Higher Learning Commission
Donations deductibleHigher Learning Commission's network
19 people2 organisationsi19 people and 2 organisations on this map.The large node is the subject of this page. Solid lines are what the register itself records (19). Violet dotted lines (2) are likely: the same full name sits on the current board of another organisation in the same register and region. Form 990 filings give names without a person identifier; SEC insider filings carry a CIK. It may be a different person.The board
19 listediTime on the board is observed from the annual filings: the IRS files no appointment date, so the bar counts years from the first filing the person appears on - a lower bound, not a filed start date. Names are exactly as filed. The IRS publishes no person identifier, so this edition does not yet link a person across organisations in the tables. The network map shows same-name matches as likely links only, never as confirmed.Time served and departures are observed across annual filings. Observed time served is a lower bound - a member may have joined before the first year on record. The organisation reported 19 voting members of its governing body on its latest Form 990 Part VI, which matches the board listed here.| Name | Role as filed | Since | On the board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Richard L Dunsworth Chair | Board Chair | 2019 | 7 yrs |
| Dr Daniel Abebe | Board Member | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Dr Henry L Smith | Board Member | 2020 | 6 yrs |
| Dr J Lee Johnson | Board Member | 2019 | 7 yrs |
| Dr Jacquelyn Elliott | Board Member | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Dr JO Alice Blondin | Board Member | 2019 | 7 yrs |
| Dr Joanne LI | Board Member | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Dr Joyce Ester | Board Vice Chair | 2022 | 4 yrs |
| Dr Katricia Pierson | Board Member | 2022 | 4 yrs |
| Dr Noah Finkelstein | Board Member | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Dr Paul C Koch | Board Member | 2020 | 6 yrs |
| Dr Rita Hartung Cheng | Board Member | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Dr Robert Martin | Board Member | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Mr Donald M Elliman JR | Treasurer | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Mr Jack Fox | Board Member | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Ms Catherine Crosby | Board Member | 2022 | 4 yrs |
| Ms JOI Cunningham | Board Member | 2025 | 1 yr |
| Ms Lisa John | Board Member | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Ms Patricia M Anslow | Board Member | 2025 | 1 yr |
Officers and senior leadership
13 listediNamed in Part VII as officers, key employees or highest-compensated staff - not board members, shown for completeness.| Name | Title as filed | On the filings |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew C Lootens-White | Vice President of Accreditation Relations | since 2022 |
| Anthea Sweeney | Vice President for Legal and Governmental Affairs | 2019 |
| Dr Andrew Lootens-White | Vice President of Accreditation Relations | since 2018 |
| Dr Anthea Sweeney | Vice President of Accreditation Relations | since 2020 |
| Dr Barbara Gellman-Danley | President | since 2018 |
| Dr Eric Martin | Vice President and Chief of Staff | since 2018 |
| Dr Karen Solomon | Vice President for Accreditation Relations and Dir | since 2018 |
| James Meyer | Chief Information Officer | 2020 |
| Karen Solomon | Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer | since 2023 |
| Marla Morgen | Vice President and General Counsel | since 2021 |
| Mike Seuring | Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | since 2018 |
| Ms Karen Solinski | Executive Vice President | 2018 |
| Steven Reubart | Office Manager | 2022 |
Pay and hours
year to 31 August 2025iFrom Part VII of the Form 990: compensation reported for each officer, director, trustee, key employee and highest-paid staff member, and the average hours a week they report. Most board members are unpaid; a blank means nothing was reported. Pay from related organisations is shown separately.| Name | Title as filed | Hours a week | Pay from the organisation | Related organisations | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Barbara Gellman-Danley | President | 50 | $557k | $48k | |
| Dr Eric Martin | Executive Vice President | 37.5 | $269k | $29k | |
| Marla Morgen | Vice President and General | 37.5 | $237k | $63k | |
| Mike Seuring | Vice President and Chief F | 37.5 | $231k | $49k | |
| Andrew C Lootens-White | Vice President of Accredit | 37.5 | $196k | $49k | |
| Karen Solomon | Vice President and Chief T | 37.5 | $190k | $49k | |
| Dr Anthea Sweeney | Vice President of Accredit | 37.5 | $190k | $55k | |
| Mr Richard L Dunsworth | Board Chair | 1.5 | $0 | ||
| Dr Joyce Ester | Board Vice Chair | 1.5 | $0 | ||
| Mr Donald M Elliman Jr | Treasurer | 1.5 | $0 | ||
| Dr Jo Alice Blondin | Board Member | 1.5 | $0 | ||
| Dr Daniel Abebe | Board Member | 1.5 | $0 | ||
| Ms Patricia M Anslow | Board Member | 1.5 | $0 | ||
| Dr Rita Hartung Cheng | Board Member | 1.5 | $0 | ||
| Ms Catherine Crosby | Board Member | 1.5 | $0 | ||
| Ms Joi Cunningham | Board Member | 1.5 | $0 | ||
| Dr Jacquelyn Elliott | Board Member | 1.5 | $0 | ||
| Dr Noah Finkelstein | Board Member | 1.5 | $0 | ||
| Mr Jack Fox | Board Member | 1.5 | $0 | ||
| Ms Lisa John | Board Member | 1.5 | $0 | ||
| Dr J Lee Johnson | Board Member | 1.5 | $0 | ||
| Dr Paul C Koch | Board Member | 1.5 | $0 | ||
| Dr Joanne Li | Board Member | 1.5 | $0 | ||
| Dr Robert Martin | Board Member | 1.5 | $0 | ||
| Dr Katricia Pierson | Board Member | 1.5 | $0 | ||
| Dr Henry L Smith | Board Member | 1.5 | $0 |
About
- Legal name
- Higher Learning Commission
- EIN
- 364405660
- Address
- 230 S Lasalle St 7-500, Chicago, IL, 60604
- State
- Illinois
- Mission
- Serving the common good by assuring and advancing the quality of higher learning. (as filed on the Form 990)
- Activity (NTEE)
- B40 Education
- IRS classification
- 501(c)03 (tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) where shown)
- Classified purpose
- Education
- Size band
- 8 (IRS master file code)
- Formed
- 1895
- Principal officer
- Dr Barbara Gellman-Danle (as named on the Form 990)
- IRS ruling date
- 1 June 2001
- Status
- Code 01 (unconditional exemption)
- Form 990 filings on record
- 8, latest 2025
- IRS Publication 78
- PC (contributions deductible)
Most connected
Longest observed on the filings
≥8years on the filingsDr Jacquelyn Elliott
≥8years on the filingsDr Noah Finkelstein
≥8years on the filingsDr Rita Hartung Cheng
≥8years on the filingsDr Robert Martin
Latest return
year to 31 August 2025iFigures from the newest Form 990 or 990-EZ in the IRS e-file releases of 2025 and 2026, for the year ending 31 August 2025. US dollars, as filed.- Total assets
- $34.7m
- Total liabilities
- $9.4m
- Net assets or fund balances
- $25.3m
- Contributions and grants received
- $153k
- Program service revenue
- $16.2m
- Employees
- 60
- Volunteers
- 19
Filed finances
1 yeariTotals as filed on the IRS Form 990 (revenue and expenses), by tax year.| Tax year | Total revenue | Total expenses | Surplus or deficit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $16.9m | $17.2m | Deficit $313k |
As filed on the IRS Form 990. US dollars.