Rhode Island
Donald Farish • President • Roger Williams University
Janet Hasson • President and Publisher • The Providence Journal
Meghan Hughes • President • Community College of Rhode Island
Kim Keck • President & CEO • Blue Cross Blue Shield Rhode Island
Mariela Lucaj • Student • Community College of Rhode Island
Stefan Pryor • Secretary of Commerce • State of Rhode Island
Frank Sánchez • President • Rhode Island College
Rosanne Somerson • President • Rhode Island School of Design
Margaret Van Bree • President • Rhode Island Hospital
Ken Wagner • Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education • Rhode Island Department of Education


Vermont
Joyce Judy • President • Community College of Vermont
John Neuhauser • President • Saint Michael’s College
Peter Pollak • Chief Executive Officer • Dynapower
David Rosowsky • Provost & Senior Vice President • University of Vermont
Jeb Spaulding • Chancellor • Vermont State Colleges
Kate Webb • Representative • Vermont General Assembly


Regional (2 members)

James Brett • President & CEO • The New England Council
Kurt Heissenbuttel • Vice President & Head of University Relations • Fidelity Investments


The Commission on Higher Education & Employability is generously supported by the following partners:

 

Strada Lumina Nellie Mae