JENNY RICKARD
Jenny is President & Chief Executive Officer of Common App, a not-for-profit organization committed to the pursuit of access, equity, and integrity in college admissions. Founded in 1975, each year Common App serves 900+ member colleges and universities worldwide and helps more than one million students apply to college--one-third of whom are first-generation students.
Since joining Common App as CEO in 2016, Jenny has put her unique mix of higher education and corporate experience to work to expand the Common App’s mission and extend its impact to support more students. Jenny’s higher education experience includes serving in enrollment and admissions roles at University of Puget Sound, Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore and New York University School of Law. She also served on Common App’s Board of Directors as Board President from 2007 to 2008.
In the private sector, Jenny was a vice president responsible for higher education product strategy at PeopleSoft and a consultant for the higher education software company Datatel. She started her career on Wall Street at J.P. Morgan & Co.
Under Jenny’s leadership, Common App has developed a long-term strategic roadmap, achieved financial stability and expanded its initiatives--including the acquisition of Reach Higher, the college access and success campaign founded by former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Jenny received a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania; a Master of Business Administration degree from New York University, Stern School of Business; and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Swarthmore College.