Commissioner of Higher Education
Dr. Kim Hunter Reed is Louisiana’s Commissioner of Higher Education. She is currently the only female in the country to have served as a state higher education leader in multiple states. Reed is a proven advocate for students who has worked effectively at campus, state, and federal levels. She was recognized nationally as the 2020 Exceptional Leader by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO).
Along with the Louisiana Board of Regents, Reed leads the state’s talent development efforts, focused on increasing educational attainment, erasing achievement gaps, and increasing prosperity. To reach the state’s goal of doubling the number of credentials awarded annually by 2030, she promotes transformational policies and deep collaboration, advancing the Regents’ talent imperative.
In support of that vision, Louisiana’s institutions are focused on strengthening the state’s education-to-employment pipeline, accelerating student success, advancing innovation through research and discovery, and contributing significantly to the state’s economic recovery.
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Reed is a nationally recognized student advocate with extensive higher education and government experience. In addition to leading the Colorado Department of Higher Education, she served in President Obama’s administration as deputy undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Education, where she also led the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Collectively, Reed has served in senior leadership roles with four governors across two states.
In January 2023, Reed was named as one of the nation’s Top 10 Black higher education leaders by Forbes, which stated “Louisiana’s top higher ed exec is unrivaled, the absolute best among state-level leaders.”
A Lake Charles native, Reed received a doctorate in public policy from Southern University and A&M College, as well as a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Louisiana State University and A&M College.
She is a wife, proud mom to her favorite two-time Millsaps College graduate and LSU Law student, and Louisiana’s chief advocate for talent development.
Dr. Reed in the News
2025
- September 23, 2025 – M.J. Foster Program Funds could run dry by end of the year (WAFB-TV)
- September 19, 2025 – Chronicle Festival 2025: What does it take to serve the workforce now? (YouTube)
- September 17, 2025 – After Caleb Wilson’s death, Louisiana leaders target hazing culture on campuses (The Advocate)
- August 28, 2025 – Caleb Wilson Hazing Prevention Task Force kicks off at Capitol (WAFB-TV)
- July 24, 2025 – Landry calls for new anti-woke college accreditation process (WAFB-TV)
- April 6, 2025 – Fewer Louisiana students are taking TOPS scholarships. Would more money help? (The Advocate)
- January 31, 2025 – How Louisiana wants to reward colleges for developing students’ job skills (The Advocate)
2024
- November 15, 2024 – Lafayette teacher awarded $100,000, named ‘Louisiana Treasure’ after decades of service (The Acadiana Advocate)
- November 11, 2024 – Kim Hunter Reed: Series on student body presidents ‘left us beaming with pride’ (The Times-Picayune)
- November 6, 2024 – Commissioner Reed Shares Louisiana Master Plan Update (KALB-TV)
- September 27, 2024 –Higher Education Commissioner Reed says Board of Regents announces 51% educational attainment rate (Louisiana Radio Network)
- September 23, 2024 – McNeese and Grambling State Celebrated 3rd Annual Louisiana Call Me Mister Conference (Grambling State University)
- May 17, 2024 – Will Sutton: State leaders unite to fix crumbling campuses (NOLA.com)
- May 3, 2024 – SHEEO and JED convene top policy leaders for system-wide mental health progress (SHEEO)
- April 4, 2024 – CEHS collaborates to create new STEM initiative (Louisiana Tech)
- March 11, 2024 – Louisiana Stops Requiring FAFSA Completion in High School (Inside Higher Ed)
- March 11, 2024 – Louisiana high school, training program aims to bring path from poverty to the people (The Advocate)
