MIDWEST STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President of Research
- Associate Vice President of Research at the Midwestern Higher Education Compact
Aaron Horn is the associate vice president of research at the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC), where he leads multiple research initiatives that inform higher education policy and practice in the Midwest. His portfolio focuses on affordability and finance; college readiness and success; pathways and credentials; and data and performance. Aaron's published research has spanned such topics as student and faculty mental health, state funding outcomes, educational performance indicators, high-impact practices, student development, and scientific integrity. Prior to his career in higher education research, Aaron worked in the field of mental health, supporting adolescents and adults in diverse settings, including group homes, youth programs, psychiatric clinics, and homeless shelters. He holds a B.A. magna cum laude in Psychology from St. John's University, an M.A. in Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Minnesota.
Aaron joined MHEC in 2012.
Job Titles:
- Director, Budget and Planning
Job Titles:
- Member of the Technologies Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Student Health Benefits Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Technologies Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Technologies Executive Committee
- Pittsburg State University
Job Titles:
- Member of the Technologies Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Policy Advisor, Policy and Government Relations
Job Titles:
- Michigan Community College Association / President / Term: 5 / 9 / 2024 to 3 / 18 / 2027
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Vice President of Programs and Contracts at the Midwestern Higher Education Compact
Breanne Hegg is the vice president of programs and contracts at the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC). She leads MHEC's student health and insurance initiatives and oversees contracts. She is also charged with developing new collaborative solutions to regional challenges while continuing to help drive cost savings and business solutions for higher education across the Midwest.
Prior to joining MHEC, Breanne served for eleven years in higher education, culminating as associate vice president of marketing for Hamline University, where she helped develop new programs and grow enrollment. She also provided strategic leadership on risk management, communications, and program development as chief experience officer at Girl Scouts River Valleys and as marketing and media director at Twin Cities In Motion. Breanne earned her master's degree in Nonprofit Management with a certificate in Human Resources Management from Hamline University, and her bachelor's degree in English and Asian Studies from St. Olaf College. Breanne joined MHEC in January 2024.
Job Titles:
- Director of Financial Aid
Brendan Frazier is a third-year student at Concordia University - St. Paul, pursuing a bachelor's degree in sociology with double minors in international relations and political science. He is the president of a student organization focused on community service and communication and serves on the executive board for Concordia's theater and arts program. Brendan regularly participates in events through Concordia's theater and dance department.
Brendan is motivated by a passion for helping others and intends to attend law school with the goal of engaging in humanitarian aid and diplomacy work. Previously, he has worked on various political campaigns throughout the Twin Cities in Minnesota, as a special education paraprofessional and as a youth environmental teacher.
Currently, Brendan is interning for the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) during the spring semester, where he is assisting in preparing for MHEC's annual state visits and supporting the policy team's efforts on FAFSA completion and other affordability initiatives.
Job Titles:
- State Representative Vice Chair, School Aid and Department of Education Appropriations Subcommittee / Term: 1 / 1 / 2023 to 12 / 31 / 2024
Job Titles:
- Director of Policy Initiatives
Carrie has over twenty years of experience as an educator and administrator in higher education. She has taught composition, communications, literature, digital literacy, and research practices at Boston University, Harvard Extension School, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, and St. Catherine University, emphasizing the ways in which diversity fosters creativity, collaboration, and innovation. As director of New Business Development and Continuing Education at St. Kate's, she worked closely with state and local employers, school districts, and corporate partners to create meaningful credentials aligned to in-demand verified skill sets. Carrie also served as the director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Saint Mary's, creating and co-facilitating a series of faculty development credentials on Inclusion and Human Dignity. She holds a Master's in English and an Ed.D. in Postsecondary Teaching and Learning and has previously served as the vice-chair of Professional Development for UPCEA's Business and Operations network.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Technologies Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Director of Academic Affairs and Workforce Innovation
Job Titles:
- Member of the Technologies Executive Committee
- Illinois State University / Illinois
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Michigan Association of State Universities / Michigan
Job Titles:
- Member of the Technologies Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Director of Technology Initiatives / Communications & Operations
- Director of Technology Initiatives for the Midwestern Higher Education Compact
Deb Kidwell serves as the director of technology initiatives for the Midwestern Higher Education Compact. In this role, she manages the Technology Community and works with new technology trends and opportunities. She has worked with technology procurement in higher education for over 25 years, and was an institutional volunteer for MHEC's Technologies Committee for 15 of those years. Prior to working for the Compact, Deb most recently was the procurement director at Lincoln University of Missouri. She received an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and her master's degree in Marketing from the University of Missouri - Columbia. Deb began working for the Compact in February 2022.
