Directory of State Authorization and Lead Contacts for Individual States
Below is contact information for contacts regarding state authorization and grievances. You can also find information on state reciprocity by visiting the NC-SARA States & Institutions website.
Alabama
Ron Leonard, Director of Special Initiatives
Alabama Commission on Higher Education
100 North Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
Telephone: (334) 242-2211
Email: ron.leonard@ache.edu
Website: https://www.ache.edu/
Alaska
Tyler Eggen, Institutional Authorization Program Coordinator
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
P.O. Box 110505
Juneau, AK 99811-0505
Telephone: (907) 465-6471
Email: tyler.eggen@alaska.gov
Website: https://acpe.alaska.gov/
Arizona
Lanna Dueck, Executive Director
Arizona SARA Council
2323 W 14th St
Tempe, AZ 85281
Telephone: (602) 529-6649
Email: ldueck.azsara@riosalado.edu
Website: https://azsara.arizona.edu/
Arkansas
Alana Colburn, Associate Director for Private Postsecondary Education and Transfer
Programs
Arkansas Department of Higher Education
101 E. Capitol Avenue Street, Suite 300
Little Rock, AR 72201
Telephone: (501) 371-2000
Email: Alana.Colburn@adhe.edu
Website: https://adhe.edu/students-parents/student-grievance-form
California
Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
P.O. Box 980818
West Sacramento, CA 95798-0818
Telephone: (916) 263-1896
Email: bppe.enforcement@dca.ca.gov
Website: https://www.bppe.ca.gov/enforcement/complaint.shtml
Colorado
Heather Delange, Director - Office of Private Postsecondary Education
Colorado Department of Higher Education
1600 Broadway, Suite 2200
Denver, CO 80202
Telephone: (303) 862-3005
Email: heather.delange@dhe.state.co.us
Website:https://cdhe.colorado.gov/
District of Columbia
Terasita Edwards, Executive Director
District of Columbia Higher Education Licensure Commission
Office of the State Superintendent of Education
1050 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
Telephone: (202) 654-6128
Email: terasita.edwards@dc.gov
Website: https://helc.osse.dc.gov/topic/helcadmin/institutions/state-authorization-reciprocity-agreement-sara
Connecticut
Emily Bjornberg, SARA Coordinator
Office of Higher Education, State of Connecticut
450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 707
Hartford, CT 06103-1841
Telephone: (860) 947-1800
Email: emily.bjornberg@ct.gov
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/ohe/knowledge-base/articles/for-students/student-school-complaints?language=en_US
Delaware
Leigh Weldin, College Success Program Administrator
Delaware Department of Higher Education
The Townsend Building
401 Federal Street, Suite 2
Dover, DE 19901-3639
Telephone: (302) 735-4000
Email: leigh.weldin@doe.k12.de.us
Website: https://education.delaware.gov/
Florida
Brady Lyon, Educational Policy Director
Commission for Independent Education
325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 1414
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
Telephone: (850) 245-3200
Email: brady.lyon@fldoe.org
Website: https://www.fldoe.org/
Georgia
Magda Rivers, Deputy Director/GA-SARA Coordinator
Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC)
2082 East Exchange Place, Suite 220
Tucker, GA 30084
Telephone: (770) 414-3300
Email: mrivers@gnpec.ga.gov
Website: https://gnpec.georgia.gov/state-authorization-reciprocity-agreement-sara
Hawaii
Jayson Horiuchi, Program Administrator
Hawaii Post-Secondary Education Authorization Program (HPEAP)
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
PO Box 541
Honolulu, HI 96813
Telephone: (808) 586-7327
Email: hpeap@dcca.hawaii.gov
Website: https://cca.hawaii.gov/hpeap/sara/
Idaho
Tamara Baysinger, State Authorization Program Manager
Idaho State Board of Education
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720
Telephone: (208) 332-1587
Email: tbaysinger@edu.idaho.gov
Website:https://boardofed.idaho.gov/
Illinois
Dr. Nkechi Onwuameze, Assistant Director for Academic Affairs
