Nicholas C. Donohue

President and CEO, Nellie Mae Education Foundation

Nicholas C. "Nick" Donohue is the President and CEO of the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, where he leads efforts to reshape New England's public education systems to be more equitable and more effective for all learners. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2006, Donohue was a Special Master at Hope High School in Providence, where he oversaw implementation of the Rhode Island Commissioner of Education’s Order to reconstitute the school; he has also been Commissioner of Education in New Hampshire. As a sought after thought leader in education transformation, Donohue has worked tirelessly to promote equitable learning opportunities and close the achievement gap. Throughout his career Nick has championed innovative approaches to expanding access to high quality learning opportunities for all learners, especially for those who are underserved. His leadership in education reform challenges traditional notions of schooling to respond to our changing world and prepare all learners to contribute to a thriving democracy. In 2015, Donohue was named as one of the "50 People Shaping the Future of K-12 Education" by Getting Smart, a mission-driven organization and online community focused on accelerating and amplifying innovations in teaching and learning. Additionally, he serves on the Boards of Directors for the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) and Grantmakers for Education (GFE). Donohue holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University and an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE).