Thomas R. Horgan, the longtime president and CEO of the NH College & University Council (NHCUC), will step down from his position on June 30, 2017.
Horgan, who has held the position since 1993, will continue to serve as a senior adviser to the NHCUC the following year.
“Working on behalf of New Hampshire’s public and private, nonprofit, higher education institutions, the thousands of students attending our member colleges and universities and the incredible faculty and staff on all the campuses has been one of the greatest privileges of my life,” comments Horgan. He says he made the decision to step down as president of the statewide consortia because he feels it is the right time to enter the next phase of his life and to help ensure a smooth transition to new leadership.
During his tenure Horgan has been engaged in a wide array of higher education initiatives including the founding of Campus Compact for NH, co-founder of the NH Forum on the Future and was instrumental in launching and managing the NH Scholars program. He also has been active in representing the higher education sector on numerous public policy initiatives during his career, including the creation of NH’s 529 College Savings Plan.
"I'm happy for him but it will be a loss," says University System of NH Chancellor Todd Leach, who serves as the NHCUC board chair. “Tom has been an important voice for higher education and has done a terrific job in promoting cooperation and collaboration among the diverse higher education institutions in New Hampshire. Tom has offered good counsel to the college and university presidents regarding higher education advocacy and led many new initiatives to the benefit of students and campuses across our state.”
Horgan has represented NH as a commissioner to the Education Commission of the States, as a member of the NH delegation to the New England Board of Higher Education and is the immediate past president of the Association for Consortium Leadership.
“While Tom’s shoes will not be easy to fill, the board is confident that we are prepared to move our organization forward as we continue to address the needs of New Hampshire’s higher education community," says Michele Perkins, president of New England College and past NHCUC chair. “Tom has been a tremendous leader and we are deeply grateful for all he has accomplished over more than two decades of service to the higher education community in New Hampshire.”
Established in 1966, the NHCUC is celebrating the 50th anniversary of it’s founding this year as a nonprofit consortium of 21 public and private institutions of higher education in NH. Through collaborative efforts between the member colleges and universities, the NHCUC enhances educational opportunities for more than 92,000 undergraduate and graduate students currently attending its member institutions.