Maryland Higher Education Commission

February 2009 Press Release

 

 

For immediate release: February 25, 2009                                        Media Contact: Christopher Falkenhagen
                                                                                                                     Communications: (410) 260-4511

 

 

MHEC Employee Receives Award from National Veterans Group

ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 25, 2009) – Dr. Thomas “Tom” Tynan, Senior Academic Program Manager at the Maryland Higher Education Commission, received recognition for his work as president of the National Association of State Approving Agencies (NASAA) for several years yesterday in the Veterans Committee Room located in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Tynan was president of NASAA for two terms as well as previously serving as its secretary and vice president. As president, Dr. Tynan wrote the National Training Curriculum for the national approving agency. It served as a comprehensive and invaluable guide for training state approving agencies that is still used today.

“This is a great honor for Tom and I’m obviously proud of him,” Secretary of Higher Education James E. Lyons, Sr., said. “It is a testament to the fine and diligent work he has provided for our veterans over the years. He is a tremendous asset to MHEC.”

The typically humble Dr. Tynan said of the recognition “apparently they didn’t forget about me,” when he received word of the recognition.

“I am pleased to be representing Governor O’Malley, Lt. Governor Brown, Secretary Lyons and the MHEC staff who work so diligently and care so much about our veterans,” Dr. Tynan said. “I’ll be with a group of state approving agencies who advocate very strongly for veterans educational benefits which is so important not just in Maryland, but in the entire country.” Each state has an approving agency that is responsible for overseeing how military education veterans’ benefits are distributed. MHEC serves as Maryland’s state approving agency.

“I’ve always had a desire to serve and work in state government because state government is public service,” Dr. Tynan said. “While I am not a veteran, I recognized that this was a chance to help the brave men and women who did serve in our armed forces. Our veterans are a great group of people. I am especially grateful that I currently work in a State in which we have an administration that has worked so hard and cared so much for our veterans. In Secretary Lyons, Maryland has a leader who has thrown his vigorous support behind outstanding staff members who come to work every day to help our veterans learn everything possible about the many education opportunities available to them.” Dr. Tynan pointed out the efforts of Ted Porter, Brian Gibbons and Frank Murray who currently coordinate the state approving agency full-time at MHEC, among other duties.

The Maryland Higher Education Commission is a 12-member coordinating board responsible for establishing statewide policies for Maryland public and independent colleges and universities and private career schools. It serves as an advocate for more than 326,000 college students in Maryland, for the State and its needs, and for business and industry in Maryland.

 

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