[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 112 (Monday, July 8, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4227-S4228]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO PAUL LeBLANC

 Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am honored to recognize a Granite 
Stater whose leadership and innovations have helped make higher 
education more affordable and accessible to people around the world, 
Southern New Hampshire University president Paul LeBlanc.
  After 20 years of leadership, Paul has now moved on from SNHU, but 
his legacy of modernizing higher education and making it more 
accessible will endure far beyond his tenure as president. Under his 
leadership, SNHU transformed from a small regional school to the 
largest nonprofit provider of online higher education in the country, 
growing from 2,500 students to more than 225,000.
  As an immigrant and a first-generation college graduate himself, Paul 
knew as well as anyone that, too often, college is out of reach for 
many people. Many students have the talent, the drive, and the ambition 
that is required for college, but simply lack the means. As Paul often 
says, ``Talent is distributed equally throughout the

[[Page S4228]]

world, but opportunity is not.'' From the very beginning of his career, 
Paul knew that in a country like ours, where we believe that our 
democracy's promise belongs to everyone, we have to do better to expand 
opportunity to more students.
  With this challenge in mind, Paul helped revolutionize the modern 
classroom through innovative online and hybrid programs, giving more 
students the tools that they need to embark on exciting new careers. 
SNHU has not only opened doors of opportunity for Granite Staters and 
other Americans, but for students all across the world. Under his 
leadership, SNHU even began offering courses to students living in 
refugee camps or who have been displaced. During my time as Governor 
and now as Senator, I have had the privilege to work with Paul in his 
mission to make education more accessible. I have seen firsthand his 
vision and ability, traits that have made him one of the most respected 
voices in higher education. His creativity is boundless, and his care 
for his students is at the center of all that he does. Through his 
pioneering spirit, he is always trying to find ways to give more 
students the chance to gain an education, learn more about our world, 
and build better lives.
  When taking measure of his achievements, it can be easy to get lost 
in a sea of statistics--the number of students who earned a degree 
under his tenure, the number of countries that have students enrolled 
at SNHU, the honors and recognitions won by SNHU, and more. But behind 
these statistics are people whose lives have been made better, in part, 
thanks to Paul and SNHU. Across the country--and indeed, the world--
there are people who were able to follow their dream to start their own 
business, become a nurse, serve as a teacher, and build a better life 
for themselves and their family because of Paul LeBlanc and SNHU. By 
modernizing higher education and making it more accessible, Paul and 
SNHU have helped give hope to countless learners of all ages, helping 
them understand that higher education is a dream that can belong to 
them, too. In so doing, Paul has not only helped strengthen higher 
education in America; he has helped expand our democracy's promise to 
more Americans.
  For his innovative work in revolutionizing higher education, for his 
commitment to tearing down barriers and expanding opportunity, and for 
the countless lives he has helped transform, I am honored to recognize 
Paul LeBlanc and to thank him for his incredible service to New 
Hampshire and our country. I have no doubt that, with the same 
pioneering spirit that defined his tenure as president, Paul will 
continue to find ways to give more people a chance to pursue higher 
education and follow their highest aspirations. Paul represents the 
Granite State's--and our Nation's--spirit at its very best.

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