Commencement Speaker - Michael P. Meotti
Commissioner of Higher Education in Connecticut
Michael P. Meotti, Commissioner of Higher Education in Connecticut, will be the commencement speaker at Western Connecticut State University’s graduate commencement ceremony on May 22.
Meotti, who was named commissioner in March 2008, oversees the department of Higher Education, which develops public polices to guide Connecticut’s higher education system of community colleges and universities.
When he was appointed, Meotti said he looked forward to helping Connecticut build upon its educational foundation.
“Higher education provides a strong foundation for both personal success and the economic competitiveness of our state,” Meotti said. “Like many families throughout Connecticut, members of my family have been fortunate to pursue college degrees that my grandparents would never have imagined to be possible. The availability of quality public colleges and universities and student financial aid made that possible.”
Meotti has an extensive background in public policy, having served as President of United Way of Connecticut and President of the Connecticut Policy and Economic Council. He served eight years in the State Senate during which he was Assistant Majority Leader and vice-chair of the Education Committee.
The commissioner counts among his accomplishments a report that points to potential weaknesses in Connecticut’s support of education. For instance, while the state is ranked among the top five in income and education level, many students are not ready for college-level math or English courses and need to take remedial classes.
Meotti credits the program that WestConn has forged with Danbury and Bethel high schools, called “Building a Bridge to Improve Student Success,” as a model to address the weakness of some college students. It pairs high school teachers and college professors to ensure students are ready for college-level work.
Meotti is a graduate of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and the Georgetown University Law Center. A native of New Britain, Meotti is married to Pamela S. Meotti, an attorney with the Office of the Reporter of Judicial Decisions in the Connecticut Supreme Court. They reside in West Hartford with their two daughters.
