Massachusetts’ chief higher education official will leave his post in September, just shy of his four-year mark in that role, the state Department of Higher Education announced Friday.
Noe Ortega is stepping down from his commissioner post so he and his wife “can be closer to aging family members,” the agency said in a news release.
In a statement, Ortega said serving the state has been “one of the most meaningful and rewarding roles in my career.”
“Our collective understanding of higher education’s value for individuals, families, communities, and our workforce has allowed Massachusetts to make history in opening doors for more students,” he said in a statement. “I have every confidence that the momentum toward making college possible for more learners will continue at full speed.”
Ortega has led the state Department of Higher Education since 2022. The department manages policies and operations for the state’s public higher education system, which includes the five University of Massachusetts campuses, nine state universities and 15 community colleges.
Under Ortega’s watch, Massachusetts began a steady expansion of tuition-free higher education at public universities and colleges. Since 2023, the state’s “Fair Share” tax on high-income earners has brought an influx of new education funds.
“These funds fueled historic new state financial aid programs for which Ortega led implementation,” the department’s release said.
Among the programs was the 2023 launch of cost-free community college for residents 25 years or older. The following year, community colleges became free for any student regardless of age or income level. The state also now covers tuition and fees for some low-income students enrolled at public four-year colleges.
Last fall, the department reported higher education enrollment had rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, crediting upticks in community college enrollment as a main factor.
The Board of Higher Education plans to convene a special meeting later this month to recommend an interim commissioner until a permanent replacement is chosen. The board is responsible for selecting a commissioner, who must then be approved by the state secretary of education.
Ortega’s exit will be the second high-profile departure among state education leaders this year. In February, Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler stepped down after three years. Former Salem Superintendent Stephen Zrike was later appointed by Gov. Maura Healey to assume that role.
“In the time that I’ve gotten to know Commissioner Ortega, his dedication to college access and student success has been clear, and I’ve seen how he brings that commitment into every part of his work,” Zrike said in a statement.
Prior to his tenure as commissioner, Ortega served as the secretary of education in Pennsylvania.
Originally from Texas, Ortega’s research as a doctoral student focused on postsecondary outcomes for historically underserved students and higher education finance at U.S. colleges and universities.
