Our Leaders

Meet the team guiding us on our journey of creating a world of opportunity.

Ascendium Education Group Executive Team

Richard D. George

Executive Chairman and Chief Investment Officer

Richard D. George

Executive Chairman and Chief Investment Officer

Richard D. George has been substantially involved in finance and philanthropy for his entire career. Formerly a bond lawyer and an investment banker, he has also served as a public official and on numerous government task forces. He served as the founding chairman of the Wisconsin Covenant Foundation and the director and chairman of the Finance and Audit Committee for the National Student Clearinghouse’s Board of Directors. Additionally, he was a principal negotiator in the U.S. Department of Education rulemaking committees for Title IV loan programs in 1992, 1998 and 2007. Some of his other experience includes consulting on postsecondary educational finance for the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation subsidiary and authoring several published pieces on the student loan industry. In 2015, Richard received a Lifetime Service Award from the Council for Opportunity in Education and the Wisconsin Idea Award from the University of Wisconsin Colleges and University of Wisconsin-Extension. He currently serves as director of the National Association of Student Loan Administrators and as board chairman of Blumont Inc., an international humanitarian relief organization. Richard received his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and his law degree from Syracuse University College of Law. He served on active duty as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force from 1965 to 1969 and retired from the Air Force Reserve as a colonel in 1990.

Keith Witham

President and Chief Executive Officer

Keith Witham

President and Chief Executive Officer

Keith Witham joined Ascendium in 2021 as director of education grantmaking and became vice president of education philanthropy in 2023. He was previously the managing director of the College Excellence Program at the Aspen Institute, served on the faculty of the College of Education at Temple University and held positions with Complete College America and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. Keith earned a Ph.D. in urban education policy from the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education; a master’s degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago; and a bachelor’s degree in political science, also from the University of Chicago. He has authored numerous articles and book chapters on issues of student success, finance and organizational change in postsecondary education. Outside of work, Keith tutors adults who are learning English as a second language. He also enjoys road trips and spending time outdoors with his two dogs.

Jacqueline Fairbairn

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer

Jacqueline Fairbairn

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer

Having joined Great Lakes in 1988, Jacqueline “Jacki” Fairbairn oversees all corporate shared services, including communications, human resources, and information technology, and is responsible for ensuring resources are aligned with Ascendium’s mission. She also serves as Ascendium’s chief compliance officer, leading the organization’s corporate compliance program. Jacki’s extensive experience also includes leading policy, ombudsman, claims, recoveries, and program review operations. Jacki has been a member of several national student loan committees, was the organizing architect of the Student Loan Ombudsman Caucus, was a charter member of the Common Manual and has participated in several negotiated rulemaking sessions. Jacki earned her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. She is also a Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional as awarded by the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics. When not working, Jacki enjoys performing with the band Pink Houses, golfing, and maintaining her Victorian home.

Matt Harlowe

Director - Internal Audit

Matt Harlowe

Director - Internal Audit

Matt Harlowe joined Great Lakes in 2017. Since 2018, he has been responsible for the organization’s internal audit function, which includes conducting risk-based financial, compliance, operational and information technology audits. Matt began his career in audit at Deloitte & Touche, and he later served as the internal audit manager at Dean Health Plan. He earned his bachelor’s degrees in accounting and marketing at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and is a Certified Public Accountant. Matt enjoys spending quality time with his family and playing an occasional round of golf.

Brett Lindquist

Vice President - Communications and Community Engagement

Brett Lindquist

Vice President - Communications and Community Engagement

Brett Lindquist joined Great Lakes in 1994 as a temporary employee in the contact center while he looked for a “real job.” After realizing he had happened upon an amazing organization that allowed him to apply his knowledge and expertise, he joined client relations, which later evolved into sales. He was named chief marketing and sales officer for Great Lakes in 2013. After Great Lakes was acquired by Nelnet, Brett served as the managing director of marketing and sales for Nelnet Diversified Services before joining Ascendium in 2020. Brett earned his bachelor’s degree in consumer science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and holds a master’s in business, management, marketing and related support services from Capella University. Some of his hobbies include traveling and scuba diving.

Eric Maly

Vice President - Information Security and Technology

Eric Maly

Vice President - Information Security and Technology

Eric Maly has led the strategic planning and daily operations of Ascendium’s information technology (IT) and security teams since 2021. He joined Ascendium in 2019 after managing the IT infrastructure engineering/architecture team at Great Lakes for almost eight years. Before joining Great Lakes, he worked at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene as an advanced chemist and IT professional. While studying biochemistry/molecular biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he worked as a chemist at Hazelton Laboratories and owned a computer consulting/support company for small businesses and nonprofits. Eric enjoys playing hockey, hiking — especially at Devil’s Lake State Park — and traveling around the Midwest.

