Gretchen Schmidt

Program Director, Postsecondary State Policy

Contact Gretchen Schmidt

Gretchen Schmidt is JFF’s program director for JFF's Postsecondary State Policy team, which manages the policy activities for the Developmental Education Initiative and Completion by Design.

Dr. Schmidt has more than 15 years’ experience in higher education. Before JFF, she spent five years in the Virginia Community College System—first as educational policy director, then as assistant vice chancellor for academic and student services. One of the projects she oversaw as vice chancellor was VCCS’ developmental education redesign initiative, which included policy management, professional development programming for faculty, and student support services for improving Virginia high school students’ college readiness. She has also served on the staff of state college boards in Virginia and Arizona, and taught college courses in both states.

Dr. Schmidt has a Ph.D in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University, a Master’s in vocational and tech education from NAU, and a Bachelor’s in international finance from George Washington University.