Breaking Barriers in Higher Education: A Q&A with Jacob Fraire

January 21, 2026

Jacob Fraire, president of ECMC Foundation, brings more than 35 years of experience in higher education and public policy to his work guiding the foundation’s $40 million in annual grant investments aimed at expanding opportunity for underserved students.

From addressing basic needs and supporting parenting students to creating pathways in rural communities and building career-technical programs, his focus is on practical strategies that help institutions better serve every learner.

Fraire will be a keynote speaker at CPE’s Student Success Summit, where he’ll share insights on what it takes to drive meaningful change in higher education today.

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Thanks so much for joining us today - we’re excited to have you as a speaker at the Summit. For those who may not know, your personal story is truly inspiring. You grew up as the son of migrant farmworkers, working alongside your family in labor camps along the West Coast for much of your childhood. Despite challenges and disruptions to your schooling, you went on to attend college and build a career devoted to advancing education.

What first drew you to a higher education career, and what’s kept you committed to this work?

What first drew me to higher education was the realization that it is one of the strongest levers we have to strengthen lives and communities. And what has kept me committed is a focus on outcomes – ensuring students not only have access to postsecondary education, but complete credentials that lead to opportunity. At ECMC Foundation, that commitment drives our work across states.

Speaking of the ECMC Foundation, you became president in early 2023, which gives you a relatively fresh perspective on the national higher ed landscape. Working across multiple states, what common challenges do you see emerging right now?

Across states, institutions face similar challenges: constrained resources, changing enrollment patterns and increasing calls for greater growing accountability for outcomes. The greatest opportunity lies in better alignment – connecting policy, data, institutions and workforce systems to support student success more effectively.

When you think specifically about Kentucky students and their postsecondary journeys, what do you believe our institutions and partners need to understand more deeply?

Kentucky students are balancing education with work, family and financial realities. Supporting their postsecondary success requires flexible pathways, clear information about outcomes and strong collaboration across institutions and partners. Kentucky’s collaborative approach positions it well to respond to these needs.

When reading about you online, there’s a common thread: You always describe yourself as an eternal optimist. Looking ahead, what gives you the most hope about the future of higher education?

I am optimistic because I see states using data to understand where students struggle and applying that learning to improve outcomes. There is growing momentum toward evidence-informed solutions that support completion and long-term success.

At ECMC Foundation, our North Star goal – to eliminate gaps in postsecondary completion by 2040 – keeps me optimistic because it reminds of us daily of what matters most: sustained, evidence-informed efforts that help more learners complete credentials and succeed long-term.

You’re also known nationally as a strong supporter of proactive, rather than reactive, change. If you could leave higher education professionals with one mindset or strategy to carry forward, what would you want that to be?

Stay fully committed to the needs of all learners in postsecondary education. Design systems with postsecondary completion in mind, use data as a tool for improvement and be willing to adapt practices when evidence points to better ways of serving students.

As we look forward to your presentation at the Summit, what do you hope attendees take away from it?

I hope they leave with practical insight and renewed momentum – seeing how collaboration across policy, institutions, philanthropy, and workforce partners can drive meaningful improvements in student success.

What personal passion most influences your work - and how does that show up in practice?

I’m motivated by continuous learning, which is part of our philosophy to achieve ECMC Foundation’s mission - To improve higher education for career success among underserved populations through evidence-based innovation. Our work allows for the testing of ideas, learning from results, and sharing what works so postsecondary systems can improve together.

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Don’t miss the 2026 Student Success Summit, Future Focused: Student Centered, in Louisville on March 23-24, where every session is designed to help institutions put students first and turn insights into action. Registration closes March 1 - save your spot today!