Ernest Ezeugo is the strategy officer for federal policy at Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis committed to making learning opportunities beyond high school available to all. In this role, he plays a pivotal role in shaping and enacting Lumina’s federal policy strategy, establishing partnerships between the foundation and organizations examining how federal policy can advance higher education completion and credential attainment.
Ernest has an extensive track record in promoting equity and elevating student voice in higher education policy analysis and advocacy. Before joining Lumina Foundation, Ernest was the higher education and workforce policy director at Young Invincibles, where he managed the organization’s policy advocacy strategy exploring the impact of basic needs insecurity, student loan debt, and other issues on college outcomes among young adults. In this role, he was also chosen to represent students, student-led organizations, and student loan borrowers as a primary negotiator on the U.S. Department of Education’s Institutional and Programmatic Eligibility Committee. He has also held roles at the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO), National Campus Leadership Council (NCLC), New America, and the U.S. Department of Education.
In addition to his professional commitments, Ernest is a board member of the Campaign for Free College Tuition and a contributing writer for the Education section on Forbes.com. He has published op-eds and articles on various education policy issues in Slate, the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Hechinger Report, EdSurge, and Diverse: Issues in Higher Education Magazine.
