Dr. Tom Harnisch

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

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. 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.