Former Wright-Patt leader named interim SOCHE president

FILE: Cassie Barlow, chief operating officer for the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE): “Think about the power of all of our Miami Valley region counties coming together to attract (jobs) and doing it together. Thats one area where we could get a lot better. If we could figure that out that would be a huge game changer. TY GREENLEES / STAFF

FILE: Cassie Barlow, chief operating officer for the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE): “Think about the power of all of our Miami Valley region counties coming together to attract (jobs) and doing it together. Thats one area where we could get a lot better. If we could figure that out that would be a huge game changer. TY GREENLEES / STAFF

The former installation commander of Wright Patterson Air Force Base’s 88th Air Base Wing will become the interim president of the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education.

Cassie Barlow will become the leader of SOCHE in March, replacing outgoing president Sean Creighton who reccently accepted a job as the president for the organization the New American Colleges and Universities.

Barlow joined SOCHE in 2017 as director of the Aerospace Professional Development Center and moved into the chief operations officer position soon after.

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Barlow oversees SOCHE’s talent development programs that help address ongoing workforce needs in Ohio. She was instrumental in the recent merger of the Dayton Area Graduate Studies Institute into SOCHE’s operations, according to the organization.

“The board has the utmost confidence in Dr. Barlow, who has done an excellent job as SOCHE’s chief operations officer. She will continue to be a success in her new role and help transition SOCHE into the future,” said Jo Alice Blondin, chair of the SOCHE board of trustees and president of Clark State Community College.

Barlow retired in 2014 after serving for two years as Wright-Patt’s commander. She serves on committees and boards for The Victoria Theatre Association, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, The Abilities Connection, Carroll High School and the Alzheimer’s Association.

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