Carol Rava
Ascendium Education Group
San Diego, CA USA
"Do something that scares you."
Career Roadmap
Carol's work combines: Education, Non-Profit Organizations, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
History and Religion
Harvard University
Graduate Degree
Education Policy
Stanford University
Certification
Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT
Vanderbilt University
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
In high school, I volunteered at a school serving children entering foster care—seeing an educational experience vastly different from my own privileged experience propelled me to work in education.
2.
I followed my curiosity in college, studying history and religion while holding onto my desire to make a difference through education.
3.
Realizing I wanted to influence education at a systems level rather than work as an educator, I pursued graduate studies in education policy.
4.
I moved to Seattle, Washington, after graduate school and built my career across nonprofits, public service, and workforce-focused organizations.
5.
I learned that meaningful change requires both expertise and strong relationships, so I invested in building knowledge, leadership skills, and community connections.
6.
When opportunities felt beyond my experience, I said yes anyway, trusting that curiosity and persistence would help me grow into the challenge.
7.
Today, I lead education grantmaking efforts that help more learners access credentials and pathways to economic mobility.
