Higher Education Leader Joins Strada Education Network

Courtney Hills McBeth to coordinate national engagement efforts for social impact organization
May 29, 2020

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INDIANAPOLIS — May 29, 2020 — Strada Education Network, a national social impact organization dedicated to forging new pathways between education and employment, today announced the appointment of Courtney Hills McBeth as senior vice president of national engagement operations.

“In a time when more than 40 million Americans are newly facing unemployment, our mission of better serving those left behind by the current education-to-employment system is more important than ever,” said William D. Hansen, Strada Education Network President and CEO. “I am gratified to bring Courtney’s proven experience in coordinating and implementing strategic innovation to our efforts and our network in service of the populations we seek to support every day, and even more so in this challenging time.”

In this newly created role, Courtney is responsible for overseeing efforts related to Strada’s fusion center, the organization’s internal means for maximizing its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, she will focus on integrating Strada’s research, work and ideas into the broader network and coordinating additional partnerships with institutions, think tanks, universities, policy organizations, and employer groups. This role will also coordinate relationship-building with institutions and employers, positioning Strada Education Network as an instrumental thought leader in transforming the postsecondary education-to-workforce system.

Courtney has a distinguished career in higher education, most recently as the special assistant to the president at the University of Utah. In that role, she led university-wide strategic planning, presidential initiatives, and innovation efforts between four major research universities working to ensure the economic mobility of America’s middle class. She previously managed Utah’s Eccles School of Business Sorenson social impact and data science center and developed large-scale domestic and global internship programs at the Hinckley Institute of Politics.

“I’m thrilled to join the dynamic Strada team, particularly at this time in our nation’s history,” said McBeth. “Strada’s mission of completion with a purpose is more important than ever given the urgency and need for innovation in postsecondary education to career pathways.”

Courtney, a former academic All-American soccer player, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Utah in political science and education, respectively. She also holds a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania.


About Strada Education Network

Strada Education Network is a pioneering social impact organization dedicated to improving lives by forging clearer and more purposeful pathways between education and employment. We believe real impact comes from informing, engaging, and empowering learners and leaders alike. Our approach combines innovative research, thought leadership, strategic philanthropy, mission-aligned investments, and a network of affiliate organizations. Together, we work to create a new learning ecosystem that better serves the millions of Americans seeking to complete postsecondary education and training, gain clear value from those experiences, and build meaningful careers. Learn more at stradaeducation.org.