Marie Cini: Championing Innovation and Equity in Higher Education

We are proud to feature Marie Cini, a pioneering higher education leader whose career reflects a powerful combination of innovation, advocacy, and dedication to lifelong learning. Recently honored with the 2025 Ray Schroeder Award for the Advancement of Digital Learning by UPCEA, Dr. Cini has consistently championed new models of learning that expand access and equity across communities. As a strategic leader and scholar, she demonstrates how bold vision, combined with practical action, can transform education for learners of all ages.

Journey & Academic Contributions

Dr. Marie Cini currently serves as Provost and Chief Academic Officer at the University of the People, the world’s first nonprofit, tuition-free, accredited online university serving a truly global community of learners. Since joining in 2022, she has played a pivotal role in advancing accessible education and guiding the institution through its successful accreditation with WASC, ensuring that students everywhere can pursue high-quality, affordable education.

Previously, Dr. Cini served as President of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), where she worked to connect educators, employers, and communities in support of adult learners. She also led initiatives at ED2WORK®, served as Chief Strategy Officer, and provided leadership at Vantage Point Consulting to modernize Servicemembers’ Opportunity Colleges. Across these roles, she has consistently advanced her vision of integrating learning and work, ensuring that education remains responsive to the needs of diverse learners across the lifespan.

Her early academic journey includes earning a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.S. in Counselor Education from Penn State University, which shaped her lifelong commitment to understanding people, systems, and learning.

Lessons for Students & Emerging Leaders

The career of Marie Cini offers valuable lessons for students and early-career scholars:

• Embrace Innovation with Purpose: Technology alone cannot solve inequality visionary leadership and sustained effort are essential.
• Prioritize Access and Equity: Expanding pathways to learning ensures that education fulfills its promise for all, not just a few.
• Lead with Collaboration: Bringing together educators, policymakers, and communities is the only way to create transformative change.

Her journey illustrates that academic success is not measured by individual milestones alone but by the collective opportunities created for others.

Marie Cini’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment to equity in education. At GlobalX Publications, we highlight her journey to inspire scholars and emerging leaders around the world. By learning from leaders like Dr. Cini, we are reminded that true progress in education is achieved when access, innovation, and community come together paving the way for a future where learning is truly lifelong and inclusive.