Jamie Merisotis, President and CEO
Jamie P. Merisotis, president and CEO of Lumina Foundation
Jamie P. Merisotis is president and CEO of Lumina Foundation for Education, the nation's largest private foundation committed solely to enrolling and graduating more students from college.
Read Jamie's full biography »
Download larger photograph
For speaking engagement requests, please use our contact form.
Reaching the Big Goal: An Agenda for States
Jamie Merisotis spoke before the SHEEO annual meeting in Minneapolis, July 14. Read his remarks »
A Jobs Bill that Can Pass
Lumina President and CEO Jamie Merisotis and founder of Complete College America Stan Jones offer a plan to assist the unemployed without breaking the federal bank: help them earn one and two-year college credentials, fast. Watch "A Jobs Bill that Can Pass."
Taking Charge of the Debate: Research, 21st Century Students, and the Attainment of the Big Goal
Remarks by Jamie Merisotis at the Association for Institutional Research's Annual Forum, Chicago, IL. More »
Merisotis on the business model of higher education and the recent Miller Center debate on higher education cost
For more information on the debate check local listings of broadcast times in your area or watch online at Miller Center of Public Affairs.
Remarks to Indiana's Education Roundtable
Merisotis addressed Indiana's education roundtable on May 18 on the IUPUI campus. More »
Degrees of Speed
The May/June issue of Washington Monthly features an article by Jamie Merisotis and Stan Jones on the role of community colleges in providing high quality education to the unemployed. Read Degrees of speed »
CEO draws on his roots to lead education foundation
The Indianpolis Star features a profile on Jamie Merisotis where he tells of his journey from working class family to leading Lumina Foundation, the nation's largest private foundation focused on improving college access and success. Read My Big Break »
Jamie Merisotis delivers commencement address to Miami Dade college on its 50th Anniversary
Jamie Merisotis, President and CEO of Lumina Foundation for Education, will deliver the Commencement Address tomorrow at Miami Dade College, celebrating its 50th year of serving the South Florida community.
Read more »
See the full text of the speech »
Serving the 21st Century Student
Jamie Merisotis spoke about the need to increase educational opportunity for immigrant students at "Challenges and Opportunities: Future Pathways Towards Immigration and Higher Education," Apr. 27 in Washington, DC. Read Serving the 21st Century Student »
California must set clear college-attainment goals
Jamie Merisotis testified before the California Joint Committee on the Master Plan for Higher Education. He told lawmakers that achieving Lumina's "Big Goal" of increasing the share of Americans with high-quality college degrees and credentials to 60 percent by 2025 is vital to California and the rest of the nation. Read the full testimony »
Opening Session Remarks, Austin Award Presentation
Jamie's opening remarks to the Austin Award Presentation in Charlotte. Read the full speech »
The Brains, the Backbones, and the Bucks
Jamie addresses the AAC&U Annual Meeting Opening Plenary in Washington DC. Read the full speech »
Embracing the Big Goal as a National Imperative
Jamie gives the opening keynote at the USC Center for Enrollment Research, Policy, and Practice in Los Angeles. Read the full speech »
Envisioning the Future of Higher Education
Jamie speaks at the kickoff summit for DGREE.org in Sausalito, CA on Jan. 7. Read the full speech »
Does the nation need a better educated workforce?
Read Jamie's response, Economic Recovery & Higher Education in the National Journal Expert Blog on Education.
Lumina's commitment to productivity
Jamie talks to Amanda Mangan on the Magic 100.5 FM Morning Show, (Cumberland, MD) about the Foundation and our recent productivity grants. Listen now:
[3:28]Back to School and Back to Work
Lumina CEO advances shovel-ready idea for rapid workforce development
At the White House Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth Thursday, Lumina Foundation President Jamie Merisotis responded to the request for specific, immediately actionable ideas by advancing a proposal to help get more Americans back to work: accelerated degree programs. Merisotis told business executives, labor leaders and economists that more students must attain associate degrees, especially those linked to high-demand, high-wage occupations if the United States is to successfully put Americans back to work in living-wage jobs.
Read more about the recommendations from Merisotis here.
Board