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Eric Waldo

Executive Director, Michelle Obama's Reach Higher Initiative and Vice President for Access & Equity at Common App

Eric Waldo is a prominent figure in education advocacy and policy. He currently serves as the President and CEO of the District of Columbia College Access Program (DC-CAP), a position he assumed in January 2023.13 Prior to this role, Waldo had an extensive career in education and public service:

  1. He was the Executive Director of Michelle Obama's Reach Higher Initiative, which aimed to increase college completion rates in the United States.2

  2. Waldo served as Chief Access & Equity Programs Officer at the Common Application, where he led efforts to build a college-going and success movement nationwide.1

  3. During the Obama administration, he worked as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Department of Education under Secretary Arne Duncan.5

  4. In the Biden-Harris administration, Waldo was the Chief Engagement Officer for U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, leading public health campaigns on various issues.5

  5. He has a diverse educational background, holding a law degree from the University of Chicago, a master's in education from Harvard, and an undergraduate degree in comparative literature from Brown University.5

Throughout his career, Waldo has focused on addressing inequity in education and promoting higher education completion, particularly for underserved students.12 His work has involved policy development, advocacy, and community engagement to support students in pursuing and completing their post-secondary education.4

Highlights

Aug 6 · linkedin

Hi Team,

We are hiring two critical roles on the Development Team at DC-CAP (DC's largest scholarship foundation started by Don Graham, chaired by Ted Leonsis, and which I now lead).    Position 1: Director of Development Operations Position 2: Director of Foundation Relations

We recently announced a Moonshot goal to eliminate the higher education achievement gap in DC by the year 2050. And we are raising $150M to send more DC first generation students to college to accomplish this goal.

More than just the messenger here. Please feel free to share widely and encourage great folks to apply.

Warmly, Eric

May 6 · linkedin

Wonderful to see the Washington Post cover our work and specifically call out our ambitious 2050 Moonshot Goal.

"Now city leaders — from top education officials to business owners — are throwing their support behind a lofty new goal: 80 percent six-year college completion by 2050.

'It’s a moonshot goal,' said Eric Waldo, president and chief executive of the D.C. College Access Program, a nonprofit that helps students go to college. 'At a time where the headwinds have led to 30 years of education losses, we’re saying we want to double down, and that’s the only way this city is going to thrive.'"

Related Questions

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Eric Waldo
Eric Waldo, photo 1
Eric Waldo, photo 2
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Location

Washington, District Of Columbia