[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 102 (Monday, June 17, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4113-S4114]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DR. PAUL LeBLANC

 Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, as the senior Senator from New 
Hampshire, I rise to celebrate the career of Southern New Hampshire 
University President Paul LeBlanc and congratulate him on his 21 years 
of leadership to the university, as well as his significant 
contributions to the higher education sector, as he steps down this 
summer.
  Fueled by his own experience as a first-generation immigrant college 
student, Dr. LeBlanc has been driven throughout his career to make 
college more accessible and affordable to all learners, regardless of 
their personal circumstances. Appointed as SNHU's president in 2003, 
his work has created more inclusive opportunities for learners in New 
Hampshire, across the country and globally.
  As SNHU's fifth president, with a reputation as a pioneer and leader 
in online education, Dr. LeBlanc has played a pivotal role in reshaping 
the university into a forward-thinking global institution committed to 
student success, accessibility, and innovation. Under Dr. LeBlanc's 
direction, SNHU grew from 2,500 students to more than 225,000 learners, 
making SNHU the largest nonprofit provider of higher education in the 
country. With his vision to make higher education more accessible, Dr. 
LeBlanc has conferred more than 200,000 degrees during his tenure at 
SNHU. The university also ranks among the most innovative universities 
in the country and as a top employer nationwide.
  As a thought leader in learner-centered higher education innovation, 
Dr. LeBlanc is the author of two books, ``Students First: Access, 
Equity, and Opportunity in Higher Education,'' published by Harvard 
Education Press in 2021, and ``Broken: How Our Social Systems are 
Failing Us and How We Can Fix Them'' published in 2022. His

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written work explores the ways higher education has traditionally left 
some students behind and challenges the industry to rethink delivery 
models and evolve to meet students where they are.
  Dr. LeBlanc has also been a steadfast community member in the city of 
Manchester. In 2023, LeBlanc was recognized as Citizen of the Year by 
the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. Under his leadership, SNHU 
launched many community initiatives, including donating funds and 
volunteer hours to support people experiencing housing insecurity, 
delivering thousands of meals to Manchester K-12 students during the 
COVID-19 pandemic, and partnering with the YWCA NH to launch the Center 
for New Americans to support families who are new to the United States.
  As a lifelong learner, Dr. LeBlanc is not retiring but going back to 
his original graduate work, studying the impact of new, paradigm-
shifting technologies on society--specifically AI's impact on education 
and the workforce. I look forward to hearing his important insights on 
such a critical topic.
  I congratulate Dr. Paul LeBlanc on his outstanding tenure as the 
president of Southern New Hampshire University and his positive impact 
on higher education systems and policy. I know that the SNHU community 
and educators throughout New Hampshire join me in thanking Dr. LeBlanc 
for his leadership and passion for expanding access to 
education.

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