Patrick Crane is the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for the North Carolina Community College System Office. Prior to serving in his current role, Dr. Crane served as the Director of the Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development for the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC). Previously, Crane worked as the Director of Research and Data for the Oregon HECC, Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, and as Education Policy Advisor to West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin. He holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Georgia, an M.Phil in Higher Education from the University of Oslo, and a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Wesleyan University.