ABBOTT: Im pleased the Coordinating Board has selected Harrison Keller... and look forward to his leadership."
We believe that Harrison Keller will be able to assist the Coordinating Board in making great strides toward the fulfillment of our mission and our continued work toward achieving the goals of 60x30TX" said Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Chair Stuart W. Stedman earlier today after the board voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Harrison Keller to serve as the next commissioner of higher education.
He will be the sixth individual to hold the leadership position for the agency since its founding under Gov. John Connally in 1965 succeeding Dr. Raymund Paredes who is stepping down after serving as commissioner for 15 years.
The Search Committee recommended Dr. Keller to the board after a national search because he stood out from a competitive field of candidates for his extensive knowledge of and experience in strengthening higher education and broadening opportunity for all Texans" Stedman said.
Dr. Keller comes to the Coordinating Board from The University of Texas at Austin where he has been serving as deputy to the president for strategy and policy. Previously he served as vice provost for higher education policy and research and founded the OnRamps and Texas OnCourse initiatives.
Earlier in his career he served as senior education policy advisor and director of research for State Rep. Tom Craddick during his tenure as Speaker of the Texas House and as a project director at UT Austins Charles A. Dana Center.
A native of the Texas Panhandle Keller has resided in Austin with his wife Gena and their three children for more than 20 years.
I am pleased that the Coordinating Board has selected Harrison Keller" said Gov. Greg Abbott.
With his strong higher education background we look forward to his leadership and his support in developing and working toward important initiatives to advance post-secondary education and workforce readiness for our citizens" Abbott said.
Keller received his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and went on to receive masters and doctoral degrees in philosophy from Georgetown University. He also served in the U.S. Navy Reserve as an intelligence officer.
As a sixth-generation Texan a son of public school educators and someone who has spent my career working at the intersections of educational policy practice and innovation I look forward to working with the Coordinating Board the Governors Office and legislative business community and education leaders across the state to expand educational and economic opportunities for Texas" Keller said.
Keller will assume his new post on October 1st 2019.
