Sarah Pingel is joining the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) as Vice President on April 25, 2023. In this role, Sarah will serve as the principal deputy to the President, assist in the development and execution of long- and short-range strategic objectives and serve as a principal externally facing staff member, interacting with funders, project sponsors, subcontractors, partner organizations. “I am excited to be part of a team that is intent on not just observing but solving challenges facing postsecondary institutions and students today,” says Pingel. “In my experience, funding and governance must be addressed for long-lasting policy reform that improves the lives of individuals, states, and communities. NCHEMS has a history of addressing difficult topics head-on, and I could not be more thrilled to be joining this impactful group of professionals.”
Sarah brings nearly 20 years of experience in the field of education to NCHEMS, most recently serving as a senior researcher at Ithaka S+R, where she focused on public policy issues facing postsecondary education, with a particular focus on finance and affordability. Sarah also served as a principal at the Education Commission of the States and led multi-year projects related to state financial aid and workforce and postsecondary connections. She has testified in multiple state legislative chambers and has been cited in local and national media. Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in linguistics and French from the University of Colorado-Boulder, a master’s degree in French from Bryn Mawr College, and a doctorate in higher education from the University of Denver.
“Sarah brings a wealth of practical experience working to address the most pressing challenges facing policymakers relating to postsecondary education, as well as leaders of state agencies, systems, and institutions. Her commitment to bringing the best available research to bear on thorny problems and her willingness to innovate will deepen and expand NCHEMS’ capacity to impact the field, ensure postsecondary education continues to play a critical role in the health of the nation and the states, and close persistent equity gaps that keep some members of our society from realizing their full potential.” adds NCHEMS President Brian Prescott.