Hope Merry

Chief Financial Officer

Hope Merry

Chief Financial Officer

Hope Merry joined Great Lakes in 1998 as a financial analyst and has served in several supervisory and managerial roles over the years, including supervisor of guaranty accounting, manager of guaranty accounting and federal reporting and senior manager of guaranty accounting, federal reporting and payroll. She became chief financial officer in 2017. Before joining Great Lakes, she was an auditor at Ernst & Young. Hope holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her hobbies include reading, traveling and attending Kenny Chesney concerts.

Rebecca Rapp

General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer

Rebecca Rapp

General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer

Before joining Great Lakes in 2013, Rebecca Rapp served as a Dane County circuit court judge, assistant attorney general at the Wisconsin Department of Justice and staff attorney at The Children’s Law Center in Washington, D.C. She holds a bachelor’s and a law degree from The University of Chicago, a master’s degree from The University of Oxford and an executive Master of Business Administration from the Quantic School of Business and Technology. Rebecca cochairs a Rural Justice Task Force launched by the Legal Services Corporation in December 2021. She is also involved with the Lawyers for Learners initiative, which connects technical college students with free legal help. For her access to justice work, Rebecca received the American Bar Association’s Pro Bono Publico Award and the Wisconsin Law Foundation’s Gordon Sinykin Award of Excellence in 2021. When she has a spare moment, Rebecca can be found on a yoga mat or with her nose in a good history book.

Cathy Risseeuw

Vice President - Human Resources

Cathy Risseeuw

Vice President - Human Resources

Cathy Risseeuw joined Great Lakes in 1993 as a human resources specialist. She held increasingly responsible human resources positions and was promoted to manager of human resources technology and compensation in 2014 and to vice president of human resources in 2025. Throughout her career, Cathy has overseen many large initiatives with a focus on human resources technology and enhancing the employee experience. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Cathy is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) and a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) through the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). Outside the office, Cathy enjoys spending time with her family on Madison-area lakes, traveling to warmer climates, and attending Wisconsin’s collegiate and professional sporting events.

Ascendium Education Solutions Executive Team

Jeff Crosby

President and Chief Executive Officer

Jeff Crosby

President and Chief Executive Officer

Jeff Crosby joined Great Lakes in 1989 as an information technology systems analyst. From computers and infrastructure, he moved into loan origination and servicing, eventually working his way up to president and CEO of the servicing arm of Great Lakes in 2015. When Great Lakes was acquired by Nelnet, Jeff worked on the transition team before assuming his current role of president and CEO of Ascendium Education Solutions in 2018. He holds a bachelor’s degree in management computer systems from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Outside the office, Jeff enjoys outdoor activities like fishing and hiking and is an avid woodworker.

Beth Erickson

Vice President - Repayment Solutions

Beth Erickson

Vice President - Repayment Solutions

Beth Erickson brings a "no student left behind" attitude to her leadership of both guaranty services and Ascendium’s Attigo suite. Beth joined Great Lakes in 1993 and, since 2003, has been responsible for our delinquency prevention and default aversion efforts. She has dedicated 30+ years to helping student loan borrowers navigate the complexities of student loan repayment and find solutions for success. She was also instrumental in launching the Attigo suite of products and services. Beth holds an associate degree in computer programming/sciences from Madison College. Her hobbies include reading, camping, and riding her ATV and Harley motorcycle.

Benjamin Lee

Vice President – Guaranty Services and Support

Benjamin Lee

Vice President – Guaranty Services and Support

Benjamin Lee joined Ascendium in 2014, with a focus on policy, compliance, bankruptcy, incident response and risk management. After nearly four years as associate counsel, he became vice president of guaranty services and support in 2025. He holds a law degree from the University of Minnesota, where he studied nonprofit, corporate and consumer law, and took on student loans of his own. Benjamin serves as the board president of the Wisconsin Coalition on Student Debt, which seeks to increase clarity around the key issues of student debt. He is also a frequent trainer and presenter on student loans. Benjamin enjoys spending time with his family and friends, playing records, and reading omnivorously with his kids, his book club, and on his own.

Board of Directors

Thomas Boldt

As CEO of The Boldt Company, Thomas “Tom” Boldt represents Boldt’s fourth generation of family leadership. Throughout the years, Tom has held a variety of executive and leadership positions at Boldt that have positively influenced the construction industry and local communities. Besides serving on Ascendium’s board, Tom also serves on the boards of several other organizations, including the Wisconsin chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, Cleantech Partners, Wisconsin Environmental Initiative and WMC Foundation. Tom holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College.

Emerson Brumback

Emerson Brumback is the retired president, chief operating officer and director of M&T Bank Corporation. He spent over 40 years in the banking industry and was the chairman, president and CEO of Bank One Cincinnati before joining M&T Bank. Besides serving on Ascendium’s board, Emerson is a director emeritus of the Northern Kentucky University Foundation and serves on the Fifth Third Bancorp’s board. Emerson is a graduate of Northern Kentucky University.

