Education Revolution: Alexandra Schaffrath of Vocate Education Solutions On Innovative Approaches That Are Transforming Education
The future of education demands close collaboration between what students are learning and what employers need including emerging skills, AI literacy, data analytics and the agility to pivot as industries change.
As a part of this series, we had the pleasure to interview Alexandra Schaffrath.
Alexandra Schaffrath is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Vocate Education Solutions, where she leads a national network of organizations dedicated to expanding access to career-relevant education and strengthening the workforce pipeline. In this role, she guides Vocate’s enterprise strategy, organizational performance and mission driven efforts to help adult learners build meaningful careers in high-demand fields, while deepening partnerships with employers to meet evolving workforce needs. Prior to her appointment as president, Alexandra served as Vocate’s Executive Vice President, Chief Financial & Strategy Officer, where she oversaw the financial, strategy, corporate development and business insights functions. Before Vocate was launched to unify Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA), American Institute, Nasium Training and Global Education Group under one enterprise, Alexandra held senior leadership roles within UMA, where she guided finance and strategy across the institution. Earlier in her career, Alexandra served as Vice President of Development at Laureate Education and held leadership roles at Career Education Corporation, following analytical and consulting positions at Bear Stearns & Co. and KPMG LLP. Alexandra earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Deeply committed to community impact, Alexandra served as Chair of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) 2025 Go Red for Women Campaign in Tampa and is a member of the AHA Tampa Metro Board. In 2023, she was recognized as a Tampa Bay Business Journal CFO of the Year honoree for her organizational and community contributions.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share the “backstory” behind what brought you to this particular career path?
I landed in higher education by chance or perhaps by fate. I was a liberal arts graduate who started her career in accounting and then finance but kept seeking opportunities to drive impact. Career Education Corporation (now Perdoceo) took a chance on me as a senior analyst on their corporate development team, opening my eyes to the power of workforce-aligned education. I loved the work as it combined strategy, growth and mission. It was very satisfying to build pathways for learners who knew that education could change the trajectory of their lives. More than 25 years later, that still motivates me.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
During one of my first meetings when I joined Ultimate Medical Academy in 2012, I was involved in a discussion around a meaningful operational decision. This operational decision would drive efficiency and result in substantial expense savings. However, as we discussed the financial outcomes, there was an equal, if not more meaningful conversation about the impact of the change on our students. At the end, it was the student impact instead of the financial cost that was prioritized and we opted to forgo the savings to ensure our students had the best experience we could offer. This same learner-first prioritization is a core part of the Vocate culture today.
Can you briefly share with our readers why you are an authority in the education field?
I’ve spent more than 25 years working at the intersection of education, strategy and workforce needs. Today, as President and CEO of Vocate Education Solutions, I lead a national organization focused on helping learners access career-relevant education and build pathways into meaningful work. Throughout my career, I have helped shape growth, market expansion and institutional strategy at organizations such as Career Education Corporation, Laureate Education and Ultimate Medical Academy which is one of the organizations within Vocate Education Solutions. My experience shapes how I think about education: it must be learner-centered, connected to opportunity and responsive to what employers and industries need now and for where they are headed next.
Please tell us all about the innovative educational approaches you are using. What is the specific problem that you aim to solve, and how have you addressed it?
At Vocate, I lead a team focused on making career-focused education more connected to the real needs of learners and employers. We build programs and partnerships in fields where opportunities are growing and where learners can see a clear path from education to career. We are working to bring education providers, employers and industry partners closer together so programs can keep pace with the skills and expectations shaping today’s workforce.
One example is the innovative EMT education offered through Ultimate Medical Academy. At UMA’s Tampa Center, students use advanced simulation tools, including a driving simulator. UMA was the first institution in the nation to own this incredible technology. The simulator allows students to practice operating emergency vehicles in realistic scenarios with haptic feedback in the steering and pedals. Students also use the Milo Response Training Simulation, which presents real-time medical and emergency scenarios that change based on their decisions. These tools help bridge the gap between classroom instruction and the high-pressure situations graduates may encounter in the field.
Our simulator improves the connection between education and employment where there are often notable gaps. Employers need graduates who are prepared to contribute, while learners need education that is practical and tied to a real-life role. For adult learners especially, more flexible and career-relevant learning can open doors that may not have felt accessible through other routes.
