- Year Published : 2022
- Month Published : September
BOULDER, Colo. – Michael Meotti has been appointed to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), representing the state of Washington.
The commission is comprised of 48 commissioners from the 15 Western states and the U.S. Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States. The commissioners are leaders in higher education and include state higher education executive officers, college and university presidents, legislators, business and community leaders, and other key partners. Together, they guide WICHE’s strategic direction and assure the Western Regional Education Compact – which was adopted by the Western states in 1953 – is carried out for the benefit of the West.
Meotti is the executive director of the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), the state’s higher education agency responsible for the development of state policy on higher education by working with elected officials, colleges and universities, employers, nonprofit and other organizations interested in increasing higher education attainment. The agency manages the state’s extensive student financial aid programs, college readiness programs, and the 529 programs, Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) and DreamAhead.
“As I have long admired WICHE’s history of groundbreaking work and research over many years, I am thrilled to join the commission in its pursuit of serving the educational, technology, and workforce needs of the West,” Meotti said.
Meotti has been with WSAC since 2016 after being appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee.
His previous roles include commissioner of the Connecticut Office of Higher Education and executive vice president of the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education. He was also the president of both the United Way of Connecticut and the Connecticut Policy and Economic Council, as well as served four terms in the Connecticut State Senate.
“Michael Meotti has been a leader in several different segments of higher education, which awards him a unique perspective on the best solutions for improving student outcomes,” said WICHE President Demarée Michelau. “We welcome him to the WICHE Commission and look forward to our collaboration.”
Meotti has experience in higher education policy, finance, and innovation. Prior to joining WSAC, he consulted on several national higher education initiatives supported by foundations and worked on regional and state strategies to increase student access and success. He also has taught higher education policy at George Washington University. Meotti holds both a bachelor’s and law degree from Georgetown University.
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About WICHE
Since 1953, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education has been strengthening higher education, workforce development, and behavioral health throughout the region. From promoting high-quality, affordable postsecondary education to helping states get the most from their technology investments and addressing behavioral health challenges, WICHE improves lives across the West through innovation, cooperation, resource sharing, and sound public policy. WICHE members include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the U.S. Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States (the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau).
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