Michele Spires is a nationally recognized leader in higher education, specializing in credit for prior learning (CPL), learner mobility, quality assurance, and institutional transformation. With more than three decades of experience spanning post-traditional, workforce, and military education, she brings deep expertise in advancing learning recognition, strengthening educational pathways, and connecting learning with opportunity.
As assistant vice president of One Dupont Ventures and National Service and Defense Solutions, Michele leads strategic initiatives that connect education, workforce, and government priorities. She oversees partnerships with federal agencies, philanthropic organizations, nonprofit partners, and cross-sector collaborators while advancing ACE’s leadership in CPL, learner mobility, and emerging approaches to workforce-connected learning. Her work focuses on helping institutions recognize learning wherever it occurs and building systems that improve opportunity, transparency, and learner success.
Increasingly, Michele’s portfolio centers on mission-driven growth strategies that expand impact, strengthen partnerships, and align innovation with evolving education and workforce needs. Through publications, national presentations, and collaborative initiatives, she contributes to conversations on learner mobility, credential trust, systems alignment, workforce connectivity, and the future of lifelong learning.
Recognized for her ability to bridge sectors and translate complex challenges into practical strategies, Michele is committed to advancing quality, access, and innovation across the learning ecosystem. Her recent publications explore topics including learning mobility, institutional alignment, veterans’ education, workforce pathways, and the future of higher education. As the spouse of an Air Force retiree, she brings a personal connection to military life that continues to inform her commitment to building systems that better serve learners across diverse educational and workforce journeys.