Jamie P. Merisotis, president and CEO of Lumina Foundation for Education, presented the 2009 McBee lecture on November 12 in the UGA Chapel. Long a champion of the idea that higher education enhances both society and individuals, Merisotis has worked for decades to increase educational opportunity among low- income, minority and other historically underrepresented populations. Under his leadership, Lumina has embraced an ambitious and specific goal: to ensure that, by 2025, 60 percent of Americans have high quality two-year or four-year degrees — up from the current level of 39 percent. President Adams stated in his introduction of Dr. Merisotis, “what Dr. Merisotis and Lumina Foundation are doing has extraordinarily important implications for societal balance, for economic development, and for the leadership of the next generation of this country.” Current data points to an urgent need for the U.S. population to become more educated to remain competitive in the global economy, as well as maintain or increase our current standard of living. Merisotis argues that “America’s continued prosperity and social stability very much depend on this nation’s system of higher education.” Based on research and experience, Lumina Foundation believes that reaching the Big Goal is possible if the nation directs attention to three critical outcomes: Students are prepared academically, financially, and socially for success in education beyond high school. Higher education completion rates are improved significantly. Higher education productivity is increased to expand capacity and serve more students. Dr. Merisotis believes that this ambitious goal is “an opportunity to make a real and lasting difference. We know that the goal is big, far too big to reach without caring partners from every sector of society. But I am convinced that the payoff will be huge.” Type of News/Audience: 2010 IHE Report
