We are dedicated to the following principles as we carry out our mission:
Partnership for Education Advancement (formerly known as Education Finance Institute) was formed in 2018 by Tony James, Chairman of Jefferson River Capital, and Jim Runcie, former Chief Operating Officer of Federal Student Aid (FSA), the higher education regulatory oversight and student financing arm of the federal government. Mr. James and Mr. Runcie believe strongly in the benefit of obtaining a college education and have seen first-hand the significant and generational impact of higher education on students’ lives. They have also witnessed the structural inequities that keep this opportunity out of reach for many Americans.
Our efforts to improve equitable access to educational opportunity include strengthening and sustaining institutions that primarily serve under-resourced students. These schools include minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that play a pivotal role in socioeconomic mobility and social justice within our country. These institutions have served their mission under challenging resource constraints.
Partnership for Education Advancement collaborates with higher education leaders, philanthropy, socially responsible businesses, and policymakers to develop solutions that advance education opportunities for a more equitable society.
Advisory Board members are nationally recognized leaders committed to improving equal access to higher education and supporting holistic solutions that can benefit students across the country. We are grateful to the following individuals who have agreed to serve:
We partner with organizations that share our commitment to improve equity in education and facilitate social mobility.
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