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    BPI Expert Faculty

    Douglas Lynch

    Senior Fellow and Professor

    USC Rossier School of Education

    Key Takeaways

    • 1.He is an academic administrator and entrepreneur focused on scaling learning innovation across education and corporate sectors.
    • 2.Lynch founded Genesis Academy, one of the first charter schools in the U.S., at Arizona State University.
    • 3.He launched the USC EdTech Accelerator, which has supported companies that have raised over $130 million.
    • 4.His work in corporate learning includes designing post-crisis training for organizations like WorldCom and the FDNY.
    • 5.He received the Presidential "E" Award for Innovation for his work in exporting U.S. education programs.

    About Douglas

    Douglas Lynch is an academic administrator and education entrepreneur recognized for driving learning innovation and scaling solutions across K-12, higher education, government, and corporate learning sectors.

    Who is Douglas Lynch?

    Douglas Lynch is a senior fellow and professor at the USC Rossier School of Education. He has held significant leadership roles, including Vice Dean at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (GSE), and academic director for Wharton Executive Education. Lynch's career is marked by a consistent focus on bridging innovation, policy, and large-scale implementation in education.

    He is known for his work in adult and continuing education, particularly in online learning, and has been instrumental in developing programs that address critical needs in both public and private sectors. His contributions span from pioneering charter schools to establishing corporate learning services for major organizations.

    Quick facts about Douglas Lynch

    | | |:---|:---| | Role | Senior Fellow and Professor | | Company | USC Rossier School of Education | | Expertise | Education Innovation, Online Learning, Executive Education, Corporate Training, Policy | | Notable for | Founding Genesis Academy, NYU Corporate Learning Services, USC EdTech Accelerator | | BPI affiliation | Expert Faculty member |

    What is Douglas Lynch known for?

    • Founding Genesis Academy at Arizona State University, one of the first charter schools in the U.S.
    • Establishing NYU's Corporate Learning Services, which designed training for WorldCom post-bankruptcy and the FDNY after 9/11.
    • Creating the nation's first joint doctoral program in work-based learning with Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania.
    • Launching the USC EdTech Accelerator, which has raised over $130 million and serves more than 24 million students.
    • Receiving the U.S. Department of Commerce's Presidential "E" Award for Innovation in 2002 for his work in exporting U.S. education programs globally.
    • Chairing the American Society for Training & Development's Public Policy Committee and leading the U.S. delegation to the International Standards Organization (ISO) for non-formal learning standards.

    What is Douglas Lynch's background and experience?

    Douglas Lynch's career spans significant academic and administrative positions. Prior to his current role at USC Rossier School of Education, he served as Vice Dean at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education, where he also held roles as Academic Director for Wharton Executive Education and Senior Advisor to the Fels Institute of Government. Earlier in his career, he was an Assistant Dean at New York University and held positions at the College Board and Arizona State University.

    His educational background includes a B.A. in economics from Arizona State University, an M.B.A. in International Finance from the Stern School of Business at New York University, and both an M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Economics and Education from Columbia University. Lynch has frequently engaged with policy-making, including testifying before the U.S. Congress on innovation in higher education and serving on the CIA Corporate University Board of Visitors.

    What topics does Douglas Lynch speak and write about?

    Douglas Lynch focuses on the intersections of learning innovation, access, and impact across various educational landscapes. His expertise covers K-12, higher education, government, and corporate learning, emphasizing strategies to scale effective educational solutions. He is a proponent of online education, policy development, education entrepreneurship, and bringing research into practical application.

    His work often explores how to create durable connections between academic research, practical implementation, and market adoption. Lynch's insights are particularly valuable for organizations looking to navigate digital transformation in education and foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation within their workforce, aligning with the principles of a Most Loved Workplace®.

    How does Douglas Lynch contribute to the Best Practice Institute?

    As an expert faculty member, Douglas Lynch brings a wealth of experience in education innovation and large-scale implementation to the Best Practice Institute. His background in developing impactful learning programs and scaling educational initiatives aligns with BPI's mission to identify and disseminate best practices in leadership, talent management, and organizational development. While specific webinars on record are not available, his expertise supports the SPARK Model by contributing to knowledge around strategic partnerships for learning and development, and aligning educational initiatives with organizational growth and employee engagement.

    Where can you learn more from Douglas Lynch?

    Further insights from Douglas Lynch can be found through his work at the USC Rossier School of Education and his past roles at the University of Pennsylvania and New York University. He has been involved with various initiatives aimed at improving educational access and impact, and information regarding his past talks and projects may be available through publicly accessible professional profiles and academic institutions.

    Background & Perspective

    Background

    Douglas Lynch is a senior fellow and professor at the USC Rossier School of Education with a career focused on education innovation and entrepreneurship. His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Economics and Education from Columbia University, an M.B.A. from NYU's Stern School of Business, and a B.A. from Arizona State University. Prior to his role at USC, Lynch was Vice Dean at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, where he was also Academic Director for Wharton Executive Education. His earlier career included roles as an Assistant Dean at New York University, and positions at the College Board and Arizona State University.

    Areas of Expertise

    Lynch is recognized for creating and scaling impactful educational programs. Key achievements include:

    • Founding Genesis Academy at Arizona State University, one of the nation’s first charter schools.
    • Establishing NYU's Corporate Learning Services, which developed critical training programs for the FDNY after 9/11 and for WorldCom post-bankruptcy.
    • Creating a joint doctoral program in work-based learning with the University of Pennsylvania and Wharton.
    • Launching the USC EdTech Accelerator, which has helped raise over $130 million for educational technology ventures serving over 24 million students.

    Policy and Leadership

    An active voice in policy, Lynch has testified before the U.S. Congress on higher education innovation and served on the CIA Corporate University Board of Visitors. He chaired the American Society for Training & Development’s Public Policy Committee and led the U.S. delegation to the ISO for developing standards in non-formal learning.

    Areas of Expertise

    Education InnovationOnline EducationCorporate LearningHigher Ed PolicyEdTech AcceleratorAcademic Leadership

    Research Topics

    EducationInnovationLeadershipOrganizational Development

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