Tennessee / Higher Education Commission
Agency file
The Higher Education Commission operates a public higher-education institution — instruction, research, and student services.
In 2026, this agency had 71 employees with median total compensation of $97,008; the highest distinct record was $276,060.
What the records show
These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.
How 2026 total compensation is spread across the 71 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($97,008) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.
What an average paycheck here is made of — base salary versus overtime, other pay (bonuses, allowances), and benefits. A large overtime or other-pay share means take-home often exceeds base salary.
The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $179,136 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $65,184. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).
The most common job titles in this department by headcount, with the median total compensation for each. Click a title to see everyone who holds it.
Record list
Highest-paid first / page 1
Thec-Executive Director/Higher Education Commission
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Steven Gentile is a Thec-Executive Director at Higher Education Commission within Executive. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $276,060.
Thec-Chief Fiscal Officer/Higher Education Commission
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Jason Cavender holds the role of Thec-Chief Fiscal Officer at Higher Education Commission within Fiscal Affairs. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $232,980.
Thec-Gen Counsel and Coo/Higher Education Commission
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Matthew Sloan holds the role of Thec-Gen Counsel and Coo at Higher Education Commission within Legal and Regulatory Affairs. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $230,428.
Thec Chief Police & Strategy Off/Higher Education Commission
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Amanda Klafehn Tepe works as a Thec Chief Police & Strategy Off for Higher Education Commission within Lottery Scholarship Assessment. Their status is full-time. Amanda earned $198,940 in 2026.
Thec-Chief College Access/Higher Education Commission
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Brett Gipson is a Thec-Chief College Access at Higher Education Commission within Lottery Scholarship Assessment. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $197,940.
Thec-Chief of Ext Relations/Higher Education Commission
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At Higher Education Commission, Louis Hanemann serves as a Thec-Chief of Ext Relations within Executive. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $197,940.
Thec-Chief Academic Officer/Higher Education Commission
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Julie Roberts is a Thec-Chief Academic Officer at Higher Education Commission within Academic Affairs. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $197,940.
Thec-Senior Director 3/Higher Education Commission
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At Higher Education Commission, Stephanie Bellard Chase serves as a Thec-Senior Director 3 within Postsecondary School Authority. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $179,136.
Thec-Data Strategist/Higher Education Commission
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Jacob Kamer works as a Thec-Data Strategist for Higher Education Commission within Policy Planning and Research. Their status is full-time. Jacob earned $170,004 in 2026.
Thec Senior Director/Higher Education Commission
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Lauren Elliott holds the role of Thec Senior Director at Higher Education Commission within Lottery Scholarship Assessment. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $164,292.
Thec-Senior Director 2/Higher Education Commission
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At Higher Education Commission, Brenda Smith serves as a Thec-Senior Director 2 within System Fiscal Support. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $160,008.
Thec Senior Director/Higher Education Commission
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William Heithcock works as a Thec Senior Director for Higher Education Commission within Fiscal Affairs. Their status is full-time. William earned $155,928 in 2026.
Higher Education Fiscal Director/Higher Education Commission
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Patricia Hensley holds the role of Higher Education Fiscal Director at Higher Education Commission within Fiscal Affairs. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $150,000.
Information Systems Director 3/Higher Education Commission
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James Moran holds the role of Information Systems Director 3 at Higher Education Commission within Lottery Scholarship Assessment. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $146,040.
Thec Senior Director/Higher Education Commission
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Jessica Gibson is a Thec Senior Director at Higher Education Commission within Policy Planning and Research. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $137,436.
Thec-Asst Chief Fiscal Officer/Higher Education Commission
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At Higher Education Commission, Russell Vanzomeren serves as a Thec-Asst Chief Fiscal Officer within System Fiscal Support. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $137,436.
Thec-Gu Senior Director/Higher Education Commission
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At Higher Education Commission, Duane Gregg serves as a Thec-Gu Senior Director within Gear Up TN. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $133,380.
Thec-Veterans Education a Ex Direct/Higher Education Commission
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Kenneth Hanson holds the role of Thec-Veterans Education a Ex Direct at Higher Education Commission within Veterans Education_Payroll. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $129,108.