Illinois Board of Higher Education
1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333
Springfield, IL 62701-1377
Telephone: (217) 866-1429
Email: sara@ibhe.org
Website: https://www.ibhe.org/
Indiana
Ross Miller, Director of State Authorization and Reciprocity
Indiana Commission for Higher Education/
Indiana Board for Proprietary Education
101 W. Ohio Street, Suite 300
Indianapolis, IN 46204-4206
Telephone: (317) 232-1033
Email: rmiller@che.in.gov
Website: https://www.in.gov/bpe/
Iowa
Lisa Pundt, Postsecondary Authorization Administrator
Bureau of Iowa College Aid - Iowa Department of Education
400 E 14th St
Des Moines, IA 50309
Telephone: (515) 210-8563
Email: lisa.pundt@iowa.gov
Website: https://educate.iowa.gov/higher-ed/authorization/sara
Kansas
Jennifer Armour, Associate Director, Academic Affairs
Kansas Board of Regents
1000 SW Jackson, Suite 520
Topeka, KS 66612-1368
Telephone: (785) 430-4288
Email: jarmour@ksbor.org
Website: https://www.kansasregents.gov/
Kentucky
Jevonda Keith, Executive Director, Postsecondary Licensing
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
100 Airport Road, 2nd Floor
Frankfort, KY 40601
Telephone: (502) 892-3031
Email: jevonda.keith@ky.gov
Website: https://cpe.ky.gov/campuses/sararequest.html
Louisiana
LeAnn Detillier, Assistant Commissioner for Academic Program Administration
Louisiana Board of Regents
1201 N. Third St., Suite 6-200
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Telephone: (225) 342-4253
Email: LeAnn.Detillier@laregents.edu
Website: https://www.laregents.edu/
Maine
Michael Perry, Director of Higher Education & Educator Supports
Maine Department of Higher Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0023
Telephone: (207) 441-1718
Email: michael.t.perry@maine.gov
Website: https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/highered
Maryland
Alexandra "Alix" Chaillou, Associate Director, Institution Review
Maryland Higher Education Commission
217 East Redwood St, Suite 2100
Baltimore, MD 21202
Telephone: (410) 767-3293
Email: alexandra.chaillou@maryland.gov
Website:https://mhec.maryland.gov/institutions_training/Pages/acadaff/sara.aspx
Massachusetts
Tiamekia Cezaire, Paralegal & Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
One Ashburton Place, Room 1401
Boston, MA 02108
Telephone: (617) 994-6963
Email: tcezaire@dhe.mass.edu
Website: https://www.mass.edu/home.asp
Michigan
James R. Farhat, State Administrative Manager, Workforce Development, Post Secondary
& State Approving Section
Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity
P.O. Box 30805
Lansing, MI 48909
Telephone: (517) 256-8670
Email: farhatj@michigan.gov
Website: https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/wd/pss
Minnesota
Kate McCartan, Institutional Monitoring Specialist
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350
Saint Paul, MN 55108-5227
Telephone: (651) 259-3912
Email: kate.mccartan@state.mn.us
Website: https://ohe.mn.gov/
Mississippi
Sheriece Robinson, Director of Regulatory Affairs
Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211
Telephone: (601) 432-6336
Email: srobinson@mississippi.edu
Website: https://www.mississippi.edu/mississippi-commission-college-accreditation
Missouri
Joshua Fischer, Program Specialist
Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
P.O. Box 1469
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Telephone: (573) 751-2361
Email: joshua.fischer@dhewd.mo.gov
Website https://dhewd.mo.gov/
Montana
Joseph "Joe" Thiel, Interim Deputy Commissioner of Academic, Research, and Student
Affairs
Montana University System
P.O. Box 203201
Helena, MT 59620
Telephone: (406) 449-9134
Email: stateauthorization@montana.edu
Website: https://mus.edu/
Nebraska
Dr. Kathleen L. Fimple, Academic Programs Officer
Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
PO Box 95005
Lincoln, NE 68509-5005
Telephone: (402) 471-0030
Email: Kathleen.Fimple@nebraska.gov
Website:https://ccpe.nebraska.gov/
