Ted Mitchell

Ted Mitchell is the president of the American Council on Education, the chief organizing body for all American higher education institutions. Ted and his team work closely with Congress, the administration, and the private sector to develop policies and innovative practices that serve America’s post-secondary learners. Prior to joining ACE, Ted served as Under Secretary of Education in the Obama administration, responsible for all higher education policy, White House Initiatives focused on HBCUs and minority serving institutions, and Federal Student Aid. In that role, Ted and his team created the College Scorecard and restored billions of dollars to students who had been defrauded by for profit colleges and universities. Before coming to ED, Ted served in a variety of leadership roles in higher education as professor at Dartmouth College, Dean and Vice Chancellor at UCLA, President at Occidental College, and a member of the Stanford Board of Trustees. Ted has also been a leader in K-12 education, serving as the President of the California State Board of Education and leading the New Schools Venture Fund, a venture philanthropy firm focused on technologies that improve educational outcomes for low income students. Throughout his career, Ted has worked to build an educational system that serves the goals of excellence, equity, and social justice. He serves on the boards of Coursera, TIAA, Khan Academy, GED, and Credential Engine. He has two adult children.