Deputy Counsel/Higher Education Commission
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Rachel Hitt holds the role of Deputy Counsel at Higher Education Commission within Legal and Regulatory Affairs. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $127,540.
Thec-Sr Director Workforce/Econ Development/Higher Education Commission
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Mitchell Currey holds the role of Thec-Sr Director Workforce/Econ Development at Higher Education Commission within Academic Affairs. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $123,528.
Thec Senior Director/Higher Education Commission
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Victoria Harpool works as a Thec Senior Director for Higher Education Commission within Policy Planning and Research. Their status is full-time. Victoria earned $122,020 in 2026.
Thec-Sr Director Academic Affairs/Higher Education Commission
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At Higher Education Commission, Kyle Christmas serves as a Thec-Sr Director Academic Affairs within Academic Affairs. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $122,004.
Thec-Info Systems Director/Higher Education Commission
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Heather King works as a Thec-Info Systems Director for Higher Education Commission within Fiscal Affairs. Their status is full-time. Heather earned $121,380 in 2026.
Thec-Director/Higher Education Commission
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Johnathan Rogers is a Thec-Director at Higher Education Commission within Fiscal Affairs. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $120,000.
Thec-Fisc Policy Analysis Director/Higher Education Commission
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Julia Hoffman holds the role of Thec-Fisc Policy Analysis Director at Higher Education Commission within System Fiscal Support. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $117,216.
Thec Senior Director/Higher Education Commission
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Sarah Ligas works as a Thec Senior Director for Higher Education Commission within D55_Colg Advisor Corps Administrative. Their status is full-time. Sarah earned $112,772 in 2026.
Thec-Business Intelligence Development/Higher Education Commission
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At Higher Education Commission, Brian Douglas serves as a Thec-Business Intelligence Development within Lottery Scholarship Assessment. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $112,272.
Thec-Internal Auditor/Higher Education Commission
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James Cullum is a Thec-Internal Auditor at Higher Education Commission within Executive. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $107,784.
Thec-Data Scientist/Higher Education Commission
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At Higher Education Commission, Joshua Skiles serves as a Thec-Data Scientist within Lottery Scholarship Assessment. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $107,004.
Thec-Director/Higher Education Commission
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Brittany Mosby is a Thec-Director at Higher Education Commission within Executive. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $106,596.
Thec-App/Data Support Analyst/Higher Education Commission
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Mike Barcroft works as a Thec-App/Data Support Analyst for Higher Education Commission within Lottery Scholarship Assessment. Their status is full-time. Mike earned $106,224 in 2026.
Thec-Director/Higher Education Commission
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Corsina Dickson-Wiley is a Thec-Director at Higher Education Commission within Executive. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $102,676.
Thec-Nav Reconnect Director/Higher Education Commission
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At Higher Education Commission, Tina Bishop serves as a Thec-Nav Reconnect Director within Policy Planning and Research. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $101,052.
Thec-Regional Coordinator/Higher Education Commission
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At Higher Education Commission, Elvin Browne serves as a Thec-Regional Coordinator within Gear Up TN. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $98,204.
Thec-Special Assistant/Higher Education Commission
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Laura Crawford holds the role of Thec-Special Assistant at Higher Education Commission within Executive. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $97,132.
Thec-Dir Postsecondary St Auth/Higher Education Commission
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Kimberly Hodge is a Thec-Dir Postsecondary St Auth at Higher Education Commission within Postsecondary School Authority. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $97,008.
Thec-Assistant Director/Higher Education Commission
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Eboni Lloyd is a Thec-Assistant Director at Higher Education Commission within Postsecondary School Authority. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $95,676.
Thec Director Academic Affairs/Higher Education Commission
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Megan Roberts works as a Thec Director Academic Affairs for Higher Education Commission within Academic Affairs. Their status is full-time. Megan earned $95,148 in 2026.
Thec-Regional Coordinator/Higher Education Commission
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At Higher Education Commission, Deborah Brown serves as a Thec-Regional Coordinator within Gear Up TN. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $95,004.
Thec-Gu Director Data Research Comp/Higher Education Commission
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Shantae Coleman works as a Thec-Gu Director Data Research Comp for Higher Education Commission within Gear Up TN. Their status is full-time. Shantae earned $95,004 in 2026.