Kent Confirmed as Under Secretary of Education

The Senate confirmed Nicholas Kent as Under Secretary of Education in a 50–45 vote taken last week. In this role, the second-highest position at the Department of Education, Kent will help oversee federal policies related to student aid, postsecondary oversight, and workforce development. His work will influence key areas such as student loan programs, accreditation standards, and efforts to align education with career pathways. 

Kent brings years of experience in education policy. Most recently, he served as Virginia’s Deputy Secretary of Education, where he focused on higher education strategy. Prior to that, he was the chief policy officer at Career Education Colleges & Universities (CECU), a national association representing career and for-profit institutions. He also served as the founding president of CECU’s research foundation and previously held roles with the Washington, D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. 

He holds a master’s degree in higher education administration from George Washington University and earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from West Virginia Wesleyan College. Throughout his career, Kent has worked across accreditation, regulatory policy, and postsecondary access.