Tristan Denley

Tristan Denley, Ph.D. currently serves as Deputy Commissioner for Academic Affairs and Innovation at the Louisiana Board of Regents, where he leads transformative efforts to improve student success across Louisiana. Since joining the Board in 2022, he has spearheaded initiatives like Meauxmentum, a comprehensive state-wide framework for aligning higher education with workforce demands and enhancing college completion. He has also expanded opportunities for work-based learning and career-focused education, supporting Louisiana students’ academic and professional success and raising Louisiana’s education attainment to an all-time high.

Before his role in Louisiana, Denley served as Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer at the University System of Georgia. There, he developed and implemented the Momentum Year strategy, which transformed developmental education and advising practices, increasing four-year graduation rates across the system by 20%, and by 30% for African American students. His leadership also led to the creation of the nexus degree, the first new degree structure in the United States in over 100 years.

Originally from Penzance, England, Denley earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Trinity College, Cambridge, and has held academic positions in Sweden, Canada, and at the University of Mississippi. At Ole Miss, he served as Chair of Mathematics and Senior Fellow of the Residential College program.

Widely recognized for his innovative use of data analytics, behavioral economics, and cognitive psychology in higher education, Denley’s work has received accolades from organizations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Educause, and the Strong Start to Finish. His groundbreaking course recommendation system, Degree Compass, garnered national attention and earned him a Platinum IMS Global Learning Impact Award in 2014. His contributions to educational accessibility have also been recognized with the Newel Perry Award from the National Federation of the Blind.

In 2024, Denley received the prestigious Stan Jones Legacy Award from Complete College America, honoring his visionary leadership and lasting impact on higher education policy and practice.

Throughout his career, Denley has remained committed to creating equitable, accessible, and transformative educational opportunities for all students. His current work continues to integrate cutting-edge approaches to college completion, workforce alignment, and academic innovation, solidifying his legacy as one of higher education’s most influential leaders.