Stephen Rice has over 17 years of experience in education reform. He is dedicated to designing and implementing innovative programs to improve student outcomes. As Director of Project Degree Initiatives, he launched two large grant-funded projects that served over 7,200 underserved students. Previously, he held roles focused on organizational learning, staff development, and student support.

1. STEPHEN RICE
7827 NE Everett St. Portland, OR 97213 503-784-8082 stephenmichaelrice@gmail.com
Education Reform Professional
~ Dedicated to designing, implementing, and scaling ~Poised to help more students reach individual
innovative programs, approaches, and practices that milestones while dramatically raising K-12
acknowledge, celebrate, and respond to the complex achievement, improving high school-to-college
lives of an increasingly diverse student body. transitions, and increasing college completion.
PERFORMANCE PROFILE
 17 years of experience in education in admissions, teaching, faculty/staff development, workforce training,
developmental education reform, high school to college transitions, and wrap-around student support.
 9 years of administration experience in higher education and non-profit settings; expert in designing,
implementing, and scaling initiatives that increase student access, retention, and completion.
 Launched and directed all new program-related initiatives at a fast-growing, fast-paced organization with 50
college and 130 K-12 partners in 24 states; programs reached ~7,200 underserved students in 2011-2012.
 Successful track record providing professional development, support, and collegial connections to help college
faculty, student support staff, and administrators meet their immediate needs in serving today’s students.
MANAGEMENT QUALIFICATIONS AND AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Strategic Planning ~ Hiring, Supervision & Performance Evaluation ~ Budget Development & Oversight
Data-Driven Decision-Making ~ Staff & Leadership Development ~ Outcomes-Based Project Development &
Management ~ Project Evaluation & Reporting ~ Diversity & Intercultural Competency ~ Community, K – 12, &
College Partnerships ~ Grant Writing & Contract Management ~ Student Recruitment & Retention Practices ~
Advising & Career Development Practices ~ Policy Advocacy ~ Marketing, PR, and Communications ~ Conflict
Resolution & Risk Management ~ Public Speaking & Group Facilitation ~ Teaching & Instructional Design ~ Training
Design & Delivery ~ Conference & Event Management ~ Financial Aid Policy ~ Program Scaling
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Director, Project DEgree Initiatives 2010 to 2012 Gateway to College National Network
Executed two large, high-profile, grant-funded projects. Managed a national portfolio of 21 community college
grantees, awarding over 2.5M for program start-up and evaluation. Achieved on-time, quality implementations
with promising results, meeting all grant deliverables. Served on executive team participating in business and
strategic planning, board relations, crisis management, fiscal stewardship, and human resource management.
Program Planning:
 Drove the design and rapid prototyping of Project DEgree (PDE) and Innovation Collaborative (ICO) –
evidence-based education models focused on innovative instruction, cross-departmental collaboration,
and holistic student support to increase student retention and degree attainment.
 Planned and initiated national rollout strategy to 21 colleges under ambitious timelines; accountable for
program outreach, due diligence, selection, contracting, training, implementation, evaluation, and results.
 Managed the creation of a comprehensive professional development program utilizing in-person and
web-based methods; expanded an online knowledge management system; training topics included
student recruitment, solution-focused support, integrated curriculum design, and program scaling.

