Nicholas Kent
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Nicholas Kent is Chief Policy Officer at Career Education Colleges and Universities. In this role, he serves as senior advisor to association leadership by providing statutory, regulatory, and policy guidance on matters relating to higher education. Additionally, Nicholas is President of the CECU Research Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports and promotes evidence-based research to improve higher education, particularly career and technical education.
Prior to his current role, Nicholas was Managing Director at Dulles Advisory Group, a higher education and strategic management consulting firm. In this position, he worked with postsecondary institutions to assist and guide them on the vastly regulated field of higher education, including advising nonprofit and proprietary organizations regarding strategic and technical issues pertaining to accreditation and the federal student financial assistance programs. Nicholas previously held a government appointment as Director of Policy, Planning and Research at the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education. In this position, he was primarily responsible for working with internal and external stakeholders to develop and support the final issuance of regulations, policies, and guidance materials that supported the agency’s efforts to ensure compliance with federal and local laws. Before time in public service, Nicholas served as Vice President of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs for a private equity sponsored company. For approximately eight years, he was responsible for leading and managing regulatory operations, including accreditation and state authorization activities, for a system of 53 postsecondary institutions. Nicholas began his career in education as a professional staff member for an accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Nicholas earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from West Virginia Wesleyan College and his master’s degree in higher education administration with a concentration in policy from The George Washington University. He is a current member of the Association for Education Finance and Policy and a frequent writer and speaker on topics related to higher education. |