C. Ronald Kimberling is a Research Fellow at the Independent Institute and consultant for the Gerson Lehman Group. He has served as president or chancellor of Argosy University, Briarcliffe College, Sanford-Brown College, Florida Metropolitan University, and Phillips Colleges. His early career included serving as News Director at age 20 of one of the first National Public Radio affiliates in 1971 and appointment by President Ronald Reagan as the youngest-ever Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education in 1986. He has also served as Chief Academic Officer for Dana Education Corporation, Vice President and Managing Director at Colorado Technical University, Group Vice President for Institutional Planning at the Colleges & Universities Group, and Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman for United Education & Software.
He earned a Ph.D. in English and master’s degrees in English and American Studies from the University of Southern California, and an M.A. in Mass Communication and a B.A. in English (summa cum laude) from California State University, Northridge. Dr. Kimberling holds honorary doctorates from five colleges and universities, he has served as Executive Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, and from 1981 to 1988, he held several senior leadership posts in the U.S. Department of Education.
Dr. Kimberling has published and presented extensively on the subject of education, covering subject matter ranging from federal student aid and career learning to school reform and the U.S. Department of Education. He has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the White House Council on Human Resources, Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, National Commission to Assess Veterans Education Programs, National Advisory Commission on Student Financial Assistance, Intergovernmental Advisory Council on Education, and the Illinois Task Force on Higher Education and the Economy. His further experience in corporate governance includes service as a Director and Vice Chairman of a publicly traded corporation and several appointments as a corporate officer.
He is also the recipient of honorary doctorate degrees from Paul Quinn College, Cincinnati Metropolitan College, Edward Waters College, St. Augustine's College, and West Coast University.