Nevada
Terina Caserto, Senior Analyst, Academic and Student Affairs
Nevada System of Higher Education
2601 Enterprise Road
Reno, NV 89512
Telephone: (775) 784-3442
Email: tcaserto@nshe.nevada.edu
Website: https://nshe.nevada.edu/system-administration/departments/asa/
New Hampshire
Laura A Stoneking, Administrator
New Hampshire Department of Education
101 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
Telephone: (603) 271-4196
Email: laura.a.stoneking@doe.nh.gov
Website: https://www.education.nh.gov/
New Jersey
Eric Taylor, Director, Office of Licensure
New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education
20 W State St, 4th Fl
P.O. Box 542
Trenton, NJ 08625-0542
Telephone: (609) 984-3738
Email: eric.taylor@oshe.nj.gov
Website: https://www.nj.gov/highereducation/
New Mexico
Alicia Armijo, Constituent Services Coordinator & NC-SARA Coordinator
New Mexico Higher Education Department
2044 Galisteo Street Suite 4
Santa Fe, NM 87505-2100
Telephone: (505) 476-8411
Email: alicia.armijo@state.nm.us
Website: https://hed.nm.gov/
New York
Andrea Richards, Supervisor of Higher Education Programs
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Ave
Albany, NY 12234
Telephone: (518) 474-1551
Email: iheauthorize@nysed.gov
Website: https://www.nysed.gov/college-university-evaluation/state-authorization-reciprocity-agreement-sara
If you were unable to resolve a complaint through the institution's grievance procedures, please review the Student Complaint Policy (PDF) and submit their Complaint using the online complaint form.
North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
c/o Student Complaints
University of North Carolina System Office
223 S. West Street, Suite 1800, Raleigh, NC 27603
Telephone: (919) 962-4558
Email: studentcomplaint@northcarolina.edu
Website: North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
SARA-NC
Students may also file a complaint through SARA-NC. SARA-NC is the portal for North Carolina. Students should follow the SARA-NC Complaint Process and use the SARA-NC Complaint Form (PDF).
SARA-NC Portal Liaison Contact Information:
Terrence R. Scarborough, M.P.A. - Director of SARA North Carolina
North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority
P.O. Box 41349
Raleigh, NC 27629
Telephone: (919) 248-4667
email: terrence@saranc.org
Website: https://www2.ncseaa.edu/SARANC/index.html
North Dakota
Claire Gunwall, Director of Academic Affairs & Workforce Innovation
North Dakota University System
600 E. Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 215
Bismarck, ND 58505-0230
Telephone: (701) 328-4140
Email: claire.gunwall@ndus.edu
Website:https://ndus.edu/
Ohio
Matt Exline, Associate Vice Chancellor, Program Development and Approval
Ohio Department of Higher Education
25 South Front Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Telephone: (614) 728-3095
Email: mexline@highered.ohio.gov
Website: https://highered.ohio.gov/educators/academic-programs-policies/academic-program-approval
Oklahoma
Elizabeth Walker, Coordinator for Academic Affairs Administration
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
655 Research Parkway, Ste. 200
PO Box 108850
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Telephone: (405) 225-9154
Email: lwalker@osrhe.edu
Website: http://www.okhighered.org/admin-fac/sara/
Oregon
Rebecca Fuller Operations & Policy Analyst
Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission
3225 25th Street SE
Salem, OR 97302
Telephone: (971) 301-3455
Email: rebecca.fuller@hecc.oregon.gov
Website: https://www.oregon.gov/highered/pages/default.aspx
Pennsylvania
Jennifer Stone, Higher Education Associate II
Pennsylvania Division of Higher Education, Access, and Equity
607 South Drive 3E
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Telephone: (717) 783-6786
Email: jennstone@pa.gov
Website: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/education/programs-and-services/instruction/postsecondary-and-adult-education
