Tom Higgins is named Chairman after three years of service
AUSTIN, TEXAS AUGUST 9, 2022—New Meridian Corporation, a nonprofit assessment organization on a mission to increase equity and support quality education for all students, has named Tom Higgins as chairman.
“Tom’s long history of leadership, coupled with his experience in K-12 assessment, makes him an ideal person for this role. I look forward to working closely with Tom to continue to build next-generation assessment systems and ensure New Meridian makes a positive impact on all students,” said Arthur VanderVeen, New Meridian CEO
VanderVeen founded New Meridian in 2016 with a focus on increasing equity and helping states measure the skills that matter most: critical thinking, deep understanding, and the ability to communicate effectively. The organization is developing innovative, curriculum-aligned assessments, has expanded the availability of next-generation science assessments, and leaned into policy work to increase equity.
Higgins, who joined the board in March 2019, has decades of experience in executive leadership, including 10 years as Chief Financial Officer at the College Board. He most recently served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for the Advertising Research Foundation.
Higgins says New Meridian has reached a maturation point and is well positioned to create the next generation of assessments.
“We’ve really started to think differently about assessment,” Higgins said. “We’re trying to make assessment less a thing that has to be done and more a thing that a teacher wants to do because it becomes an integral part of classroom learning. We want assessment to become the valuable tool it was always intended to be.”
About New Meridian
New Meridian is a nonprofit assessment organization committed to advancing equity in education by developing assessments that focus on the skills that matter: critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication. Since 2016, our diverse team of assessment design experts have collaborated with classroom teachers to develop high-quality assessments that give educators the information they need to ensure all students grow to be effective thinkers, problem solvers, and communicators. We partner with states and districts to develop innovative assessment solutions that provide educators and policy makers with the data and insights they need to improve educational outcomes and expand opportunities for all students.
