Foundation Names Daniel Greenstein as Director of Postsecondary Success Program | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

SEATTLE -- The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced Daniel Greenstein as the new director of its Postsecondary Success Strategy. Greenstein is Vice Provost of Academic Planning, Programs, and Coordination with the University of California system, where he leads system-wide strategic initiatives.

“We are thrilled that Dan has agreed to join our team. Dan has shown passion and dedication throughout his career in tackling the important issues facing students and postsecondary institutions today and ensuring that all students are able to complete their postsecondary career and go on to reach their highest potential,” said Allan Golston, president of the foundation’s U.S. Program. “Like us, he believes that every student who has the will to earn a postsecondary degree must have a way to do it. Dan understands how critical that goal is to the lives of young people and the future of our nation.”

Greenstein will lead the Postsecondary Success Strategy, which aims to boost the number of students earning degrees and credentials by helping institutions adopt strategies and tools that will improve instruction and hold down costs. He starts on July 2.

At the University of California, Greenstein led a number of system-wide initiatives ranging from redesigning instructional programs to introducing fully online courses into the undergraduate curriculum.

“Dan’s background in educational technology is particularly exciting,” said foundation co-chair Bill Gates. “He has a vision for how technology can be an important tool to help improve large postsecondary systems and this vision will be critical to our long-term work with our grantees and partners to implement a strategy that has technology as a key component.”

Before joining the University of California System, Greenstein was the executive director of the Digital Library Federation in Washington, D.C., where he facilitated collaboration among 26 major US research universities in their development of shared networked infrastructure and information services. Greenstein has a Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Oxford University. He has had academic appointments at Glasgow University where he was the director of the Glasgow University Arts Faculty Computing Facility.

“The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is committed to improving postsecondary education for today’s students, too many of whom never graduate. I’m honored they have chosen me to help lead that effort,” Greenstein said. “I admire the foundation's ability to work with many partners in higher education, and its incredible dedication to improving the lives of young people by taking on some of our nation’s biggest and most complex challenges. I’m excited to join this extraordinary team.”