Yolanda Watson Spiva Named President of Complete College America

Yolanda Watson Spiva has been named president of Complete College America, a national nonprofit organization that works with states to significantly increase the number of Americans with quality career certificates or college degrees and to close educational attainment gaps for traditionally underrepresented populations.

Dr. Spiva comes to Complete College America with almost 25 years of service in the nonprofit sector. Most recently, she served as president and CEO of the College Success Foundation, a national nonprofit which provides support and scholarships to underserved, low-income students from middle school through college completion.

In addition to serving in other nonprofit leadership roles, Dr. Spiva has held various faculty positions at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Trinity Washington University, and Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. She has also held various positions with the U.S. Department of Education.

“I am deeply gratified to have been selected as the next leader of Complete College America,” said Dr. Spiva. “CCA’s commitment to student success and equity are in perfect alignment with my personal and professional mission to create opportunity, remove barriers and close the college completion gap for underrepresented and first-generation students.”

Dr. Spiva holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Spelman College in Atlanta, a master of public policy degree from the University of Chicago, and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Georgia State University.