Eric Waldo

Eric Waldo is a devoted senior executive and advocate for transformative education reform, driven by the belief in its power to alleviate poverty, impact lives positively, and enhance communities. With a multifaceted background spanning policy, politics, communications, operations, and education, including experience as a classroom teacher, Waldo excels in dynamic, high-pressure, entrepreneurial settings.

Currently serving as the Executive Director of the Reach Higher initiative at The Common Application founded by Michelle Obama, Waldo's mission centers on motivating all U.S. students to pursue post-secondary education, regardless of the path chosen. His responsibilities encompass policy-making, advocacy, and engaging communities to propel the U.S. towards global leadership in college graduates.

Prior to his current role, Waldo held the position of Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Education (ED), playing a pivotal role in overseeing the disbursement of $100 billion in education funding under President Obama's administration. He facilitated strategic investments focusing on comprehensive education reforms from early childhood to post-secondary levels, and co-chaired the Advisory Council for Dependents’ Education at the Department of Defense (DOD).

Waldo's journey into public service began during the 2007-2008 Obama Campaign, where he served as Deputy Staff Counsel, offering legal counsel on various election protection and operational matters for the campaign. Transitioning his expertise to the public sector, he contributed to the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team before joining the ED as Special Assistant to the Secretary and eventually rising to the role of Deputy Chief of Staff.

Academically, Waldo's credentials are impressive, holding a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Chicago Law School, a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in International Education Policy from Harvard University, and an undergraduate degree in Comparative Literature (B.A.) from Brown University. Currently based in Washington, D.C., he continues to be a driving force for educational advancement and policy reform.