James Kvaal Named Vice President of the National Program of Carnegie Corporation of New York

New York, New York, November 13, 2025 – James Kvaal has been named vice president of the National Program at Carnegie Corporation of New York, effective December 8, 2025. A former under secretary of education for the U.S. Department of Education and an education policy expert, Kvaal will develop and implement the foundation’s grantmaking in education and democracy. His appointment follows a highly competitive national search.

“James brings deep expertise and decades of experience at the highest levels of government, along with a belief in the power of education to transform lives,” said Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie and past head of Oxford University. “He stood out from the many hundreds of highly qualified applicants for the role because of his demonstrated commitment to strengthening our democracy, to building coalitions, and to thinking deeply about the problems facing our country. I look forward to working with him to realize Andrew Carnegie’s vision of education as a driver of social and economic mobility.”

As vice president, Kvaal will focus on a range of grantmaking aimed at supporting the foundation’s overarching goal of reducing political polarization. This includes support for programs that strengthen social cohesion and trust in public institutions. Among its priorities, Carnegie invests in work that creates greater socioeconomic mobility, encourages civic learning and participation, promotes legal pathways for immigrant integration, and encourages voter participation.

“Over the past century, Carnegie’s investments in education and democracy have immeasurably improved the daily lives of millions of Americans,” said Kvaal. “Today its work is as needed as ever. I’m inspired by Dame Louise’s vision and humbled by the opportunity to contribute to Carnegie’s future success.”

As under secretary of education (2021–2025), Kvaal led a staff of 1,700 people administering $35 billion in annual grants and more than a trillion dollars in outstanding student loans. His team designed dozens of regulatory and operational reforms that helped more than 5 million eligible borrowers receive loan forgiveness, including for public service and permanent disabilities. He previously served as president of The Institute for College Access & Success, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing affordability and equity in higher education, and on the White House economics and domestic policy staff, including as deputy domestic policy adviser (2013–2016).

Kvaal is a graduate of Stanford University, where he earned his BA with honors in public policy, and Harvard Law School, where he earned his JD cum laude.