NASHVILLE (AP) - Gov. Bill Haslam has appointed Mike Krause to head the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

The 34-year-old Krause succeeds Russ Deaton, who has been interim executive director since the retirement of Richard Rhoda in 2014. Deaton will be deputy executive director.

Haslam's office said in a news release that Krause has been executive director of the Drive to 55 effort since 2014 and managed implementation of Tennessee Promise and other initiatives. Drive to 55 is Haslam's effort to increase the number of Tennesseans with a postsecondary degree or certificate to 55 percent by 2025. Tennessee Promise provides high school graduates last-dollar scholarships to attend two years of community or technical college.

The Higher Education Commission oversees development of the state's master plan for higher education, makes recommendations for capital appropriations in the governor's budget, establishes tuition levels and appr oves new academic programs.