While issues of higher education access, opportunity, and impact are hotly debated on the floors of Congress and in state legislatures, it is the state's higher education executive officer (SHEEO) who is expected to be an innovative policymaker, an astute political actor, an all-seeing fortune-teller, and a rapid problem-solver. These professionals must achieve a balancing act between political agendas and academic freedom while ensuring that the institutions they represent are maximizing their contribution to the larger public good and preparing students to become contributing citizens. In this volume, scholars and practitioners come together to explore the position of the SHEEO. Chapters present historical investigations, original research, and reflections and advice for current and aspiring SHEEOs, their agency staff and boards, state policy leaders, and students of state policymaking and higher education. Each chapter ends with recommendations for the continuing study of, and attention to, the important role of the SHEEO. Book features include: (1) an entire volume solely dedicated to SHEEOs--the individuals responsible for state higher education policy coordination and leadership; (2) contributions from renowned scholars from higher education, public policy, political science, and public administration, as well as seasoned SHEEOs; (3) practical advice, high quality and original empirical investigations, and theoretical considerations related to state higher education leadership and governance; and (4) a new research agenda with ideas for potential projects outlined at the end of each chapter. Following an introduction by the editors, this book contains the following chapters: (1) The Origins and Evolving Roles of State Higher Education Executives in American Higher Education (Paul E. Lingenfelter); (2) The SHEEO and the Public Good (Neal Holly); (3) State Leadership for Student Success (Richard G. Rhoda and Kristen C. Linthicum); (4) Letter to a New SHEEO (Thomas D. Layzell); (5) The State Higher Education Executive Officer and Higher Education Finance and Policy (Alicia Kinne-Clawson and William M. Zumeta); (6) The Role of the SHEEO and the Board in Changes in Higher Education Governance (Randall W. Hanna and Jason P. Guilbeau); (7) The SHEEO and Intermediary Organizations (Erik C. Ness, James C. Hearn, and Paul G. Rubin); (8) Politics and Presidents (Tracey Bark and Alisa Hicklin Fryar); (9) Modern Era Trends in State Higher Education Coordination, Governance, and Alternatives for the Future (Brian A. Sponsler and Mary Fulton); (10) Theoretical Perspectives on the SHEEO (David A. Tandberg and Jacob T. Fowles); and (11) Data, Measures, Methods, and the Study of the SHEEO (T. Austin Lacy and David A. Tandberg). The book concludes with final thoughts by David A. Tandberg, Brian A. Sponsler, Randall W. Hanna, and Jason P. Guilbeau. Includes a section about the editors and contributors. Contains an index. [Foreword by Robert E. Anderson.]