Allan C. Golston, president of the U.S. Program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, leads the foundation’s efforts to help all students graduate from high school, get to and through college, and get a good job. The U.S. Program work spans early learning, K-12, postsecondary, data, and education pathways into the workforce, as well as economic mobility and opportunity and has four key priorities. First, accelerate the development and delivery of high-quality, next generation instructional systems and digital learning resources that deliver equitable impact, with a focus on comprehensive instructional systems in early learning, math in K-12, and gateway courses in postsecondary. Second, enhance student transition supports that leverage technology and data to better enable counselors and advisors to engage students, increase students’ own sense of agency, and ensure equity in our priority students’ access to pathways that lead to economic mobility. Third, advance innovation in high school-to-postsecondary systems and models that lead to more accessible, affordable, high-quality pathways that support students in attaining a postsecondary credential with labor market value. Fourth, generate and scale solutions and public goods that enable individuals, government leaders, and other decision makers to boost near-term economic stability and long-term systemic economic mobility.   

Allan’s professional background is in consulting, public accounting, consumer packaged goods, software development, finance, health care, and education. He holds an MBA from Seattle University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Colorado.