Ted Mitchell

headshot of Ted Mitchell

President, American Council on Education (ACE)

Former college president and top federal policymaker Ted Mitchell became president of the American Council on Education (ACE) on September 1, 2017.

Mitchell brings a wide array of experience and accomplishments from across the higher education sector to ACE, as well as a long-standing focus on helping more students gain access to a postsecondary education and complete their degrees. His background includes service as president of a private liberal arts college, senior administrator at a state university, and trustee of a major research insti​tution.

Mitchell was president of Occidental College from 1999–2005. He served as U.S. under secretary of education from 2014 until January 2017, reporting to the secretary of education and overseeing postsecondary education policies and programs.