Meet our President

Guillermo Linares, Ed.D

HESC President Dr. Guillermo Linares

Guillermo Linares, Ed.D was appointed as President of the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) in February 2017 and confirmed by the New York State Senate on May 30, 2019. 

Leading the State’s student financial aid agency, Dr. Linares oversees one of the nation’s top need-based grant programs – the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), the first-in-the-nation program making public college tuition-free – the Excelsior Scholarship, the New York State Dream Act, providing access to higher education for thousands of undocumented students, and numerous other scholarship and award programs which total over $800M in aid and help more than 300,000 students achieve their college dreams each year. 

Dr. Linares has enjoyed a multi-faceted career serving as a New York State Assemblymember representing the 72nd District, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, City Council member, local school board member, public school teacher, and in numerous other roles in the community, state, and nation. 

Throughout his life, Dr. Linares, a native of the Dominican Republic, has remained committed to improving public education and championing immigrant issues. 

Dr. Linares has earned a spot on City & State’s Higher Education Power 100 List for the past three consecutive years, 2021, 2022 and 2023, for his dedication to helping New York’s students on their path toward a higher education.