Thomas Ehrlich is a senior scholar at The Carnegie Foundation, where his work focuses on enhancing moral and civic responsibility among undergraduates. Ehrlich is involved with the Foundation's Preparation for the Professions Program and co-directs the Political Engagement Project.

From 1987 to 1994, Ehrlich was president of Indiana University. After retiring from Indiana University, he joined San Francisco State University as Distinguished University Scholar, and held that position until 2000. In addition, he was provost at the University of Pennsylvania from 1981 to 1987 and dean of the Stanford University Law School in the 1970s. He also served from 1979 to 1981 as the first director of the International Development Cooperation Agency and the first president of the Legal Services Corporation from 1975 to 1979.

Ehrlich is past chair of the American Association of Higher Education, and serves on the boards of the Corporation for National Service, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Public Welfare Foundation. He is also a board member of the Center for Civic Education, the Center for Law and Social Policy, and the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. He has been president of the Harvard Alumni Association, chair of Campus Compact, and a board member of Bennett College.