Janet L. Holmgren

Patten University, California’s most affordable, regionally accredited private university offering a transformative liberal arts education. Founded in 1944, the Oakland-based University has a distinctive tradition of empowering students by preparing them for enriching careers, effective leadership and thoughtful service. Offering innovative online and on-campus academic programs, Patten is fully committed to making their students education accessible. Their students will be able to get their courses and stay on track to graduate in four years. No waiting lists or long registration lines, no summer school. And with an on-campus faculty-to-student ratio of one to twelve, their students are at the heart of everything they do. Their faculty members are dedicated mentors who get to know their students personally, interacting in and out of the classroom. Patten’s wide range of students reflect Northern California’s diversity, and include local Oakland undergraduates and graduates, transfer and international students, and working adults. Whether their students want to be a businessperson, a nonprofit organizational or community leader, a teacher, or an entrepreneur, a Patten education prepares their students for the 21st century workforce. Their graduates turn capability and aspiration into lifelong careers to become productive citizens who advance social justice and make the world a better place.

Women's College Coalition, Inc. provides education services. It serves colleges and universities by conducting collaborative research; introducing women and families to women’s colleges through admissions advocacy programs; and bringing together women’s college leaders to collaborate and to explore the issues in higher education today. The company was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Decatur, GA.

UNOW, Inc. provides competency-based learning platform. It operates online and self-paced universities that offer associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree programs. The company was founded by David Meyer and Eugene V. Wade Jr. in 2010 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA.

The American Council on Education (ACE) is a membership organization that mobilizes the higher education community to shape effective public policy and foster innovative, high-quality practice. The organization is based in Washington, D.C. ACE provides services for employers, training providers, colleges and universities, and military and working learners. The organization offers a suite of learning solutions informed by adult, community, and blended learning pedagogies, while its services include evaluation, transcript, and technical assistance for students, employers, and higher education institutions. ACE's research and insights focus on equity-minded leadership, institutional transformation, and student success.