Our Leadership
Our Journey
Higher Education Solutions started as so many great journeys do: as a "what if" dream. As former higher education leaders ourselves, too often we saw these firms coming in, taking a lot of hard earned money from their clients, and leaving with nothing more than reports containing a few graphs and platitudes as deliverables. We aim to be different. We don't just give our clients a report and move on. We walk with you through every step of the process, we get to know your institution and its people, and we work with you to implement the solutions we create. Our goal is to help effect real change at your institution, and many times we're proud to develop genuine friendships along the way.
Our team is passionate about making a positive impact for you and your institution. With a focus on innovation and excellence, we aim to redefine the landscape of higher education and the people it serves, setting new standards of success and sustainability.
Dr. Chris McCaghren
CEO and Managing Partner
Dr. McCaghren serves as our CEO and Managing Partner at Higher Education Solutions. Recognized as a national expert in the fields of higher education leadership and policy, he is often called upon to present to various associations and groups on a variety of topics, including FAFSA and Title IV compliance, current national trends in higher education, and envisioning the future of American higher education.
Prior to founding Higher Education Solutions, Dr. McCaghren served as the acting assistant secretary for postsecondary education, and prior to that the deputy assistant secretary for higher education, at the US Department of Education, where he oversaw the distribution of more than $36 billion in pandemic relief funding to more than 5,100 institutions of higher education and their students.
Before being called to Washington, DC, he served as the executive vice president and provost, as well as professor of higher education leadership and policy, at the University of Mobile. During his tenure at the university, he and his team of entrepreneurs more than tripled the institution’s academic offerings (including the university’s first-ever doctorate programs) and introduced several nationally-recognized initiatives to increase student access and success.
Dr. McCaghen also served as dean of the College of Education at Anderson University and as assistant to the president for external programs and division head for the division of career and continuing studies at Samford University. In addition, he served Congressman Spencer Bachus (AL-6, retired) and the great people of the state of Alabama as special assistant to the congressman.
Dr. McCaghren holds a doctorate from Vanderbilt University in higher education leadership and policy, a master of theological studies from Beeson Divinity School, and a double major undergraduate degree in communication studies and classics from Samford University. When not contemplating and postulating the policy and practice of higher education, he enjoys spending time with his wife Lauren (a fellow higher education sojourner) and his nine-going-on-thirty-year-old daughter Callen.
