On Wednesday, October 12, James Kvaal, Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, will deliver the 26^th annual Thomas J. Volpe Lecture, titled “The Future of Education,” at St. Francis College (SFC).

Named after Thomas J. Volpe, Chairman Emeritus of SFC’s Board of Trustees, the Volpe Lecture Series is the College’s premier lecture series, bringing to campus renowned speakers with expertise in finance, education, culture, politics and other fields.

In his keynote address, Kvaal will share his personal story, insights into the future of higher education, emerging trends and more. The lecture will start at 3 p.m. and include time at its conclusion for a Q&A with the audience.

Confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Under Secretary of Education on September 14, 2021, James Kvaal is the former president of the Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), a research and advocacy non-profit dedicated to affordability and equity in higher education. TICAS is nationally recognized for its research and policy recommendations on student debt.

Previously, Kvaal served in the Obama administration as the deputy domestic policy adviser at the White House and deputy under-secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, leading efforts to cut student loan monthly payments, hold career colleges accountable for excessive debts and make community colleges tuition-free. He helped organize the White House Summit on College Opportunity, which featured more than 100 college presidents and other leaders committing to actions to help more students graduate from college.

Kvaal also has served in senior roles in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. He has taught at the University of Michigan's Ford School of Public Policy and graduated with honors from both Stanford University and Harvard Law School.

St. Francis College is proud to welcome all of our alumni, students, faculty and staff to join us at the 26^th annual Thomas J. Volpe lecture — the first at our brand-new, student-centered, state-of-the-art campus at 179 Livingston Street in Downtown Brooklyn. Kindly note that advance registration is required for all attendees.

Notice to Media: While this event will be closed to press, if you are interested in covering it for your news outlet, email [email protected] for additional information.