Strada collaborates with students, policymakers, educators, and employers across the U.S. to strengthen the link between education and opportunity.
We prioritize policies, practices, and programs that help ensure postsecondary education provides equitable pathways to opportunity.
We advance our mission through research, grantmaking, social impact investments, public policy solutions, Strada-supported nonprofit organizations, and strategic initiatives.
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INDIANAPOLIS — Strada Education NetworkSM announces the election of two new members to its board of trustees. Strada Education is an Indianapolis-based national nonprofit dedicated to improving lives by strengthening the pathways between education and employment. Strada Education welcomes these two outstanding leaders to its governing board:
Thomas B. Mangas served as CEO of Starwood Hotels from December 2015 until the completion of the company’s merger with Marriott International at the end of 2016. Mangas previously had been executive vice president and chief financial officer since September 2014, responsible for the global accounting, tax, treasury, strategic planning, corporate development, risk management, investor relations and supply chain functions.
Prior to joining Starwood, Mangas served as executive vice president and CEO of Armstrong Floor Products, a division of Armstrong World Industries Inc. From 2010-2013, he was senior vice president and CFO of Armstrong World Industries, where he was responsible for finance, investor relations, information technology and global business services.
Previously, Mangas spent 20 years at Procter & Gamble Co. in increasingly senior finance and accounting positions. He has extensive experience with growth-focused transactions, including spins, mergers and acquisitions; Wall Street interactions; capital allocations; regulatory compliance; functional reorganizations; and effective cost-reduction initiatives. Mangas graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in economics.
Mimi Wolfe Strouse served as a senior adviser at Accretive LLC since 2010. Previously, she was managing director and partner at Warburg Pincus LLC from 2002 until 2008. She worked in the Warburg Pincus New York office, focusing on business process outsourcing and human capital management investing. Upon joining Warburg Pincus in 2002, Strouse was a member of the media, technology, and telecommunications group and was responsible for leading investments in the business process outsourcing, financial technology and postsecondary education markets.
Previously, she was a principal at General Atlantic Partners LLC, which she joined in 1996. Strouse also served as a financial analyst in the Mergers and Acquisitions division of Credit Suisse First Boston. She is a director of Everspring and previously served on the boards of Bridgepoint Education (BPI), Fortent, Yodlee, Skillsoft, WNS, MLM and Rebus. Strouse received a bachelor’s degree in history and African studies from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., and an honors diploma in African studies from the University of Cape Town in South Africa.
Strada Education is transitioning to a new business model to accelerate its impact on the challenges facing higher education and workforce development today. Building on 57 years of supporting college access and student success as USA Funds®, the organization recently exited its historic role helping more than 22 million students and parents pay for college as the nation’s leading federal student loan guarantor and has launched a new chapter advancing Completion with a Purpose® as Strada Education Network.
“Tom and Mimi each bring tremendous expertise and leadership experience at an exciting time of transformation and growth for our organization,” said Edward Schmidt, chairman of the Strada Education board, and president and CEO of Silver Creek Partners LLC. “We look forward to their contributions as we advance our Completion With a Purpose mission, building a more purposeful path for America’s students to rewarding careers and fulfilling lives.”
Mangas and Strouse join the following trustees on the Strada Education board:
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