Eric Waldo

About Eric

• I entered college planning to become a doctor, but a class on the history of American education helped me realize I was meant to work with students instead.
• Teaching middle school students through a summer nonprofit program showed me how powerful education could be in shaping a young person’s future.
• After briefly working in consulting and exploring acting, I decided to pursue a master’s in education followed by a law degree.
• I turned down a prestigious law firm job to join Barack Obama’s presidential campaign because I believed in the vision he represented.
• During the Obama administration, I worked alongside Michelle Obama for her Reach Higher Initiative, which deepened my commitment to helping students get to and through college.
• Today, I lead the DC College Access Program, helping first-generation students graduate from college with support, opportunity, and little to no debt.