Keith Witham is the deputy director - education grantmaking. In this role, he supports the team of program officers across Ascendium’s strategic focus areas to maximize the impact of investments in support of learners from low-income backgrounds. He joined the organization in 2021.
Previously, Keith was managing director of the College Excellence Program at the Aspen Institute where he led operational and programmatic growth to advance community college student success with equity. Prior to joining Aspen, he was on the faculty of the College of Education at Temple University and has also held positions with Complete College America and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. Outside of Ascendium, Keith serves on advisory boards for the University of Maryland Global Campus Executive Doctoral Program in Community College Leadership and the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research at NC State University.
Raised in New Mexico, Keith received a Ph.D. in urban education policy from the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education. He also earned a master’s degree in social service administration and a bachelor’s degree in political science, both from the University of Chicago.
