James E. Cowie joined Collegis Education as Executive Chairman in early 2015 and is currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. From 1988 to 2015, he served as a Partner and Managing Director of Frontenac Company, a Chicago-based private equity firm. Prior to Frontenac, Jamie was a Vice President in the Investment Banking Division of Merrill Lynch Capital Markets.

Jamie graduated from Colby College in 1977, earning nomination to the National Political Science Honor Society. He received an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 1982.

Jamie is Trustee Emeritus of Colby College and a Life Trustee of the Illinois Institute of Technology. At Illinois Tech, Jamie has served a number of roles, including Chair of the College of Science Board of Advisors. Jamie is currently a member of the Executive Committee of the university. Jamie also serves on the Executive Committee of the Academy for Urban School Leadership. Previously, he served as a board member of WBEZ and a Trustee of the Stanford Business School Trust.