- February 22, 2024 – More dual enrollment opportunities offered to La. high schoolers (KPLC-TV)
- February 21, 2024 – More Louisiana students taking dual enrollment courses, but access needs expanding, report says (The Acadiana Advocate)
2023
- September 26, 2023 – OPINION: Higher education must take the lead on climate change, beginning on our own campuses (The Hechinger Report)
- September 22, 2023 – BRCC celebrates 25th anniversary, record-breaking enrollment with recognition ceremony (The Advocate)
- August 23, 2023 – ‘Character is the new currency’; Salute 1st Training Academy steers transformation of local students (L’Observateur)
- June 29, 2023 – Louisiana officials react to SCOTUS decision on affirmative action (WAFB)
- April 19, 2023 – Aspen Institute Launches Effort to Support Higher Ed’s Role in Climate Action (Diverse Education)
- April 13, 2023 – State officials ponder decline in TOPS scholarship participation (Louisiana Illuminator)
- February 12, 2023 – Building on a Legacy – Advancing Education and Opportunity (Louisiana First Foundation Blog)
- February 1, 2023 – ‘A call to action’: Higher education leaders meet at LSU to discuss improvement plans (The Advocate)
- January 24, 2023 – These Louisiana leaders landed on Forbes Top 10 list for Black higher education CEOs (The Advocate)
- January 7, 2023 – Education, roads and bridges likely winners amid $1.5 billion surplus (The Advocate)
2022
- December 9, 2022 – New campaign wants to prove ‘College is worth it’ (Inside Higher Ed)
- September 14, 2022 – College enrollment is down. Can these new state policies help? (Ed Surge)
- September 6, 2022 – ‘A spirit of unity:’ LSU, Southern sign A&M agenda to expand academic relationship (The Advocate)
- September 2, 2022 – Here’s how Louisiana now admits students into public colleges without SAT or ACT (Higher Ed Dive)
- June 8, 2022 – Education reaps benefits of big spending legislative session, ‘One for the record books’ (The Advocate)
- March 27, 2022 – Louisiana public colleges will eliminate remedial courses (Diverse Issues in Higher Education)
- March 24, 2022 – Louisiana needs another 2,500 teachers: ‘This is a crisis for us’ (Louisiana Illuminator)
- February 9, 2022 – Gov. Edwards announces Dr. Kim Hunter Reed as new chair of Louisiana Cybersecurity Commission (Bossier Parish Tribune)
- February 4, 2022 – Politico Pro Q&A: Kim Hunter Reed, higher education commissioner for Louisiana (POLITICO)
- January 24, 2022 – Education leaders hope new dual enrollment portal will help overhaul the high school experience (The Advocate)
- January 4, 2022 – Recruiting and retaining teachers in Louisiana (KPLC-TV)
2021
- September 22, 2021 – Hurricanes, pandemic underscore need for Louisiana education levels to improve, official says (The Advocate)
- September 20, 2021 – Louisiana colleges already reeling from the pandemic now struggle to recover from Ida (Politico)
- September 12, 2021 – ‘We’re tough people’: Higher ed leaders show support for students displaced by Hurricane Ida (The Daily Advertiser)
- August 19, 2021 – New grant offers aid to healthcare, STEM students near degree or credential completion (Beauregard Daily News)
- August 10, 2021 – Regents create power-violence policies (KATC-TV)
- June 16, 2021 – Fewer Black students in Louisiana take high school classes for college credit, report shows (Insider Higher Ed)
- June 9, 2021 – The (Appropriate) Federal Role in Ensuring College Value (Inside Higher Ed Podcast)
- April 9, 2021 – Once a point of pride, Louisiana’s colleges found their affordability and budgets diminished (The News Star)
- March 24, 2021 – Board of Regents vows to bolster sexual misconduct oversight after LSU report (KLFY-TV)
- January 19, 2021 –Program aims to make Louisiana high schools ‘more relevant’ (New Orleans City Business)
- January 11, 2021 – Louisiana high schools targeted for sweeping changes: ‘It can be a real game changer’ (The Advocate)
- January 9, 2021 – Battered SOWELA determined to arise; goal include new programs, enrollment gains (The Advocate)
2020
