SREB bid a fond farewell this week to Cheryl Blanco. After more than a decade of service to the organization, she is looking forward to more family time while continuing to work on higher education issues.

As vice president, Blanco brought together shareholders to grapple with policy choices toward a comprehensive agenda to increase postsecondary attainment in Southern states. Among other accomplishments, she led the Commission on College Affordability in the South and the Community College Commission. She published on postsecondary topics ranging from readiness and remediation to transfer and funding. Most recently this year, she launched SREB’s dual enrollment initiative.