Michael W. Klein is nonprofit leader with expertise in higher education policy, law, and finance. As a consultant, he has advised hospital systems, institutions of higher education, and local governments. He is a member of the faculties at Rutgers University, Colorado State University, and Saint Peter’s University.

For over 19 years, Klein served the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities, first as director for Government and Legal Affairs and then as executive director. Then as interim executive director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University, Klein led the Stockton Polling Institute and partnered with faculty on research and programming on issues spanning gun violence in local communities, property-tax reform in Atlantic City, environmental work in urban centers, and voter registration.

Klein was selected as an inaugural Richard P. Nathan Public Policy Fellow at the Rockefeller Institute of Government at the State University of New York in 2019. He has published several book chapters and journal articles – and has presented his work nationally and internationally – on higher education law, policy, finance, labor, and entrepreneurship. His opinion pieces have appeared in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Sports Illustrated.

Klein began his career in New Jersey state government. He was an aide to New Jersey Governor Tom Kean, served as legislative director for Assemblyman Leonard Lance, and held three positions under New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, including assistant counsel.

In addition to serving as a trustee of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, Klein volunteers as pro bono legal counsel to the World Council of Comparative Education Societies and on several working groups of the George W. Bush Institute’s Stand-To Veteran Higher Education Task Force.

Klein received a BA in history cum laude from Princeton University, a J.D. from Boston College Law School, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from New York University. He also has a certificate of Professional Achievement in Nonprofit Management from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.