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BHE Appoints Interim Commissioner

The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education unanimously voted on Monday, August 24, 2026, to appoint Senior Deputy Commissioner Dr. José Luis Santos as Interim Commissioner of Higher Education, effective October 1.

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Dr. Santos will serve as interim commissioner following Commissioner Noe Ortega’s departure at the end of September. The Board will undertake a process to identify and appoint a permanent Commissioner of Higher Education.

“Dr. José Luis Santos has been a trusted partner in advancing our vision for public higher education in Massachusetts,” said Commissioner Ortega. “He understands this Department, knows our campus and government partners, and has been deeply involved in translating our priorities into action. I have tremendous confidence in his ability to provide steady leadership and ensure that the important work to increase student success efforts and expand access and affordability for students continues without interruption.”

Dr. Santos has served as Senior Deputy Commissioner and Special Advisor to the Commissioner, while also serving as Interim Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA). As the Commissioner’s principal deputy and senior strategic advisor, he has provided leadership across DHE’s policy, operational, financial, and external functions.

During his tenure, Dr. Santos has helped advance the Commonwealth’s historic expansion of state financial aid and helped establish the Higher Education Innovation Hub. He has played a key role in advancing major initiatives and achievements of the Healey-Driscoll Administration, including MassReconnect and MassEducate, which expanded tuition- and fee-free community college in Massachusetts, as well as the expansion of MASSGrant Plus, which significantly increased financial aid for low- and middle-income students at public colleges and universities.

“Dr. José Luis Santos brings exactly the combination of experience, relationships, and institutional knowledge needed to provide continuity and sustain momentum,” said Board of Higher Education Chair Chris Gabrieli. “He knows the people, the priorities, and the work, and he has helped lead many of the initiatives that are helping shape the future of public higher education in Massachusetts. I am confident he will keep the Department moving forward and build on the strong foundation established under Commissioner Ortega’s leadership.”

Commissioner Ortega will continue serving through September 30. Dr. Santos will begin his tenure as Interim Commissioner on October 1.

Learn more about Dr. José Luis Santos >
Work-Based Learning Initiative Grows Co-Ops for MA Public Higher Ed Institutions

The MA Cooperative Education an initiative of DHE’s Innovation Hub, is expanding regional co-op partnerships at public higher education institutions.

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Board of Higher Education Strategic Priorities

Learn about the strategic priorities guiding the Board of Higher Education and Department of Higher Education’s work on behalf of students and the Commonwealth.

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Department of Higher Education Appoints Dr. Danielle Rowdy as Inaugural Chief Innovation Officer to Lead Statewide Innovation Hub

Dr. Danielle Rowdy will lead a first-of-its-kind statewide Innovation Hub focused on expanding college access, affordability, and student success across the Commonwealth.

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BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) today announced the appointment of Dr. Danielle Rowdy as the Department’s inaugural Chief Innovation Officer. In this newly established role, Rowdy will lead the Higher Education Innovation Hub, a first-of-its-kind statewide initiative designed to identify, pilot, and scale innovative approaches to college access, affordability, and student success across the Commonwealth.

The Innovation Hub was launched following a $2.1 million grant from the Axim Collaborative, a non-profit joint endeavor between Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Under Rowdy’s leadership, the Hub will advance a portfolio of high-impact initiatives focused on strengthening education-to-workforce pathways and leveraging data and technology to improve outcomes for learners across Massachusetts

"Providing innovative and life-changing opportunities to more students across Massachusetts cannot wait," said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. "Dr. Rowdy brings a combination of academic and private-sector executive experience that is essential for this role. Her proven track record in leveraging emerging technologies to drive student enrollment and support services will be a tremendous asset as we work to lift barriers for all learners in the Commonwealth."

Rowdy joins DHE from Amazon Web Services (AWS), where she served as Head of US Higher Education Strategy. In that role, she led a national portfolio and a team of cross-functional higher education leaders developing cloud-based technology solutions to help institutions streamline campus operations and develop new services and supports to enhance student success. Prior to AWS, she held leadership positions at the Education Advisory Board (EAB), where she directed research and product strategy focused on digital transformation and data systems across institutions in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

The appointment marks a major milestone in the Department’s broader innovation agenda, which is in service to the Board of Higher Education’s Innovation Strategic Priority. The launch of the Hub was led by Senior Deputy Commissioner José Luis Santos, who led the search for its inaugural leadership and team and will oversee its alignment with other agency priorities and operations.

“Danielle is exactly the kind of leader we set out to recruit for this role,” said Santos. “She brings a unique combination of strategic vision, technical expertise, and a deep understanding of how to translate innovation into real, scalable impact for students and institutions. We conducted a national search and were intentional about finding someone who could build, not just advise - someone who could take this from concept to execution at scale. I could not be more excited that Danielle is joining us from AWS to lead this work. I look forward to working closely with her to drive and execute on the Department’s broader innovation agenda and to build a first-of-its-kind engine for innovation in public higher education here in Massachusetts.”

“I am honored to join Commissioner Ortega, José Luis and the entire DHE team at such a pivotal moment for higher education in Massachusetts," said Rowdy. "The creation of this Innovation Hub reflects a bold commitment to reimagining how we deliver on the promise of higher education. I look forward to working alongside our public colleges and universities and partners across sectors to design, test, and scale solutions that expand opportunity and drive economic mobility for all learners in the Commonwealth.”

Rowdy holds a Ph.D. in Renaissance Literature and an M.St. in English from the University of Oxford, as well as a B.A. from Durham University. Her appointment aligns with the Board of Higher Education’s (BHE) recently adopted "Innovation Strategic Priority," which calls for seeding talent, partnerships, and resources at the state level to accelerate system-wide transformation and position Massachusetts as a national leader in higher education innovation.

The Innovation Hub is also being supported by two new project managers: Dr. Katy Coutley, who is joining the Hub after serving as director of Professional Studies and Continuing Education at Rhode Island College; and Daniel Curtis, who joins from Social Impact Partners where he served as director of consulting services.

In addition to Innovation, the Board of Higher Education’s strategic priorities include Student Success and Financial Aid, Economic Mobility, and Public Good.
Earnings Outcomes of Public Postsecondary Education in Massachusetts

For the first time, the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education is publicly releasing data on the earnings outcomes of students and graduates of Massachusetts public colleges and universities

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Enrollment and Success Report

View fall 2025 early enrollment estimates and updated success indicators.

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