Thomas Harnisch

Dr. Thomas Harnisch has over two decades of experience in higher education policy and serves as a national voice for state higher education leaders.

Bio and Featured Works

He joined the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) in 2020 and currently serves as vice president for government relations. Prior to joining SHEEO, he was director of state relations and policy analysis at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). His policy research interests include higher education access, affordability, and completion. His research and commentary have appeared in over 350 articles throughout the nation, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, Inside Higher Ed, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. Prior to joining AASCU, he was a graduate assistant at the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC). He holds a doctorate from The George Washington University, a master's degree from the University of Minnesota, and a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin. A past recipient of the Georgetown University's Tropaia Award, he has served as a faculty member since 2019.