Michael K. Clifford

Dr. Michael K. Clifford is an American education investor and advisor, and a proponent of higher education globally.

Early life

Initially following his father's trade as a musician, Clifford converted to Christianity and decided to follow Jesus in his mid-twenties. Contacts made through faith-based non-profit organizations introduced him to John Sperling and Brian Mueller, and he moved into the field of online higher education.[1]

Working as a fundraiser for faith-based organizations brought Clifford to the notice of Pat Robertson, and he co-managed Robertson's 1988 bid for the U.S. Presidency.[1]

Career

Clifford's early business practices involved identifying and purchasing nonprofit colleges and converting them to a new model.[2][3] In 2004 he bought Grand Canyon University on behalf of Dream Center Education Holdings, and in 2009 he set up Victory University.[4] He was also involved in the creation of the Jack Welch Management Institute, and helped found the company that would later become Bridgepoint Education.[5]

In 2010 Clifford was profiled in the PBS documentary College, which examined the effects of and issues surrounding the for-profit college industry.[2]

In 2013 Clifford created DreamDegree, an unaccredited online learning portal.[3] He founded Significant Systems, a consultancy firm for higher education institutions,[4] which later rebranded as SignificantFederation.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 "Interview: Michael Clifford". Frontline. PBS. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  2. 1 2 Joseph W. Weiss (14 July 2014). Business Ethics: A Stakeholder and Issues Management Approach. Berrett-Koehler Publishers. p. 199. ISBN 978-1-62656-142-7.
  3. 1 2 Fain, Paul. "New Model, Familiar Face". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  4. 1 2 Moore, Daniel. "As regulators meet in secret, questions loom over proposed EDMC sale". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  5. 1 2 Moore, James. "Re-Learning Education". Huffington Post. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
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