Puerto Rico
Damaris Nolasco, Executive Director
Board of Postsecondary Institution - Department of State
PO Box 9023271
San Juan, PR 00902-3271
Telephone: (787) 722-2121
Email:dnolasco@estado.pr.gov
Website: https://agencias.pr.gov/agencias/cepr/inicio/Pages/default.aspx
Rhode Island
Jaime Wager, Program Specialist
Rhode Island Office of Postsecondary Commissioner
560 Jefferson Blvd.
Warwick, RI 02886
Telephone: (401) 654-4953
Email: jaime.wager@riopc.edu
Website:https://riopc.edu/
South Carolina
Dr. Argentini Anderson, Assistant Director, Academic Affairs
South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
1122 Lady Street, Suite 400
Columbia, SC 29201
Telephone: (803) 737-2276
Email: aanderson@che.sc.gov
Website: https://www.che.sc.gov/
South Dakota
Katie Hubbart, Academic Affairs Specialist - South Dakota SARA Coordinator
South Dakota Board of Regents
306 East Capitol Ave., Suite 200
Pierre, SD 57501
Telephone: (605) 773-3455
Email: Katie.Hubbart@sdbor.edu
Website:https://sdbor.edu/
Tennessee
Ryan Arrington, Regulatory Compliance Attorney
Tennessee Higher Education Commission
312 Rosa Parks Avenue, 9th Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
Telephone: (615) 253-7465
Email: ryan.arrington@tn.gov
Website: https://www.tn.gov/thec.html
Texas
Cathie A Maeyaert, Director-Private Postsecondary Institutions
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
P.O. Box 12788
Austin, TX 78711
Telephone: (512) 427-6527
Email: cathie.maeyaert@highered.texas.gov
Website: https://www.highered.texas.gov/state-authorization-reciprocity-agreement/
Utah
Cynthia "Cyd" Grua
Office of the Commissioner for Higher Education
Utah System of Higher Education
Board of Regents Building, The Gateway
60 South 400 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Telephone: (801) 646-4768
Email: cgrua@ushe.edu
Website: https://ushe.edu/office-of-commissioner/state-authorization-ut-sara/
U.S. Virgin Islands
Sharlene Harris Vice President, Information Services & Institutional Assessment
University of the Virgin Islands
#2 John Brewers Bay
St. Thomas, VI 00802
Telephone: (340) 693-1361
Email: sharris@uvi.edu
Website: https://www.uvi.edu/
Vermont
Katie Gagliardo, Post Secondary Coordinator
Vermont Agency of Education
1 National Life Drive, Davis 5th Floor
Montpelier, VT 05620
Telephone: (802) 828-0699
Email: katie.gagliardo@vermont.gov
Website: https://education.vermont.gov/
Virginia
Darlene Derricott, Director of Academic Services
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
101 N. 14th Street, 9th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
Telephone: (804) 225-2621
Email: darlenederricott@schev.edu
Website: https://www.schev.edu/home
Washington
Sam Loftin, Director of Consumer Protection
Washington Student Achievement Council
917 Lakeridge Way SW
Olympia, WA 98502
Telephone: (360) 485-1078
Email: saml@wsac.wa.gov
Website: https://wsac.wa.gov/
West Virginia
Lucy Kefauver, Director of Online Learning
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
2001 Union Carbide Drive
South Charleston, WV 25303
Telephone: (304) 205-6073
Email: lucy.kefauver@wvhepc.edu
Website: https://www.wvhepc.edu/inside-the-commission/special-initiatives/state-authorization-reciprocity-agreement-sara/
Wisconsin
Paige Smith, Chief Compliance and Risk Officer
Universities of Wisconsin Administration, Office of Compliance & Integrity
780 Regent Street
Madison, WI 53715
Telephone: (608) 265-2273
Email: paige.smith@wisconsin.edu
Website: https://heab.state.wi.us/dlab/
Wyoming
Rob Dennis, Chief Operating Officer
Wyoming Community College Commission
2300 Capitol Ave, 5th Fl, Ste B
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Telephone: (307) 777-7013
Email: rob.dennis@wyo.gov
Website: https://communitycolleges.wy.edu/