Jamie Candee Named to Aspen Institute’s First Rising Generations Strategy Group
The group is intentionally designed to bring together leaders across education, government, community development, business, philanthropy, and youth leadership
Bloomington, MN (March 31, 2026)—The Aspen Institute today launched the Rising Generations Strategy Group (RGSG), a new, action-focused advisory body bringing together leaders and young people to help chart a forward-ready vision for America’s education system and the rising generation. Edmentum is pleased to announce that President & CEO Jamie Candee has been named to the inaugural class of RGSG members who will take on this critical work over the next year.
For more than seven decades, the Aspen Institute has served as one of the nation’s most trusted spaces for leaders to come together across perspectives, away from the spotlight, beyond partisan lines, and focused on solving complex, long-term challenges. Through its diverse strategy groups, the Institute has convened senior leaders, practitioners, and thinkers from around the world to engage in candid dialogue that informs action, shapes policy, and drives durable change.
The Rising Generations Strategy Group (RGSG), organized within the Education & Society Program at the Aspen Institute, a program of the Center for Rising Generations (CRG), will be co-chaired by Gina Raimondo, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce and Governor of Rhode Island, and Richard Burr, former U.S. Senator from North Carolina. The group will work over the coming year to develop recommendations that strengthen education systems, expand opportunity, and prepare young people to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Having led at both the state and federal levels, Raimondo and Burr bring complementary perspectives shaped by economic policy, workforce development, and public service across diverse communities. Together, they underscore a shared national reality that while education systems vary across regions, the need to better prepare young people for the opportunities and challenges ahead is universal.
“I’m excited to be named to the Rising Generations Strategy Group and honored by the opportunity to work alongside this truly impressive group of accomplished leaders from across sectors. I’m especially proud to be part of an initiative that intentionally includes young people as full participants, giving this work the perspective it needs to create real, relevant future-ready impact,” said Candee. “The RGSG’s focus areas are deeply personal to me and closely aligned with the innovation we’re driving at Edmentum. From using technology to expand opportunity, to making learning more relevant through career-connected experiences, to building systems that better meet the needs of students and families, this is a critical moment to think boldly and take meaningful action to create a system designed to support thriving for all learners. I can’t wait to collaborate with my fellow RGSG members.”
Building on the Aspen Institute’s long-standing role in shaping national dialogue on education and leadership, the Rising Generations Strategy Group reflects a new chapter bringing together diverse voices from across the country to address the challenges and opportunities facing America’s youth.
The RGSG is composed of leaders representing K-12 and higher education, youth development, technology, business, policy, research, and philanthropy, along with students and young adult leaders whose lived experience will play a central role in shaping the group’s work.
Over the next year, the group will focus on four priority commitments:
- Technology + Education: Harnessing technology, including artificial intelligence, to expand opportunity and empower educators.
- Career-Connected Learning: Aligning classroom learning with real-world experiences that prepare students for meaningful work and civic contribution.
- School Choice + Alternative Models: Exploring innovative school designs that meet the diverse needs of students and families.
- State Governance: Advancing bold approaches to state education governance that foster coherence, accountability, and innovation.
With the American education system facing persistent gaps in student readiness, shifting workforce demands, and emerging global competition, the Aspen Institute sees 2026 as a pivotal moment for reimagining what young people need to succeed.
“Education sits at the heart of America’s economic strength, civic health, and global leadership,” said Kaya Henderson, Executive Vice President, Aspen Institute and Executive Director, Center for Rising Generations. “If we want the next generation to lead us forward, we must build systems aligned to the world they are inheriting, not the one we grew up in.”
The Rising Generations Strategy Group will convene for its first in-person meeting in July 2026 at the Aspen Meadows campus in Aspen, Colorado. Over the course of the year, the group will develop a shared agenda and release recommendations designed to support policymakers, education leaders, employers, and communities.
A full list of RGSG members, including biographies and organizational affiliations, is available at: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/education-and-society-program/rising-generations-strategy-group/.
About Edmentum
Edmentum believes that every student deserves the opportunity to thrive everywhere learning occurs—whether they seek to catch up, stay on track, or chart their own path. When you pair Edmentum's comprehensive, research-backed learning acceleration solutions with empowered and supported educators, you can change the direction of students' lives. We partner with K–12 educators in all 50 states and 100+ countries worldwide to design, implement, and sustain the programs that deliver on this shared promise of learning acceleration for every student.
About the Education & Society Program
One of the policy programs of the Center for Rising Generations at the Aspen Institute, the Education & Society Program improves public education by inspiring, informing, and influencing education leaders across policy and practices, with an emphasis on achieving excellence for all students. For more information about the Education & Society program, visit https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/education-and-society-program/.
About the Center for Rising Generations
The Center for Rising Generations (CRG) at the Aspen Institute is committed to uplifting, investing in, and working alongside young people to share a more vibrant, connected, and creative future. Through storytelling, community engagement, leadership development, and cross-sector gatherings, CRG amplifies the power and potential of rising generations to drive impact in their communities and beyond. For more information, visit: www.risinggenerations.org.
About the Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, DC and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.