Influential Lumina Foundation Drives Higher Education Change, Innovation: Lumina Foundation President Jamie Merisotis travels the country urging local, state and federal government officials and higher education leaders to rethink higher education and determine what steps will create the work force the nation requires in the future to remain competitive.When the Lumina Foundation for Education opened in the summer of 2000, it had lots of ideas and, for a brand new foundation, loads of cash — $770 million. Its agenda for the future was clear and fuzzy, say those familiar with its launch. Unsure about how best to improve higher education, it spent years funding exploratory projects.
