Staff

Dr. Terry Vaughan III serves as the Associate Executive Director, Research at Workcred, where he contributes to strengthening workforce quality by developing research, resources, and networks to help enhance the nation’s credentialing system.

Before joining Workcred, he was the Vice President of Research and Director of the Pell Institute at the Council for Opportunity in Education, managing national research projects and partnerships focused on improving education pathways for first-generation and low-income college students. He also served as the Associate Director at DePaul University’s Center for Access and Attainment where he oversaw an early undergraduate research program that prepared students for graduate, law, and medical school admissions.

Throughout his career, Dr. Vaughan has been a mission-driven visionary, collaborative leader, and fundraiser, helping to secure more than $3.6 million in funding for conferences, programs, projects, and partnerships from organizations such as Lumina Foundation, Ascendium Education Group, Gates Foundation, Strada Education Foundation, and Trellis Foundation. He earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and holds a B.A. in Philosophy from DePaul University.