In what ways do you think your approach might shape the future of education? What evidence supports this?
I ask, “Why can’t we?” a lot. This is especially true when I consider the opportunities and challenges facing education. Why can’t education be more responsive? Why can’t we create clearer pathways from learning to employment? Why can’t we give every learner the skills, confidence and support to succeed in an ever-changing economy?
The evidence for this approach comes from action. When we make stronger decisions, build better partnerships and remove barriers for learners, we begin to see what meaningful innovation looks like in practice. That is how we will shape the future of education: not by predicting change but by being willing to lead it.
Vocate’s approach makes education more accessible, practical, adaptable and aligned with opportunity. The future of education demands close collaboration between what students are learning and what employers need including emerging skills, AI literacy, data analytics and the agility to pivot as industries change.
How do you measure the impact of your innovative educational practices on students’ learning and well-being?
I measure impact through both outcomes and experience. Are our students building the skills they need to move toward meaningful careers? Just as importantly, do they feel supported, connected and confident throughout their journey with us?
Achieving this impact underscores the importance of why we listen closely to learners and graduates both during their time as students and after graduation. Their feedback helps us understand where they need more support, flexibility or connection.
From an organizational perspective, I value data-informed decision-making, stakeholder feedback and listening closely to our partners. Learner success is closely tied to how relevant and responsive our programs are to the opportunities students are preparing to pursue. Ultimately, measuring impact means looking beyond completion rates to understand whether education is providing the talent needed by employers therein helping learners secure stronger futures.
What challenges have you faced in implementing your educational innovations, and how have you overcome them?
One challenge is that education and employer needs can move at different speeds. Employers often need people with the right skills quickly, while education providers must be thoughtful about quality, learner support, compliance and long-term value. I’ve learned that the answer is not to chase the now but focus on the future and where our partners are heading. Focus must remain on sustainability and the ideas that can truly help learners today and tomorrow. We must continue to strengthen programs that drive long-term value for our students’ future employers. Reaching this goal requires clear priorities, strong partner input and the discipline to move from conversation to action.
Keeping in mind the “Law of Unintended Consequences” can you see any potential drawbacks of this innovation that people should think more deeply about?
Yes. Any education innovation needs to be designed carefully to support learners in a real and practical way. Technology, for example, can create more flexibility and personalization but it also must come with adequate support so learners feel confident using it. Employer alignment is critical and we have to ensure programs help learners build durable skills and long-term career mobility while also meeting the needs of specific employers. To me, the goal is credible innovation which is both creative and forward-looking while also remaining grounded in data, learner needs, employer value and tangible outcomes.
What are your “5 Things I Wish I Knew When I First Started”?
1. Your career is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s absolutely fine to change course, speed up and slow down. There are many pathways to success.
2. You learn best from your errors and failures. There is little value in being perfect and I have grown most from my setbacks versus my successes.
3. Be kind. At the end of the day, you won’t remember the project as much as the relationships with your colleagues. They will sustain you long after the work is done.
4. Never stop learning. Your formal educational journey is just one part of your career journey. Stay curious and embrace the unknown.
5. Build your own career cabinet. Mentorship is everywhere. Seek out those with different perspectives who push you to be your best.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Do your best. My mom always told me that and it is the mantra I live by. It sounds simple but carries deep responsibility. This message demands we always give 100% and try to get the best outcome no matter what the circumstance. There are no days off and no shortcuts. We must do the work and find creative ways to get to better solutions.
Is there a person in the world, or in the U.S., with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why?
I’d choose one for each meal:
Breakfast with Indra Nooyi, former chairwoman and CEO of PepsiCo, because I want to explore her perspectives on leadership and what she learned while sitting in the top seat as a woman, mother and global business leader.
Lunch with Julia Child, where I’d let her pick the restaurant and order. I’d ask her about reinvention, being a trailblazer and embracing the messiness of learning. I’d also try to glean a few cooking tips.
Dinner with Dolly Parton, because she is a personal hero and I know I would thoroughly enjoy our time together while learning how to be authentic, promoting joy and never losing your sense of humor.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Readers can follow me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/aschaffrath
Thank you for sharing these insights!
Education Revolution: Alexandra Schaffrath of Vocate Education Solutions On Innovative Approaches… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.