Bob Wise, Public Member. Former West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise recently completed 14 years as president of the Alliance for Excellent Education (All4Ed), a Washington, DC‚ based national nonprofit committed to improving the educational outcomes‚ and lives‚ of high school students, especially those underperforming and those historically underserved. All4Ed has become a national leader in advocating the policies and practices necessary for high school students to be ready for postsecondary education and careers.

After serving a combined twenty-four years as governor, member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and state legislator, Gov. Wise has become a prominent speaker and advisor on education issues as well as an advisor to the U.S. Department of Education, White House, and key state and federal policymakers. As governor of West Virginia from 2001 to 2005, Gov. Wise fought for and signed legislation to fund the PROMISE Scholarship program, which has enabled thousands of West Virginia high school graduates to continue their education in the Mountain State. During his administration, West Virginia saw a significant increase in the number of students completing high school and entering college. As a member of the US House of Representatives, he focused on improving financial aid for college and early childhood development.

Gov. Wise’s awards and recognitions include the 2018 Consortium for School Networking Partnerships that Matter Award; the 2017 California Linked Learning Champion Award; the 2015 North Carolina State University Friday Institute Medal for advancing innovation; the 2014 Bammy Award for Education Policy/Researcher for extraordinary leadership in education; the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s 2013 Thought Leader Award; and the 2012 Charles W. Elliot Fellow of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Also, in 2014, he was named one of the ten most influential people in education technology by Tech & Learning and in 2011, he was named to the NonProfit Times‘s ‚ Power & Influence Top 50, an annual listing of the fifty most influential executives in the nonprofit sector.

Notable boards and commissions, past and present, include the Mathematical Science and Research Institute in Berkeley, CA, chair of the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, West Virginia Wesleyan College trustee, Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation Commission on Standards and Performance Reporting, the Gordon Commission on the future of assessment, and the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.

Gov. Wise authored Raising the Grade: How High School Reform Can Save Our Youth and Our Nation. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University and a Juris Doctor degree from Tulane University. Working from Washington, D.C. and Monterey, CA, Gov. Wise continues working to improve education opportunities for America’s youth.

Current Term

2022 – 2025