Nicole L. McDonald, Ph.D., works as a Strategy officer at Lumina Foundation and is responsible for developing strategic priorities, investments, and partnerships to increase postsecondary attainment. She leads and manages a portfolio of grants and contracts on low-income student support, learning-based and completion pathways, student success, institutional innovation, and leadership development. Previously, she served as the System Director for Transfer and Retention with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. Her background includes education policy as well as academic and student affairs administration—including work as an Associate in Academic Affairs at the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, and work in various capacities at postsecondary institutions. Her philosophy of student success is, “All students deserve a high-quality education that they can take anywhere.”