Bridget Burns

As a trusted advisor to university presidents and policymakers, Dr. Bridget Burns is on a mission to transform how institutions improve student success and upward mobility across the United States. She is the founding CEO of the University Innovation Alliance, a multi-campus laboratory for student success innovation that helps higher education leaders accelerate the implementation of scalable solutions that ensure more students graduate and contribute to our nation’s prosperity and competitiveness.

Since its launch in 2014, the UIA has helped its member campuses produce over 164,000 additional graduates, including a 43% increase in graduates from low-income backgrounds and an 89% increase in graduates from historically underrepresented groups. Named one of the “16 Most Innovative People in Higher Education” by Washington Monthly, Dr. Burns’ work has been featured in The New York Times, Fast Company, 60 Minutes, and the documentary Unlikely.

Prior to launching the UIA, Dr. Burns served as an American Council on Education Fellow at Arizona State University, working directly with President Michael Crow, the founding chair of the UIA Board. Earlier in her career, she served as Senior Policy Advisor and Chief of Staff for the Oregon University System, where she led major governance reforms and was recognized with the Edward Crawford Award for innovation in government relations.

Named one of the “35 Leading Women in Higher Education” by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education magazine, Dr. Burns has spent over a decade as an appointed public servant, selected by governors in multiple states to serve on influential boards and task forces spanning student financial aid, family policy, and state legislative strategy—including the Oregon State Board of Higher Education and a task force focused on accelerating higher education recovery following the pandemic. She operates as a strategic thought partner to state leaders and national organizations across the higher education ecosystem, previously serving as an Associate with the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. She has served on the boards of several national organizations and currently sits on the advisory board of WorkingNation.

Dr. Burns earned her Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University. She holds a Master’s in Public Policy and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, both from Oregon State University.