Jamie Merisotis
President and CEO
Jamie Merisotis, an internationally recognized leader in higher education, human work, philanthropy, and public policy, has been Lumina Foundation’s president and CEO since 2008.
More about Jamie1 of 104
‘Liberal Arts’ may be a troubled brand—But its value has never been higher
June 15, 2026
We live in a world where language is regularly weaponized for political, economic, or other purposes. One of the best examples of that in recent years has been the way in which critics of higher education have seized on the term “liberal arts” to confuse and distort what is behind the term.
2 of 104
Pope Leo’s powerful call to center humanity in the AI conversation
June 2, 2026
Pope Leo XIV’s new encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, arrives at a moment of profound uncertainty about the future of human work and human purpose. The document is formally rooted in Catholic social teaching, but its central questions belong to everyone: What does it mean to live a meaningful life i
3 of 104
Will AI Replace College? Not So Fast.
April 20, 2026
Four years after the debut of ChatGPT, the first class to have the powerful tool of generative AI throughout their entire college career will soon graduate. At the current pace of change, it’s worth asking: Are these students among the last to work with an all-human faculty?
4 of 104
From access to value: Community colleges expand pathways for Hispanic students
April 14, 2026
Community colleges are key to expanding equitable, career-connected pathways for Hispanic students, but gaps remain in attaining credentials of value. Strengthening clear, affordable, and workforce-aligned education systems is essential to improve outcomes, economic mobility, and meet future labor m
5 of 104
In the age of AI, humanity is the advantage
March 17, 2026
It’s hard to know what to think about artificial intelligence these days. The pendulum swings wildly, with some people warning of a robotic surveillance state while others dismiss the trend as overblown hype.
6 of 104
Honoring Black history by expanding opportunity for a stronger nation
Feb. 19, 2026
Morehouse College student Tobias Brown traveled the country to meet leaders—all Black men, like him, at the top of their fields, who could inspire his education and career dreams.
7 of 104
Building talent for an AI-driven future
Feb. 13, 2026
In a speech at the Economic Club of Indiana, Lumina Foundation President and CEO Jamie Merisotis explored how reimagining higher education in the age of artificial intelligence can unlock talent and advanced prosperity across Indiana and the nation.
8 of 104
Making six figures without a college degree isn’t as simple as it sounds
Jan. 19, 2026
Every so often, a new story makes the rounds about how Americans without four-year college degrees can still make six-figure salaries. Take this piece from LendingTree, which highlights elevator installers and repairers—47.5 percent of whom earn more than $100,000 a year without a bachelor’s de
9 of 104
Aligning affordability, value, and trust to make college pay off
Dec. 22, 2025
If we can align affordability, value, and trust, we can once again make higher education the engine of upward mobility.
10 of 104
Opportunity for All, Jamie Merisotis guests on EdUp Insights podcast
Dec. 2, 2025
Lumina Foundation's Jamie Merisotis offers insight from his decades of experience as an author, policy innovator, and philanthropist on the future of education and work—and his vision for a world where learning and human potential drive progress and opportunity for everyone.
11 of 104
Rebuilding trust in higher ed through value and purpose
Oct. 20, 2025
Few aspects of modern life are as closely scrutinized as higher education, and no wonder: Though most Americans believe that a college degree leads to better jobs, many also think it costs too much and may not be worth the time and money.
12 of 104
Humanity AI: Putting people at the center of the AI revolution
Oct. 14, 2025
The announcement today of Humanity AI marks one of the most ambitious philanthropic responses yet to the disruptive rise of artificial intelligence. Backed by an initial $500 million in commitments, this five-year collaborative seeks nothing less than to rebalance the trajectory of artificial intell
13 of 104
Democracy vs. technocracy: Why AI needs a moral operating system
Sept. 15, 2025
Artificial intelligence, the fastest-growing force of change in society today, has captured the imagination and concern of leaders in fields such as education, economics, defense—and even religion.
14 of 104
Degrees of opportunity: Rethinking value in higher ed
Aug. 18, 2025
Colleges and universities are doing a better job lately explaining the value of their degrees, and increasingly they're getting important help in making that case.
15 of 104
Rethinking college: How more valuable degrees are closing America’s talent gap
July 29, 2025
Critics of higher education have a point: Average inflation-adjusted tuition has gone down, but remains too high. Degrees pay off, but too many grads struggle finding good jobs.
16 of 104
Why college matters: for the love of learning—And democracy
June 17, 2025
In a time of tense scrutiny of higher education, it helps to be reminded why college matters.
17 of 104
What will make college truly affordable?
May 13, 2025
Higher ed leaders and policymakers need to fundamentally rethink the system of who pays for college, and how.
18 of 104
Degrees of impact: Redefining the value of higher ed
May 12, 2025
At the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit, Lumina Foundation President and CEO Jamie Merisotis gave a LightningX keynote on increasing the value of higher education.
19 of 104
Higher education’s big test: Proving the value of college degrees
April 1, 2025
In response to falling public confidence, higher ed needs to deliver greater value and a clear return on investment.
20 of 104
Weekly wisdom interview with Jamie Merisotis
March 27, 2025
Merisotis talks about Lumina’s new goal for a successful labor force, the value proposition of higher education, the importance of perceived equity, and the urgency for higher ed reform.
