3 years of impact!

Nexford Staff
January 31, 2022 · 2 min read

Looking at where you’ve come from and where you’re headed is normal for any birthday. Nexford’s third birthday celebration is no different

Nexford has come a long way since we took our first steps in February 2019, when we welcomed the first learners through our virtual doors. A lot has changed since then, we secured an additional $10.8M pre-Series A funding to scale our university platform, enrolled over 4000 learners from over 85 countries, and celebrated our first in-person MBA graduation ceremony. Our team has expanded to include 100 team members dedicated to our mission, hailing from 10 different countries operating on a 24/7 basis to support our global learner community! In July, we launched our first alumni survey and are thrilled to report 97% of our graduates would recommend Nexford. In 2022 we unveiled our mobile application enabling our learners to learn on the go from anywhere in the world!

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As we prepare for the next phase of what has been an incredible journey and what promises to be a phenomenal road ahead, the Nexford team reflects on their Nexford experience:

Eyes on the future

In 2021 we also saw a change at the helm of our academic team with the appointment of Dr. Nancy Rubin as our Chief Academic Officer.

“I am thrilled to have joined Nexford. A university that has achieved so much in 2021 and promises much more in 2022. By the end of the year, I was proud to watch 365 learners graduate and our team grow across 15 countries!”

“Our mission is not just about helping learners to realize their right to higher education, it’s also about making their learning experience simpler and more rewarding. That’s why the team was excited to launch Canvas this year.”

Dr. Nancy Ruben, Chief Academic Officer

“I joined Nexford University because I was looking for a mission-driven organization focused on extending affordable education at scale. As Nexford celebrates another year, I’m excited about three things. First, Nexford for Talent where we’re partnering with leading companies who want to drive business performance through upskilling their team members. Second, I’m excited for the launch of our global mentorship program – The Global Grid where we’re going to hear from people who care deeply about education and helping people advance in their careers. Finally, I’m looking forward to expanding our career services offerings for our learners and alumni. It’s going to be a thrilling year ahead!”

Dr. Jennifer Bangoura, Director of Career Innovation

“I have been with Nexford for almost two years and it has been an incredible journey! My pursuit is to touch lives globally through quality education and I am glad that Nexford was able to help me fulfill that mission. Dealing with diverse learners all over the world is truly a great experience.”

Dr. Michael Rodriguez, Teaching Faculty 

“I joined Nexford back in 2018 when it was still an idea. I was moved by the mission and the ability to transform affordable education and access to learning globally. Nexford’s future and skills focus has prepared and will continue to prepare learners to learn and to adapt through creativity, problem-solving, and curiosity. This is where NXU’s mission comes to life. I’m looking forward to the innovations ahead as we reach more learners, partner with employers, and provide access and equity across the globe. It’s going to be an amazing year!”

Dr. Robin Oxer Johnston

“Since 2019, NXU has built strong pillars to aid learners’ academic success – robust online learning experience, data-informed advising, optimized learner support services, and more. It has been a privilege to see these pillars become stronger as each year passes, through the lives of our learners. As a new year unfolds, I’m thrilled to be part of more technological advances aimed at enhancing the academic journey of our learners. This will ensure NXU’s mission of bridging the gap of employers’ needs and graduates’ skills.”

Trisha Roque, Learner Success Manager

“I was moved by Nexford’s mission from day one. Three years later, I am so proud of the progress we’ve made towards breathing life into our ambitious vision, humbled by our early learners who took a gamble on us, and excited for what’s ahead as we reach more learners and aim for even better experiences and outcomes.”

Paul Coleman, Chief Information Officer

“I’ve been working with Nexford for 3 years and as a designer, there’s nothing more satisfying than designing something that is impactful and able to elicit a response. Nexford’s mission of making an impact through education kept me going, by giving me an avenue to through the power of design create life-long change for people around the globe.”

Paola Atencia, Digital Designer

“As the Content Marketing Manager at Nexford my journey so far at this progressive university has been incredibly exciting and rewarding. In the time that I have been here, I have seen the number of learners grow exponentially, witnessed a moving MBA graduation ceremony, and seen the introduction of advanced learner-centric digital tools designed to aid learners in their journey toward earning a degree that will change their lives. I look forward to being an integral part of the university’s continued success as we move further forward into the future.”

Mark Talmage-Rostron, Content Marketing Manager

“I’ve been with Nexford for over 2 years. Hearing incredible learners’ stories every day about how they achieved their degree despite challenging daily responsibilities continues to inspire me. Receiving messages from previous applicants saying “Hey Christine! I graduated!” is what makes my role at Nexford so fulfilling – knowing that I could contribute (no matter how little) to an impactful phase of a learner’s life continues to get me up in the morning and do my best to support them in their journey to becoming future leaders.”

Christine Balolong, Nexford Advisor Manager

“The Nexford experience can be summed up in one word: growth! Being a part of the Nexford community helps you grow professionally and personally, as a learner or an employee. Nexford University has, and continues to impact lives through its affordable, global education, especially for learners who would not have had access to this quality of education traditionally. We are excited to implement new strategies to enrich our learners’ experience; they are the reason we exist!”

Sally Okogho, Regional Communications Associate

“I’ve always believed that learning is something we cannot get enough of and Nexford offers endless opportunities to its learners and employees to learn and develop. As Nexford celebrates another milestone, we’ll continue to empower our learners, staff, and community to achieve new heights both personally and professionally. I cannot wait to see what’s in store for 2022, the future of learning is surely looking bright!”

Duran Govender, HR Manager

“Working for Nexford University has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! Not only do I get to work with an extremely talented and goal-driven team, but I also have the honor of engaging with extraordinary learners going on to achieve great success. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing our learners reach their goals and excel in their careers! I’m very excited to be part of Nexford’s global community and looking forward to seeing what 2022 has in store!”

Jeanine Rabie, Nexford Advisor

3 years of impact! Thank you to all of our amazing learners, alumni, and staff for being part of this journey. This is only the beginning and we can’t wait to share all the exciting projects we have lined up for 2022!

 

What’s your favorite Nexford memory? Share with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #NXULife.

About the author
Nexford Staff
Nexford Staff

Nexford’s staff writers help you make the most of your university experience.

We’re based in the US and have teams across the world, including in the UK, Africa and Asia.

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