- December 21, 2020 – Louisiana colleges, public schools in line for new coronavirus aid in latest stimulus bill
- December 11, 2020 – A look at Southern University’s in-person graduation: Six feet apart, masks required
- December 4, 2020 – Southern University to hold Fall 2020 Commencement in person
- November 23, 2020 – Many Louisiana colleges plan to go completely virtual after Thanksgiving
- October 23, 2020 – McNeese making moves for a comeback
- September 20, 2020 – ‘Clearly a huge demand’: This new program at community colleges will retrain Louisiana’s unemployed
- September 16, 2020 – Lake Charles schools suffer $300 million in damages from Hurricane Laura, superintendent says
- September 2020 – Louisiana First Foundation Blog – Louisiana Board of Regents’ COVID-19 Response
- August 18, 2020 – A school year unlike any other
- August 4, 2020 – Universities and colleges prepare for returning students
- July 23, 2020 – Guest column: Louisiana’s colleges and universities made for our coronavirus recovery
- May 15, 2020 – State Cuts Grow Deep
- April 22, 2020 – La. Board of Regents approves emergency rules to address admissions, placement, dual enrollment for public higher ed students
- March 3, 2020 – Keel laid for ship named after civil-rights activist
- March 3, 2020 – Education systems must better match programs to La. workforce needs, panel members urge
- January 16, 2020 – The “Re: Connection” Blog Series: Dr. Kim Hunter Reed — Year Two and a Look to the Future
2019
- December 18, 2019 – ULM Commencement speaker: ‘Be a forever learner’
- December 3, 2019 – La. Commissioner of Higher Education to address ULM Commencement
- February 18, 2019 – Higher ed commissioner addresses LSU hazing allegations
- February 18, 2019 – Louisiana community colleges too costly, state’s higher education chief says
- February 18, 2019 – Developing Louisiana talent key to Regents’ Master Plan update
- January 26, 2019 – Commissioner of Higher Education visits NSU
- August 23, 2019 – Dr. Kim Hunter Reed’s remarks about former Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco at an interfaith service Thursday
2018
- December 11, 2018 – Commissioner of Higher Ed to speak at LSU Eunice commencement
- October 2, 2018 – COMMISSIONER OF HIGHER EDUCATION MAKING HER ROUNDS First Generation Day, Reed visits students at MSU, Sowela
- October 2, 2018 – New LA Commissioner of Higher Education shares future goals at rotary
- October 1, 2018 – Louisiana commissioner of higher education makes stop in Lake Charles
- August 28, 2018 – Back-to-School Tour with Dr. Kim Hunter Reed
- August 28, 2018 – New La. Higher Ed Commissioner Visits LSUS
- August 27, 2018 – Louisiana’s Commissioner of Higher Education tours NWLA colleges
- August 27, 2018 – New commissioner of higher ed. takes a tour of Shreveport colleges
- August 27, 2018 – New Commissioner of Higher Education embarks on “Back to School” Tour
- August 21, 2018 – Reed praises SW La. for focus on higher education
- August 20, 2018 – Higher Ed Commissioner visits UL
- August 14, 2018 – New higher ed commissioner kicks off state tour at LSUA
- August 13, 2018 – New Commissioner of Higher Education visits Cenla
- August 3, 2018 – Official addresses grads at LSU — a school her grandparents couldn’t attend
- August 6, 2018 – First Person with Dr. Kim Hunter Reed
- Spring 2018 – Dr. Kim Hunter Reed Returns to Louisiana to Continue Higher Education Mission
- April 18, 2018 – Educator, former Blanco aide Kim Hunter Reed named Commissioner of Higher Education
Educate, Innovate, and Collaborate
The Master Plan
To move Louisiana aggressively forward, the Board of Regents has embraced a robust new attainment goal that calls for 60% of all working-age adults (ages 25-64) in Louisiana to hold a degree or high-value credential by 2030. As we stand on the brink of a new decade, this Master Plan, born of the Board of Regents’ unique charge to guide postsecondary education across the state, will set the foundation to increase opportunity. Our Talent Imperative is to Educate, Innovate, and Collaborate