Washington, D.C., July 31, 2008—The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) today announced the appointment of higher education expert Ann Coles, Ed.D., as a senior associate. She joins the nonpartisan global research and policy organization while continuing to serve as senior advisor for college access programs at TERI, a Boston-based nonprofit promoting educational opportunities to change people’s lives.
As an IHEP Senior Associate, Coles plays an instrumental role in expanding the organization’s growing research portfolio. She will focus on projects that aim to improve access to higher education around the world, particularly as it relates to school-to-college transition, best practices for access and persistence programs, guidance to state and federal officials seeking to increase opportunities for higher education, and financial aid policy improvements to help low-income and nontraditional students.
"Ann Coles, throughout her distinguished career, has been a champion of the cause for low-income, minority, and first-generation people who seek to better their lives through higher education,” said Interim President and Senior Associate Thomas D. Parker, Ed.D. “It is an honor to welcome her to our group of distinguished senior associates."
Considered a prominent figure in higher education, Coles served as founding executive director of both the Higher Education Information Center at the Boston Public Library, and the Pathways to College Network, a national alliance directed by TERI of over 30 nonprofit organizations and funders committed to advancing college access and success for underserved students. Before joining TERI, she managed programs for disadvantaged students at a Massachusetts community college and held administrative positions with the National Scholarship Service and Fund for Negro Students and the Institute for Services to Education.
In addition, Coles serves on various national groups, including the advisory boards of Scholarship America, College Goal Sunday, and the American Council on Education. She previously served as vice chair of the College Board trustees and was a founding board member of the Council for Opportunity in Education and ACCESS, Inc., a financial aid advising and last dollar scholarship program for Boston public school students. She holds a doctorate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
IHEP Senior Associates are highly acclaimed researchers, leaders, and advocates who are committed to increasing access and success in higher education. Many of these individuals are deeply engaged in the work of the organization and make valuable contributions to help round out the research and programmatic efforts of IHEP. Along with Coles and Parker, other senior associates include Clifford Adelman, Patti McGill Peterson, Ronald Phipps, and Thomas Wolanin.