Job Titles:
- Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education / Commission Member / Term: 1 / 2 / 2023 to 1 / 1 / 2027
Job Titles:
- Member of the Technologies Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance and Administration / Finance & HR
- Director of Finance and Administration for the Midwestern Higher Education Compact
Erin Frahm serves as the director of finance and administration for the Midwestern Higher Education Compact. Prior to working for the Compact she worked as an accountant for a public accounting firm in Minneapolis where she performed various accounting and bookkeeping duties for both profit and non-profit clients. Erin earned her bachelor's of science in accounting from the University of Minnesota in 2016. Erin began working for the Compact in April 2020.
Job Titles:
- Board of Regents, State of Iowa / Iowa
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Vice President of Policy and Research at the Midwestern Higher Education Compact
Jenny Parks is vice president of Policy and Research at the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC). She leads the exploration, development, and implementation of projects that help Midwestern postsecondary institutions improve the way they serve students. Jenny has worked at all levels and in multiple sectors of education, including state and federal compliance, institutional research, accreditation, and policy advocacy. She earned her master's degree in educational policy and research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her doctorate in higher education administration from Northeastern University in Boston.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Student Health Benefits Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education / Nebraska
Job Titles:
- Member of the Technologies Executive Committee
- University of Wisconsin - Platteville ( Ex Officio ) Wisconsin
Job Titles:
- Member of the Technologies Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Manager
- Manager of Policy and Stakeholder Engagement
Jonathan McNicholes is the manager of policy and stakeholder engagement. Before joining MHEC, he worked as the program co-director for the Ramsey County Youth Advisory Council as well as working for multiple years in higher education policy and advocacy with the nonprofit, Students United. Jonathan received his Master's in Advocacy and Political Leadership with a nonprofit sector concentration from Metropolitan State University and holds a B.A and B.S from Bemidji State University in Political Science, Philosophy, and Psychology. Jonathan began working for the Compact in December 2023.
Job Titles:
- Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development / Missouri
Job Titles:
- Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education / Nebraska
- Office Manager, Budget Coordinator, Bookkeeper
Job Titles:
- State Representative Minority Caucus Chair
Job Titles:
- Minnesota Office of Higher Education / Minnesota
Job Titles:
- Member of the Student Health Benefits Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Midwestern Higher Education Compact 's Senior Director
- Senior Director of Convenings and Operations / Communications & Operations
Katie Chock serves as the Midwestern Higher Education Compact's senior director of convenings and operations. In this role, Katie is responsible for overseeing the strategic planning, execution, and evaluation of all MHEC events, while also managing daily office operations to ensure alignment with the organization's goals. She plays a key role in contract negotiations, budget oversight, and fostering relationships with stakeholders, vendors, and team members to drive successful event outcomes.
Prior to joining the Compact in July 2015, Katie served as a project manager for the Liemandt Foundation, where she led community-focused initiatives and managed volunteer teams for midsize monthly events. She also worked with 24 Seven Events and Marketing, assisting in the organization of annual half-marathon activities and coordinating marketing, promotions, and sponsors for fundraiser events. Earlier in her career, Katie held roles in the hospitality industry as a sales and events manager for the Sheraton Minneapolis Midtown Hotel, where she managed event logistics, catering, and sales. Katie holds a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Saint Cloud State University and has dedicated her career to leading impactful events across various sectors.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Student Health Benefits Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Compact 's Senior Director of Commissioner Relations and Operations
- Senior Director of Commissioner Relations and Operations / Communications & Operations
Mary Roberson serves as the Compact's senior director of commissioner relations and operations, overseeing the commissioner appointment process and communications for MHEC's 60-member governing board. She manages the Compact's websites, webinars, and digital communications, while also supporting communications for all organizational meetings and events and internal operations.
She is an active member of the Minnesota chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), serving on the Chapter and Community Engagement Committee for the IABC United States Region. Additionally, she holds memberships with the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators, the Minnesota chapter of the American Marketing Association, and the Digital Marketing Institute, where she is recognized as a Certified Digital Marketing Professional.
With a B.A. in Communications/Public Relations from the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) and a Mini-Master's in Business Communication from the University of St. Thomas, her professional background includes roles as Public Relations Coordinator for UNI's Center for Urban Education (UNI-CUE), voter registration promotion for the Iowa Democratic Party in Black Hawk County, and extensive management experience in printing and production at Kinko's (now FedEx Office). She has also completed a risk management professional development course through Marsh USA Inc.
