PRESIDENT
David Daniels
David Daniels is a passionate reformer in education, dedicated to fostering critical thinking and problem-solving in students of all ages. With over 25 years of executive and operational leadership, he has led transformative initiatives that expand access, affordability, and student success through enabling technology and world class learning design. From spearheading innovation at Pearson Education, the world’s largest learning company, to guiding venture-backed EdTech enterprises and managing large-scale academic partnerships, David has broken down barriers to quality education. His expertise spans learning design, business process outsourcing, and organizational transformation across K-12, higher education, and workforce development.
As President of Ricketts Great Books College, David is redefining higher education by challenging conventional models and fostering intellectual curiosity. Committed to rigorous inquiry and affordability, he champions an education that teaches students how to think, not merely what to think—cultivating independent minds and intellectual resilience. A firm believer in education’s power to create free and flourishing individuals, David balances tradition with modern innovation. He is also a devoted husband to the amazing Stormi Shafer and a proud father of six, bringing his passion for lifelong learning into both his professional and personal life.