Ep 128: Creating Opportunities for Teens to Test and Try with Jean Eddy

I am joined today by Jean Eddy. Jean is the President and CEO of American Student Assistance (ASA), where she develops and drives the overall strategic direction of the organization. During Jean’s tenure, ASA has pivoted to a new focus on helping students discover potential career paths earlier in their education journey. As you’ll hear during this episode, Jean is someone who has unlimited passion and commitment to helping kids, as early as middle school to know themselves, know their options, and make informed choices about their education and career goals.

During our conversation, we discuss why middle school (or earlier) is the right time for students to “test and try” and why relevance is so important to students when learning subjects in school. Jean discusses several tools that ASA has brilliantly developed for cell phones – meet them where they are, right? – and that make exploration fun. Jean shares a number of amazing resources and websites that you’ll want to check out too, so be sure to check out the show notes where all links will be included.

About Jean Eddy

Jean Eddy is the President and CEO of American Student Assistance (ASA), where she develops and drives the overall strategic direction of the organization. Named by the Board of Directors as CEO in the fall of 2016, she was asked to undertake an evaluation of the organization’s direction and purpose to better align ASA’s strengths with highest student impact areas. During Jean’s tenure, ASA has pivoted from a 65-year history of helping students with college financing and repayment options to a new focus on helping students discover potential career paths earlier in their education journey before financing or repayment need occur. In collaboration with the Board and her senior management team, she has successfully shifted ASA’s focus and direction to help kids – as early as middle school to – know themselves, know their options, and make informed choices about their education and career goals.

Prior to becoming its CEO, Jean served on the Board of ASA for 20 years, serving most recently as Vice Chair. She has spent her career in higher education holding numerous senior-level positions. Deeply committed to student success, she is known for building student-focused infrastructures at higher education institutions. Jean came to ASA with more than 25 years of experience creating and leading education organizations, serving as the Chief Operating Officer at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment at Brandeis University, and holding multiple roles in the financial services and enrollment areas during a 12-year tenure at Northeastern University.

Nationally, Jean is a recognized speaker and subject matter expert, and she is an outstanding communicator with internal and external audiences. She served on Governor Charlie Baker’s Commission on Digital Innovation and Lifelong Learning, and she holds a bachelor’s degree from Roger Williams University and a master’s degree from Johnson & Wales University.