Office of the President

Education is not simply about increasing knowledge. It is also about empowering individuals to think critically, to look at problems in new ways, and to believe in their own ability to learn and change. 

We believe in resilience. We believe in the power of higher education to transform individuals’ and families’ lives and livelihoods, to revitalize businesses whether local or multinational, and to drive a new economy that is stronger than ever before. Most importantly, we believe that recovery must be equitable—just as talent is universal, we should strive to ensure that the opportunities in a renewed, post-pandemic world are as well. 

I continue to be proud of the innovative approach to resilience exemplified by WGU’s students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Our retention rates and student satisfaction were higher at the end of 2020 than they were in the beginning—the ultimate testimony to the support our students received. We continued to set records for monthly graduations during the darkest months of the pandemic. 

As much of higher education spent the past year reacting to changing realities, WGU’s student-centric, technology-driven, personalized approach to education enabled us to be responsive to the needs of each individual, while continuing to drive a future-focused agenda to reimagine higher education. In many ways, this year was spent as any other: in the service of our mission, to change lives for the better by creating pathways to opportunity. 

2021 promises to continue presenting the kinds of challenges and opportunities that, I firmly believe, will drive a stronger, more resilient future for higher education, for our economy, for our communities, and for the individuals and families at the center of it all. I am honored to be part of the work of WGU in defining that bright future, and I thank you for your support, your work, and all that you contribute to this collective effort.