ACE President Ted Mitchell Receives Honorary Degree at WGU Commencement
On Saturday, March 16, Dr. Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education (ACE), was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters at WGU's commencement ceremony in Anaheim, Calif.
The honorary degree celebrates Mitchell’s legacy of faithful service on behalf of our nation’s underserved, underrepresented and underestimated post-secondary learners. Working closely with Congress, the executive branch, and the private sector, Mitchell has dedicated his career to developing policies and innovative practices to advance educational excellence, equity and social justice.
“I’m incredibly humbled by this honor,” said Mitchell. “There is no higher calling than education.” Mitchell was present at WGU’s founding in 1997 and has been a follower and admirer of the university throughout its history, but he became a true convert when he spoke at a WGU commencement ceremony in 2018.
“I was sold,” he said after his first commencement experience. “This is the model of higher education for the future.”
Mitchell’s life’s work has unwaveringly supported that cause. “I've committed my career to driving positive change in creating environments where innovative education models like WGU can thrive,” he said.
WGU has indeed grown since Mitchell’s last commencement speech in 2018. Enrollment has increased from 110,000 full-time students to more than 174,000. In those six years, WGU welcomed almost 218,000 new alumni and awarded 233,000 new degrees.
Mitchell shared some encouraging words with this year’s graduates on Saturday in California: “Just as WGU has pioneered a transformative, affordable, competency-based approach to higher education,” he said, “you, today’s graduates, are breaking barriers and redefining success.”
Mitchell’s parting advice to grads was emblematic of his own inspiring journey. “Have a plan, but at the same time, let magic happen.”
