Tommy Bruce, Cornell vice president for university communications, has been named to the Public Issues Committee of the Consortium on Financing Higher Education (COFHE), through June 2011.

Founded in 1974, COFHE is a 31-member consortium of private colleges and universities, including Cornell, that is committed to keeping higher education accessible for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds through continued partnerships between private institutions and government. The public issues group, consisting of 11 representatives from higher education, has oversight of COFHE's public policy and public affairs interests. Its major focus is federal student aid, including appropriations, budget, reauthorization and regulation. The committee also monitors other selected legislation and is responsible for formulating the consortium's policies on public affairs, public relations and communications.

Bruce is an experienced international public affairs professional who worked in Washington, D.C. for 25 years in policymaking, diplomacy and international consulting before joining Cornell in 2004.