Dr. Janice Hicks has joined Ascendium’s philanthropic arm as deputy director of educational grantmaking, the Madison-based higher education funding company announced today.
According to an announcement posted on the company’s website, Hicks “will support grantmaking across portfolios focused on strategies to transform postsecondary education institutions and systems to better serve learners from low-income backgrounds.”
Hicks comes to Wisconsin from Odessa, Texas, where she worked as vice president for institutional effectiveness at Odessa College.
holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of North Texas with an emphasis on community college leadership, as well as teaching and learning in higher education. She also holds a Master of Science in counseling and student affairs administration from the University of Central Arkansas and a Bachelor of Science in education psychology with a minor in counseling education from Mississippi State University.
“Janice’s hands-on understanding of what it takes to bring about change to make postsecondary institutions work better for all learners will strengthen the potential for our grants to have real impact,” Ascendium Vice President of Education Philanthropy Keith Witham said in a statement. “Her expertise will be invaluable in helping us refine our strategy as we lay the blueprint for future grantmaking.”
“I am deeply honored to be a part of Ascendium Education Philanthropy, an organization with a legacy of supporting innovation in higher education and transforming the lives of students, families, and communities,” Hicks said in a statement. “Joining this mission-driven team is more than a role — it’s a commitment to empowering the dreams of students with similar lived experiences as mine. I eagerly look forward to contributing to projects that unlock opportunities and create equitable outcomes for students benefiting from Ascendium’s philanthropic efforts.”
