Governor John Kitzhaber announced today that he is appointing Ben Cannon to be the executive director of Oregon's Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC).
The decision came after a unanimous recommendation from a search committee made up of Chief Education Officer Nancy Golden, Blue Mountain Community College President Cam Preus, former University of Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer, HECC member Tim Nesbitt and OEIB member and Portland State University Professor Samuel Henry.
Cannon has served as the governor's education policy advisor since September, 2011.
"We have made a commitment to dramatically improve higher education outcomes in Oregon," said Governor Kitzhaber. "Ben is the right leader to help bring the HECC, the Oregon Education Investment Board and the Oregon Legislature together to improve access, affordability, equity and coordination of our higher education system."