The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) named Antoinette Flores as Vice President of Federal Policy and Government Relations. Flores will lead CHEA’s federal policy strategy and engagement around accreditation, quality assurance, and higher education regulatory priorities. CHEA said Flores brings experience spanning federal higher education policy and accreditation oversight, including prior leadership at New America as Director of Higher Education Accountability and Quality. Previously, she held multiple roles in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education, including deputy-level policy and innovation work tied to regulatory activities and accreditation. Flores succeeds Jan Friis, who retired after 20 years at CHEA. CHEA framed the hire as timely given a high-activity regulatory environment and the need for sustained analysis to support institutions navigating accreditation, accountability, and federal policy changes. For university administrators and quality leaders, the appointment matters because CHEA’s federal policy capacity often shapes how accreditation and compliance communities anticipate and interpret rulemaking.