Michele Ernst

Board of Directors Chair

An education professional with over 20 years of experience in higher education serving adult students in an online, residential and blended environment.

Dr. Ernst has a successful history of managing all functional areas of a college, with specific emphasis in academic affairs, including curriculum development, regulatory affairs and accreditation, student retention, training, and faculty/staff development. Dr. Ernst has devoted her career to helping students reach their educational goals.

Dr. Ernst is currently the Chief Academic and Compliance Officer at SAE USA.

Aaron Edwards

Board of Directors Vice-Chair

Aaron Edwards is the Founder of Edwards Strategies, a higher education company focused on enrollment solutions. Aaron has over 15 years of experience developing high-impact enrollment strategies in marketing, admissions and research. 

Aaron has managed multiple aspects of education marketing and student life cycle innovation. His drive and focus for developing and implementing solutions has positioned his clients for long-term, sustainable success. 

During his career he has served on boards, committees and counsels dedicated to enhancing the value and direction of higher education.

Jeremiah Scarbrough

Treasurer

Jeremiah has served as Regional Director for the Aviation Institute of Maintenance for over a decade. Overall, Jeremiah has twenty years of experience working in the proprietary school industry, with eighteen of those years being in a leadership position.

Previously, he has worked as the Director of Global Operations for Strayer University, Director of Operations with Kaplan University, and Director of High School Admissions at Everest Institute. Jeremiah supports the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and its mission by serving as a Team Leader for accreditation visits. He also serves on the Board of Directors as the Treasurer for The Central States Private Education Network (CSPEN).

Jeremiah holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Florida and resides in Chesapeake, Virginia with his amazing wife and their four children.

Jami Frazier

Board Member

Jami Frazier has over 25 years of experience in education and currently serves as Co-President – Business Operations for American Career College in southern California.

Prior to joining ACC, Jami served as SVP and President of the Healthcare Division of Universal Technical Institute (UTI) and President of Concorde Career Colleges. Jami served in several roles during her 16-year tenure with Concorde, ranging in areas of oversite in Student Affairs, Academics, Compliance and Operations, ultimately facilitating Concorde’s change of ownership to UTI in 2022 as Chief Executive Officer.

Starting in for-profit education with Kaplan Higher Education as a Financial Aid Advisor, Jami has overseen multiple aspects of career college operations. Previous board appointments include California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools and Nebraska Workforce Development.

Jami holds a bachelor’s degree in human resources with an emphasis in Family and Consumer Sciences from the University of Nebraska.

Josh Swayne

Board Member

Josh Swayne is the President and CEO of Prospect Education which owns and operates 11 Charter College campuses in Washington, California, Alaska, Montana, Utah and New Mexico. Josh has 20 plus years of experience in the career college educational sector, ranging from instructor to CEO.  He earned his Master’s degree in Instructional Technology and his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Utah State University.

Mike Wherry

Board Member

Michael is a Shareholder and Director in the Audit Department at McClintock & Associates and has over three decades of experience in the sector. With a dedicated focus on post-secondary educational institutions, encompassing both for-profit and non-profit entities, Michael ensures adherence to audit and compliance regulations. His leadership role involves comprehensive oversight of the firm’s audit department, covering financial statement and compliance audits.

As a Certified Public Accountant, Michael spearheads the completion of annual audits, including financial statements and student financial aid assessments. Clients benefit from his expertise in internal controls, financial reporting under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), proactive solutions for regulatory compliance, interpretation of standards and regulations, and strategic advice to minimize findings in student financial aid audits. His consultancy extends to high-level transactions for buyers and sellers, providing valuable insights on critical metrics such as the composite score ratio, the 90/10 calculation, and opening balance sheet ratios related to changes
of ownership.

Beyond his role at McClintock & Associates, Michael actively contributes to the industry as a respected presenter at national conferences and conventions. He holds certifications from both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Michael’s commitment to professional development extends to his board memberships, where he currently serves on the boards of both CSPEN and the Mid-Atlantic Association of Career Schools (MAACS).

Andrea Snow

Board Member

Andrea Merisotis Snow is an EdTech Executive and Attorney who has been helping to play a part in bridging individuals out of generational poverty through education and training. She currently serves as SVP and In-House Counsel for Ancora, overseeing its Operations, Academics, Career Services, and company strategy across its divisions, including: High School, Post-Secondary Education, and Workforce Development/Training.

She maintains a steady focus on elevating the student and faculty experience, setting up graduates for future success in their chosen career fields, and engaging employer partners in upskilling, reskilling, and locating the most meaningful talent possible. Prior to the last thirteen years in education, Andrea’s experience was focused on the legal and marketing departments in the sport & entertainment industry.

She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of South Carolina, a Juris Doctor from Roger Williams University, and is a licensed attorney in South Carolina and Arizona. In addition to her professional work, Andrea serves on the Board of Directors for Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre and Grace Community Outreach, educationally supports Project Grow-a professional program for high school females, and provides leadership training to various employers in coastal areas of the United States.