In addition to her professional commitments, she is an active member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter ES, Eagan, where she has served as past president and on the Minnesota State Chapter State Membership Committee. She also volunteers as an election judge. She joined the Compact in February 1998.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Student Health Benefits Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Manager, State Financial Aid Programs
Job Titles:
- Michigan Association of State Universities / Michigan
Job Titles:
- President Emeritus / Term: 1 / 3 / 2021 to 12 / 31 / 2024
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Government Contracts
Nathan joined MHEC in January 2013 and serves as senior director of government contracts where he is responsible for administrating MHEC's technology contracts and vendor management. Prior to joining MHEC, Nathan held an administrative position at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system office, overseeing enterprise IT contracts and purchasing. He brings over a decade of management experience leading business development efforts, expanding program access, and maximizing limited resources. Nathan also has extensive experience collaborating with K-12 stakeholders while working at the Minnesota Department of Education, where he led the implementation of a web-based government to business supply chain management solution. Nathan holds a master's in business administration from Augsburg College and a bachelor's in nutrition from the University of Minnesota.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Student Health Benefits Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Illinois Board of Higher Education / Illinois
- Senior Associate Director for Academic Affairs
Job Titles:
- Wisconsin Distance Learning Authorization Board / Wisconsin
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel / Communications & Operations
Robert Trembath handles all legal matters for the compact and is the primary contact for MHEC's cost savings initiatives. He also oversees the Request For Proposal (RFP) processes for all MHEC initiatives and contract negotiations on master agreements with companies doing business with the compact. He also serves as the chief liaison with the state attorney general and procurement offices of MHEC member states.
Rob completed his baccalaureate in finance at the University of Nebraska, his J.D. degree at Indiana University and his master's in public policy at the University of Minnesota's Hubert Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs. Rob is a member in good standing of the Minnesota Bar.
Rob began working for the Compact in June 1996.
Job Titles:
- Director of State Authorization and Reciprocity
Job Titles:
- Associate Director for Academic Affairs
Job Titles:
- Manager of External Relations and Strategic Initiatives
- Manager of External Relations and Strategic Initiatives at the Midwestern Higher Education Compact
Samra Asghedom is the manager of external relations and strategic initiatives at the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC). Prior to joining MHEC, Samra served almost five years in the United States Senate working on a variety of issue areas including education, veterans, immigration, postal, and federal employees. She also has worked with several organizations on youth work including serving two years as an AmeriCorps member for a college access program. Additionally, Samra has also worked and volunteered for local political campaigns. She earned a bachelor's in public policy from the College of William & Mary. Samra began working for the Compact in January 2024.
Job Titles:
- Director of M - SARA
- Director of the Midwestern Regional State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement
Sara Appel is the director of the Midwestern Regional State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (M-SARA). Sara develops, implements, manages, and supervises M-SARA, which enables states in the MHEC region to enter into a voluntary reciprocity agreement for the purpose of authorizing colleges and universities to provide online and other distance-based courses and programs to students living in other states. Sara began working for the Compact in January 2016 as the coordinator for the Multi-State Collaborative on Military Credit. She has been advocating for military-connected students and adult learners in higher education for over 20 years and has experience in grant writing, program management, and policy analysis. Prior to her working for the Compact, Sara was the academic programs manager at the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. She has an undergraduate degree in Secondary Education and a master's degree in History with an emphasis on Research. Both degrees are from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.
Job Titles:
- Illinois Student Assistance Commission
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Research and Data Analysis
Shaun Williams-Wyche is the associate director of research and data analysis at MHEC. He brings over a decade of experience working in higher education in program administration, institutional research, and state policy research. Prior to joining MHEC, Shaun served as a research analyst at the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE), covering topics including educational attainment, student retention, financial aid, student loan debt, and study abroad safety. Shaun also has extensive experience collaborating with legislative, postsecondary, K-12, and community stakeholders while working at OHE, where he led statewide efforts around closing educational attainment disparities by race and ethnicity. Shaun has held adjunct faculty appointments in political science at Metropolitan State University; the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; and the University of Minnesota, Duluth.
Shaun joined MHEC in June 2018.
Education
B.A. magna cum laude, Political Science and Anthropology, Southern Methodist University
M.A., Political Science, University of Minnesota
Ph.D., Political Science, University of Minnesota
Job Titles:
- Coordinator at the Midwestern Higher Education Compact
- Office and Convening Coordinator / Communications & Operations
Sophie Mancino is the office and convening coordinator at the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC). She brings experience from her role as an event coordinator intern at the Intersectional Women's Center at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC). She helped develop the idea for the center alongside faculty and students, helped facilitate programming, and promoted programs and events. Sophie has additional office experience from her work with Express Employment Professionals. She earned a bachelor's of science at UWEC in sociology and women, gender, sexuality studies. Sophie began working for the Compact in July 2024.
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice Chancellor, Program Development & Approval
Job Titles:
- President
- President of the Midwestern Higher Education Compact
Susan Heegaard has served as president of the Midwestern Higher Education Compact since 2018. Prior to that she worked as a senior consultant with HCM Strategists, a public policy firm, and the Lumina Foundation Strategy Labs. She was also a vice president and education team leader for the St. Paul based Bush Foundation.
Heegaard was the Minnesota Commissioner for Higher Education from 2004-2009, guided policy under two governors and a U.S. senator, worked for the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, the Minnesota Private College Council, the Minnesota Department of Education and Minnesota Planning Agency. Heegaard holds a J.D. from Mitchell Hamline College of Law and a B.A. in Economics and Government from Skidmore College.