Richard Kazis is an independent consultant on higher education and workforce issues and former Senior Vice President of Jobs for the Future, a nonprofit in the Boston area that works to create educational and economic opportunity for youth and adults struggling in today’s economy. Mr. Kazis led Jobs for the Future’s policy and research efforts, and directed JFF’s contributions to the national community college reform initiatives Achieving the Dream and Completion By Design. He is currently a senior consultant to MDRC, a national research organization in New York. Mr. Kazis earned his Masters in Community Planning from M.I.T. and graduated from Harvard College.