AREAS OF EXPERTISE:
- Why career learning should begin in middle school
- Preparing teens for postsecondary education and career success
BIOGRAPHY:
Jean Eddy is Executive Chair and Advisor to the Board of Directors of American Student Assistance® (ASA). From 2016 to 2025, Jean served as President and CEO, where she led ASA’s transformation from its 65-year history of supporting college financing and repayment into a nationally recognized nonprofit focused on helping middle and high school students explore careers, identify their strengths, and chart purposeful paths for their futures.
During her extraordinary tenure as President and CEO, ASA launched award-winning digital platforms including Futurescape® and EvolveMe®, committed $150 million to mission-aligned impact investments, and contributed $65 million in philanthropy to expand career readiness opportunities nationwide. Jean has held senior leadership roles at the Rhode Island School of Design, Brandeis University, and Northeastern University. A frequent speaker and subject matter expert, she also served on Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s Commission on Digital Innovation and Lifelong Learning. She is the author of Crisis-Proofing Today’s Learners: Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Tomorrow’s World. Jean holds a B.A. from Roger Williams University and an M.A. from Johnson & Wales University.
RECENT SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:
- ASU+GSV 2024: Authors Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Success
- Transform 2024: Investing in the Next Generation of the Workforce
- AMLE 2023: Keynote Discussion on Crisis-Proofing Today’s Learners
- ASU+GSV 2024: Authors Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Success
- Uncharted Learning National Summit 2024
- JFF Horizons 2024
- Authors & Innovators 2024
PODCASTS
- Teaching Learning Leading K-12: Crisis-Proofing Today’s Learners
- The EdUp Experience: Pathways to the Future
- Tradeswork: The Rocky Mountain MCA Podcast: Crisis Proofing Today’s Learners featuring Jean Eddy
- WorkingNation: The school-to-work journey can’t wait until high school: A Conversation with Jean Eddy
- High School Hamster Wheel: Creating Opportunities for Teens to Test and Try
- The One-Question Podcast: (all episodes; co-host)
- The Future of Education: Crisis-Proofing Today’s Learners
- Jon of All Trades: Jean Eddy – Author, President of American Student Assistance
PUBLICATIONS:
- Book: Crisis-Proofing Today’s Learners Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Tomorrow’s World
- WSJ: Start Your Career Search Before High School
- LinkedIn: Launchpad Jobs: So Much More than a First Step
- LinkedIn: From Ikigai to Internships (and More): Giving Kids Their Power Back
- LinkedIn: Investing in the Next Generation of the Workforce
- LinkedIn: Gen Z & Beyond: Emphasizing Equity, Agency, Flexibility, & Empowerment for Future Success