Under Secretary Kent To Provide Keynote Address Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at CSPEN’s 8th Annual Higher Education Policy Meeting
Overview
CSPEN is honored to announce that Nicholas Kent, the 15th Under Secretary of Education, will be our keynote speaker for the 8th Annual Higher Education Policy Meeting.
With more than two decades of experience shaping postsecondary education policy at the federal, state, and institutional levels, Under Secretary Kent brings a deep commitment to expanding opportunity, strengthening outcomes, and ensuring accountability for students, families, and taxpayers.
During his Keynote, Under Secretary Kent has agreed to share an update on the Administration’s Higher Education agenda, participate in a conversation with CSPEN’s Tom Netting and share in a Q&A with those in attendance.
Nicholas Kent was sworn in as the 15th Under Secretary of Education on August 4, 2025, following his nomination by President Donald J. Trump and confirmation by the U.S. Senate. A first-generation college graduate with more than two decades of experience in education policy, Kent serves as the nation’s top federal official for higher education. In this role, he oversees postsecondary education, career and technical education, adult education, and federal student aid programs, including the $1.6 trillion federal loan portfolio and the Pell Grant program.
Kent is responsible for advancing the Administration’s higher education agenda, including efforts to reduce college costs, simplify student loan repayment, expand workforce training opportunities, and strengthen accountability to ensure postsecondary programs deliver value for students and taxpayers. Prior to joining the U.S. Department of Education, Kent served as Deputy Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia, where he led initiatives to improve affordability, expand career pathways, and increase transparency across higher education institutions.
Previously, Kent held senior leadership roles in national higher education policy organizations and the private sector, including serving as Chief Policy Officer at Career Education Colleges and Universities and as founding President of the CECU Research Foundation. He began his career in education policy working with accrediting agencies and in K–12 education policy. Kent holds a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College and a master’s degree from The George Washington University.
