PRESS RELEASE
Marie Cini Named Acting CEO of ED2WORK, Outgoing CEO to Take on New Thought Leader Role
March 8, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 8, 2021—Ed2Work Solutions, LLC (ED2WORK®), a national advocacy, research, and strategy firm that partners to create conditions necessary for working learners to succeed and adapt for the future of work, today announced that Marie Cini will become the acting chief executive officer on March 15, 2021. Cini’s appointment follows the tenure of Steven Taylor, founder and chief executive officer of ED2WORK, since its launch in August 2019.
Taylor is leaving ED2WORK to transition into a newly minted role as a senior fellow, postsecondary education at Stand Together, a philanthropic community focused on removing barriers in education, business, communities, and government so every person can rise. At Stand Together, Taylor will provide thought leadership in developing and executing the team’s vision and strategy on postsecondary education, driving external policy partnerships, and building issue-focused coalitions to advance the team’s postsecondary education goals. Taylor, who previously led education and innovation at the American Council on Education and later founded ED2WORK, will transition to a senior adviser role and chair ED2WORK’s Advisory Council.
“With Marie’s guidance and partnership, our first eighteen months were a resounding success. We’ve grown our team and partnered with some truly innovative states, nonprofits, and higher education institutions to achieve a demonstrable impact for working learners and our clients. I trust this success will continue to grow under her tenure at the helm, and I look forward to serving in an advisory capacity,” said Taylor.
“Steve Taylor and I led ED2WORK to create direct impact for working learners, and we have focused our efforts on that goal. We both believe that a new, more integrated ecosystem has to be developed so that working learners can advance through their education and careers across a longer lifespan. This ecosystem has to be built across the nation and at all levels—local, state, and federal. All sectors need to be part of this work,” said Cini. She added, “Steve’s new role is less about him leaving ED2WORK and more about him expanding and amplifying the need to support greater innovation and flexibility in postsecondary education. I’m honored to lead ED2WORK and look forward to conducting more direct impact projects for working learners.”
Cini is an accomplished senior executive in higher education and nonprofit associations whose career spans more than 25 years and includes extensive experience as a leader in organizations serving working learners. Before joining ED2WORK, Marie served as president of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL). Before that, she served as provost and senior vice president at the University of Maryland University College (now University of Maryland Global Campus). Cini has also administered programs for adults at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and held increasingly responsible positions at Thomas Edison State College and City University of Seattle. Cini earned her Ph.D. and master’s degrees in social psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s in counselor education from the Pennsylvania State University.
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Last updated March 8, 2021 9:00 AM ET