L. Jeffrey Perez, Ph.D.

L. Jeffrey Perez, Ph.D., joined the Commission on Higher Education as president and executive director in July 2024. Perez has 25 years of dynamic higher education leadership in three states, including 16 years in South Carolina. Prior to the CHE, Perez was president and CEO of South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, where he oversaw advocacy, fundraising, and campus support initiatives on behalf of SCICU’s 21 member institutions and 36,000 students. In his time at SCICU, Perez provided robust management of the organization, strengthening its capacity to serve the member institutions while enhancing its financial position. He previously served as Winthrop University’s vice president for university relations. He serves on the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s Education and Workforce Development Committee and is a Furman University Riley Fellow.