Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOARD OF TRUSTEES VICE CHAIR APPOINTED TO
NEW ENGLAND BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION

(Worcester, MA - January 17, 2008)— The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) has selected Worcester State College Trustee and Vice Chair Dr. Michael K. Thomas to serve as interim president and CEO of the nonprofit, six-state education agency.  “We are so proud,” said WSC President Dr. Janelle Ashley.  “Michael will bring invigorated leadership to the board and do great work.”

Thomas, who served as senior vice president of NEBHE, succeeds Evan S. Dobelle, a former Trinity College president who led NEBHE for three years before accepting the job of president of Westfield State College in Westfield, Mass.

"I find Michael Thomas to have extraordinary talent, and I know he will do an outstanding job leading NEBHE," said outgoing president Evan S. Dobelle. NEBHE chair and former Maine state senator Mary R. Cathcart added "It's an exciting time for NEBHE, we look forward to Dr. Thomas successfully continuing the work of the board."

As NEBHE Sr. Vice President, Thomas directed NEBHE's policy, research and programmatic activities, primarily focused on expanding innovative K-12, postsecondary and life-long learning policies and on promoting collaboration among leaders in business, government and education. He directed NEBHE's College Ready New England initiative, a regional alliance to increase college readiness and success among residents of the six New England states.

Thomas has worked in corporate training and human resources and held varied administrative positions in higher education institutions, both public and private. He served as a policy aid in the University of Massachusetts President's Office and subsequently as coordinator of institutional research and as executive assistant to the president at Lesley University.

He holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Brigham Young University and a master's degree in higher education from Teachers College, Columbia University. He earned a doctorate in education and social policy from Harvard and an M.B.A. from Boston University.

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