2. Director, Project DEgree Initiatives (continued) Stephen Rice – page 2
Program Implementation and Administration:
 Hired, managed, and evaluated the performance of a six-person project team who provided training,
coaching, grant coordination, and technical assistance to college partners.
 Oversaw 3-year budget of 4M including budget forecasting, analysis, and proposal development.
 Served as spokesperson externally and with grantees (160+ staff nationally).
 Prepared reports and presentations; presented at conferences and outreach events; updated president,
board, and funders on progress toward strategic goals; addressed students and attended student events.
 Worked in collaboration with communications director on branding, graphics, and marketing materials;
wrote and edited articles and copy for web and print.
 Wrote and edited grant proposals in collaboration with president and development director.
Program Evaluation:
 Designed and implemented extensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation efforts in concert with
evaluation team and partner college institutional researchers.
 Created theories of change and logic models to effectively study intended outcomes.
 Analyzed data and facilitated data-driven planning with college faculty, chairs, deans, VPs, and presidents.
 Synthesized learning; disseminated lessons learned and best practices nationally; conducted learning tours.
 Developed complex return-on-investment study in collaboration with VP of finance.
 Results – PDE students made significant gains in persistence, course completion, and credit accrual when
measured against comparison groups; doubled the number of ICO faculty/student participants;
institutionalized practices at 8 of 9 PDE colleges and all 12 ICO colleges; top performers are scaling models.
Director, Organizational Learning 2008 to 2010 Gateway to College National Network
Charged with maintaining consistency of implementation while improving network performance during the rapid
scale-up phase of Gateway to College. Successfully led efforts to cultivate a national movement of practitioners
with a unified vision, shared practices, and culture of continuous improvement. Effectively implemented
organization-wide initiatives to build the Gateway brand as innovators in teaching, learning, and support.
Organizational Development:
 Helped transition organization from a college department (PCC) to an independent 501(c)3 non-profit.
 Managed a portfolio of start-up and continuous improvement grants ranging in size from 15K – 350K.
 Established and chaired the National Network Leadership Team – an elected, shared governance body
focused on network-wide program improvement with rights to nominate and vote in board of directors.
 Led expansion efforts in Texas; addressed state policy barriers to sustainable operations.
 Developed and supported 2 national demonstration schools to promote best practices among programs.
Management of Training and Staff Development:
 Managed 6-person training, coaching, and technical assistance team; negotiated contracts with vendors.
 Spearheaded and scaled instructional coaching program now serving faculty on 10 to 20 campuses
annually; set strategy, managed 1M budget, hired coaches, managed comprehensive evaluation.
 Initiated and executed leadership development program, now in its 5th year.
 Provided overall leadership of annual peer learning conference, consistently recognized for its high
quality; expanded attendance by 475% over 5 years.
 Oversaw all new partner training and technical assistance; trained up to 7 new college teams per year.

3. Stephen Rice – page 3
Coordinator, Organizational Learning / 2004 to 2008 Portland Community College
Replication Training Coordinator
Key contributor in developing a scaling strategy that led to the creation of a national network of practitioners
implementing Gateway to College, a nationally recognized model for reengaging high school dropouts.
 Helped to develop and refine a 3-volume training manual that codified every aspect of Gateway to College
operations: pedagogy, staffing, funding, recruitment, student support, curriculum, and model essentials.
 Principle designer of comprehensive start-up training curriculum, tools, and resources used to successfully
train new partner colleges since 2005; trained faculty, advisors, counselors, and administrators.
 Provided technical assistance to K-12, college and community leaders to plan and open schools in 12
states; advised leaders on ways to flex the model to fit local and state contexts.
 Launched and coordinated a 3-day national conference in 2004, an annual event now in its 9th year; set
theme, goals, and RFP process; contracted speakers; facilitated plenary sessions; served as MC.
 Led early efforts to create mission, vision, and organizational values.
 Promoted to Coordinator of Organizational Learning in 2006, assuming greater leadership responsibility.
Bilingual Career Specialist 2002 to 2004 Portland Community College
 Provided bilingual workforce development services for Workforce Network division.
 Taught job readiness and career development workshops; managed caseload and advised clients;
facilitated job seeker support group; wrote resumes; enrolled clients into career pathways programs.
 Proactively coordinated staff development initiatives – assessed needs, wrote grants, contracted trainers,
evaluated outcomes; facilitated large-group training sessions; created new-employee orientation and
comprehensive training manual; activities went above and beyond assigned job duties.
Bilingual Employment Specialist 2001 to 2002 Oregon Human Development Corporation
 Provided job placement services to Spanish-speaking migrant farm workers.
 Taught job search skills, wrote resumes, developed relationships with employers; offered interpretation
and translation services; provided client advocacy.
ESL Instructor 1999 to 2000 Harmon Hall Language School
 Wrote curriculum and taught ESL courses in Mexico to youth and adults using the school’s experiential,
active-learning pedagogy.
Admissions Specialist 1995 to 1999 Art Institute of Colorado
 Admissions specialist focused on student transitions from high school student into college.
 Managed 5-state territory representing the college during high school visits, recruitment events, trade
shows, and other special events; exceeded yearly recruitment goals by as much as 175%.
EDUCATION
Master of Arts, Intercultural Relations (training and development focus) Antioch University
Bachelor of Arts, Speech Communication University of Missouri