Dive Brief:
- Former Deputy Secretary of Education and founding Executive Director of the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative Jim Shelton is taking on a new role in the private sector as the new chief impact officer of 2U Inc.
- Shelton will oversee a range of 2U operations and lead internal quality control efforts as the company scales up, according to a press release announcing the hire.
- Shelton fills a newly created position that will ultimately give him the opportunity to shape 2U’s social impact strategy as it attempts to make educational opportunity available to all who want it.
Dive Insight:
Shelton went from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the White House before leaving after six years with the Obama administration in late 2014. 2U works with college and university partners wanting to take courses and entire degree programs online. The ed tech company doesn’t focus on massive open online courses offered to anyone worldwide but a college or university’s core classes, offered for credit to students expected to finish them and graduate. Shelton is expected to be a powerhouse leader in his new role after a strong track record with the Department of Education.