Roger Ervin

Roger Ervin is principal partner of Rosewood Global Advisors LLC and an adjunct professor at the Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs. Roger has extensive experience in both the private and public sectors. Some of his past roles include president and CEO of Blumont Inc., senior vice president for global markets at LMI Inc., secretary of revenue for the state of Wisconsin, senior advisor in the Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and regional director for the African Development Bank. Besides serving on Ascendium’s board, Roger serves on the Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs board of visitors. Roger holds a bachelor’s degree from Tulane University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Richard D. George

Dave Hanson

Dave Hanson is a retired partner of the law firm Michael Best & Friedrich LLP. Dave’s law practice focused on regulated industries, including telecommunications, electric utilities, health providers and health insurers. Before joining Michael Best, he was assistant attorney general and deputy attorney general for the Wisconsin Department of Justice and assistant chancellor and legal counsel for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Besides serving on Ascendium’s board, Dave serves on the Sand County Foundation’s board. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Linda Hoeschler

Linda Hoeschler has enjoyed a business and nonprofit career centered on building and managing organizations. Some of her professional roles include executive director of the American Composers Forum, vice president of the Dayton Hudson (now Target) Corporation, group vice president of National Computer Systems and president of Landmark Investors Ltd. She currently serves on the boards of the Regions Hospital Foundation and the Hampsong Foundation. She also chairs the PBS Under-Told Stories Project advisory board at the University of St. Thomas. Linda earned her bachelor’s degree from Barnard College and her master’s degree from New School University. She was awarded Doctor of Humane Letters degrees by St. John’s University and the University of St. Thomas.

Darren J. King

As the senior executive vice president of M&T Bank Corporation, Darren J. King is responsible for a portfolio of businesses, including retail, business banking, mortgage, and dealer services. Prior to his current role, Darren served as M&T’s chief financial officer for seven years, overseeing the company’s overall financial management. His experience in the financial services industry spans more than 30 years and includes senior leadership roles at Mercer Management Consulting, predecessor firm to Oliver Wyman. Darren earned his Honors Business Administration from the Ivey Business School at Western University.

Scott Klug

Scott Klug is the managing director of the public affairs practice at the law firm Foley & Lardner LLP. For eight years, Scott served in the U.S. House of Representatives. While there, he specialized in health care, trade, financial services, telecommunication and energy policy. Before being elected, he was a reporter in Washington, D.C., Seattle and Madison. Scott serves on the board of advisers at SHINE Technologies and at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Lawrence University, a master’s degree from Northwestern University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Maria E. Gonzalez Knavel

Maria E. Gonzalez Knavel is an assistant general counsel at SSM Health Care of Wisconsin, Inc. where she primarily works on appeals for unemployment, equal rights, and workers compensation claims. She is also a retired partner with the law firm Foley & Lardner LLP. While there, she worked with health care clients on compliance issues, corporate matters, and general operational issues. Prior to entering law school, she managed a medical clinic for 12 years. Besides serving on Ascendium’s board, Maria serves on the boards for the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, COA Youth & Family Centers, Children’s Hospital & Health System, and Marquette University Law School. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School.

Leslie Lenzo

Leslie K. Lenzo, CFA is chief executive officer/chief investment officer of the Hershey Trust Company (HTC) in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Prior to HTC, Leslie served as chief investment officer at Advocate Aurora Health. Leslie also held progressively more responsible roles at Partners Health Care and SG Cowen in Boston, Massachusetts, and Northwestern Memorial Healthcare in Chicago, Illinois. She served on the investment committee of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, the investment advisory group of Adventist Health, and the finance and investment committees of Advocate Health. Leslie holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and government from Georgetown University, a Master of Business Administration in finance from Boston University, and a CFA charter. Leslie lives in Hershey with her husband, four sons, and Italian Greyhound.

Dr. Joan Prince

Dr. Joan Prince has executive-level experience in health policy and education and is known as a global civil rights advocate with a commitment to educational and health equity. She retired in 2021 as the vice chancellor of global inclusion and engagement at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Some other positions she has held throughout her career include administrator at Medical Science Laboratories and alternate representative to the 67^th General Assembly of the United Nations with the honorary rank of ambassador. In her role at the United Nations, she delivered policy statements on humanitarian issues, such as global health delivery systems and the education of women and girls, on behalf of the U.S. Besides serving on Ascendium’s board, Joan serves on the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. She earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Cynthia Walsh

Cynthia Walsh is a retired market president for US Bank. She spent her entire career in the banking industry, starting as a teller and working her way through various operations and management positions. Besides serving on Ascendium’s board, she serves on the boards of Presentation College and Homes Are Possible Inc. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Northern State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Dakota.

Richard Weiss

Richard Weiss is a retired partner with the law firm Foley & Lardner LLP. While there, he worked extensively in financing for general government units, hospitals, medical clinics, sports facilities, commercial and industrial expansion, downtown redevelopment, pollution control, waste disposal and electric utilities. Besides serving on Ascendium’s board, he serves on the board of the Physicians Realty Trust. Richard has a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

OUR WORKPLACE

Supporting Our Team

Everyone at Ascendium, from our executives to our interns, is critical to our creating opportunity through postsecondary education and workforce training. As a result, we provide our team members with the atmosphere, benefits and supports they need to succeed at work and in life.

Learn about our workplace