Boston-The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) will honor higher education scholar Terrence MacTaggart at its ninth annual New England Higher Education Excellence Awards celebration to be held Friday, March 11, 2011, at the Long Wharf Marriott Hotel in Boston, Mass. More than 500 people will attend this event, including leaders of education, business and government from across the six New England states.

Each year, NEBHE presents Regional Excellence Awards to individuals and organizations that have shown exceptional leadership on behalf of higher education and the advancement of educational opportunity, and State Merit Awards to honor the innovative work of organizations, institutions or individuals in each New England state.

MacTaggart is the recipient of the Eleanor McMahon Award for Lifetime Achievement, which is given to an individual who has dedicated their life's work to improving higher education.

An experienced leader and scholar in higher education, MacTaggart is the former chancellor of the University of Minnesota State University System and twice served as chancellor of the University of Maine System. He chaired the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

His research and publications focus on strategic planning, institutional advancement, governance and improving relations between institutions and the public. As a faculty member and administrator at several public and independent colleges and universities, he led or participated in substantial institutional transformations. He served as a Fulbright Scholar to Thailand and to Vietnam and as an expert on accreditation and quality assurance. He is the author of numerous books and publications and works as a consultant to colleges and universities in New England and across the country. He currently serves as a senior fellow at the Association of Governing Boards and is a board member of the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME).

"Terry has been a highly effective academic administrator and a thoughtful scholar on higher education issues regionally and globally," said NEBHE President and CEO Michael K. Thomas.