WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE (October 11, 2022) — StraighterLine, a leading provider of online courses, credentials and student support that now serves over 150,000 learners per year has appointed Zachary Wagner as its Chief Product Officer.
Wagner brings a decade of experience leading product strategy and development for consumer and business-to-business platforms in the education technology industry, most recently serving as senior vice president of Product Strategy and Operations for EVERFI. In this role, Wagner will be responsible for developing StraighterLine’s product vision and championing a product culture. He will work with stakeholders across the organization to shape and shepherd a product strategy to solve real needs for today’s learners. With StraighterLine’s recent acquisition of the Childcare Education Institute (CCEI), one of the largest online training providers for early childhood education professionals, and additional acquisitions anticipated, Wagner will work to create a robust product strategy to integrate an expanded course catalog and support additional learners.
“This marks yet another exciting step for StraighterLine as we reimagine our platform to meet the needs of all learners from high school through college and into their careers,” said Heather Combs, StraighterLine CEO. “It is not often you find someone like Zach who has the experience, knowledge and talent paired with a deep passion for changing the world through education. We are lucky to have Zach lead the way to create a platform that helps more students succeed.”
His career path has long been shaped by his passion to change education for the better. When Wagner began his career as a full-time AmeriCorps volunteer in a Title 1 school in Philadelphia, he saw first-hand the effects of the opportunity gap that exists in communities across the country.
“In those days, there weren’t too many affordable or scalable pathways to higher education but whenever one did emerge, it often came with permanent improvements for the lives it impacted,” said Wagner. “I’m excited to be part of the work StraighterLine is doing to bring higher education and career advancement within everyone’s reach.”
Wagner regularly serves as an advisor to startups on operations, early revenue generation and product vision and strategy. He is a featured speaker for the Product School, a mentor for New Chip Accelerator, and continues to volunteer with City Year, an organization he served during his time as an AmeriCorp volunteer. Wagner holds a Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College and a master’s degree in Technology, Innovation and Education from Harvard University.
About StraighterLine StraighterLine is the leading provider of high-quality, affordable, online courses that help learners earn college credit and meet their professional goals. Each year, 150,000 learners take one of StraighterLine’s 215 courses to upskill into new careers or earn credit from over 2,000 colleges and universities worldwide. StraighterLine works with institutions and corporate partners to provide their students and employees with flexible education options that allow them to work and learn at their own pace. Visit www.straighterline.com for more information.
