The Middle States Commission on Higher Education said it recently elected Medgar Evers College President Dr. Patricia Ramsey to serve as commissioner, marking a significant milestone for the Brooklyn-based institution and expanding Ramsey’s leadership role within higher education.
Her four-year term began on Jan. 1, and will continue through Dec. 31, 2030, during which she will help guide the accreditation body’s work in evaluating colleges and universities and promoting academic quality and institutional effectiveness.
MSCHE is a regional accrediting organization that operates across 46 states, two U.S. territories, the District of Columbia and more than 100 countries worldwide.
"The commission continues to value a wide and unique range of perspectives and experiences through the commissioners who make up our board and are willing to do the hard work of accreditation,” Commission Chair Katherine Conway-Turner said in a statement.
The commission is responsible for reviewing member institutions to ensure they meet rigorous educational standards, maintain strong governance practices and demonstrate continuous improvement. Accreditation through MSCHE plays a critical role in helping institutions maintain credibility, access federal funding opportunities and strengthen academic programs for students.
Ramsey currently serves as the sixth president of Medgar Evers College and is both the first woman and the first scientist to lead the institution since its founding. Her election to the commission reflects the confidence of her peers and recognizes her experience in academic leadership, institutional development and student-centered innovation, officials said.
In her expanded role, she will contribute to conversations and decisions that influence colleges and universities across a broad geographic and academic spectrum.
"I'm deeply humbled and truly grateful that my peers have placed their confidence in me by electing me to serve on the Middle States Commission on Higher Education," Ramsey said. "This opportunity to serve as a Commissioner is one that I treasure, as it allows me to make a meaningful impact on higher education across an even broader landscape."
