NC-SARA Announces New President
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT
September 20, 2022 media@nc-sara.org
NC-SARA Announces New President
Dr. Marianne Boeke brings more than two decades of experience in higher education policy, research and evaluation
BOULDER, CO. (SEPTEMBER 20, 2023) - The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) - a nonprofit organization that helps expand access to educational opportunities and ensure more efficient, consistent, and effective regulation of distance education - today announced that its board of directors has selected Dr. Marianne Boeke as its new president following a comprehensive national search.
“Marianne Boeke has a well-earned reputation for her expertise in research, policy analysis and strategic planning—and a deep commitment to issues of access, equity and quality in postsecondary education demonstrated throughout her career,” said Dr. Ed Ray, former president of Oregon State University and chair of the NC-SARA Board of Directors. ”We are confident that Marianne will bring the vision, experience, and collaborative approach required to achieve our mission.”
Dr. Boeke's impressive background includes five years of dedicated service at NC-SARA, where she most recently held the position of interim president. With her extensive experience in the field, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her new role.
She first joined NC-SARA in 2018, most recently serving as the organization’s interim president. In her role as vice president of research and state partnerships, she oversaw all aspects of the organization’s data collection and reporting activities, supervised other related research projects, and provided support to states and regional compacts on policy-related issues.
“At a time when a growing number of institutions are using distance learning to expand access and serve new student demographics, delivering on the promise of digital learning and distance education requires having effective, consistent policies in place to assure quality,” said Marianne Boeke, president of NC-SARA. “I am excited to continue to work collaboratively with the four regional compacts, member states, SARA participating institutions, and other stakeholders to ensure that students can achieve their educational goals seamlessly, regardless of geographical boundaries."
Prior to joining NC-SARA, she spent 14 years as a core member of the team at the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS). She worked on a variety of long-term projects and strategic initiatives collaborating with the Aspen Institute, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lumina Foundation, National Science Foundation (NSF) and Strada Education Network. Her work in state authorization began in 2011 when she co-created the SHEEO survey on state authorization. Earlier in her career, she worked at WICHE/WCET and at Western Governors University (WGU) during its inaugural years.
A scholar of higher education policy and practice, Boeke has presented at numerous national, regional, and state conferences and written on a variety of issues ranging from evaluation, qualitative research and accreditation to regulatory issues, compliance, education technology, and competency-based education. Boeke holds a Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Denver, a master’s degree from The American University, and a bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University.
For media inquiries, please contact: media@nc-sara.org.
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About The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA): The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) is a voluntary, interstate reciprocal approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. The initiative is administered by the country’s four regional higher education compacts (MHEC, NEBHE, SREB and WICHE) and coordinated by NC-SARA. Member states and institutions that choose to participate agree to operate under common standards and procedures, providing a more uniform and less costly regulatory environment for institutions, more focused oversight responsibilities for states, and better resolution of student complaints. www.nc-sara.org.