With 25 years of hands-on experience, Branjord is set to empower higher education leaders to tackle today’s challenges and build a sustainable future.  

[McLean, Virginia] Wednesday, 29 January 2025 Higher Digital welcomes higher education executive, practitioner, and trusted advisor, Kari Branjord, to the management team. Branjord brings more than 25 years of experience in hands-on leadership roles within the higher education ecosystem to her new role as Vice President and lead of the Enterprise Project Portfolio Management practice at Higher Digital.  

Kari most recently served as Senior Vice President of Digital Transformation at Ellucian, where she spent 13 years driving innovation and change. Prior to that, she dedicated 12 years to leadership roles within large public institutions and higher education systems in the United States, where she implemented and managed PeopleSoft and Oracle applications while collaborating with executive cabinets to lead transformative, technology-driven initiatives. She served as president of the Higher Education User Group (HEUG), was declared Oracle Magazine Implementer of the Year, and won awards for innovative solutions that drove improved student success and institutional efficiency.  

Kari remains a passionate advocate for personalized self-service, seamless user experiences, and leveraging data to drive progress across the higher education industry. Currently pursuing her Master’s degree in History at the University of Cambridge in the UK, Kari’s experience as a non-traditional, primarily remote learner has deepened her understanding and empathy for today’s student journey. 

“Kari Branjord is a seasoned executive and trusted advisor with a proven track record of driving successful change and transformation across the global higher education landscape. Her 25 years of hands-on experience, from leading enterprise initiatives to championing innovative solutions for student success, make her a perfect fit for Higher Digital and our clients,” said Wayne Bovier, CEO and co-founder of Higher Digital. “We are excited to welcome Kari to the team and are confident her leadership will make a significant impact on our current and future client partnerships.” 

In her new role, Branjord aims to help institutions make decisions that allow them to meet their objectives and serve their student populations effectively, explaining, “I am particularly excited about Higher Digital’s approach, combining strategic consulting with the (SEA)results Strategic Portfolio Management System. Too often decisions are made with opaque criteria or by an individual with strength of personality. The threats and opportunities facing higher education right now require a rigorous yet lightweight process that focuses the institutional community on the right things at the right time.” 

Branjord’s appointment comes at a crucial time for higher education, as institutions face potential challenges such as enrollment declines, regulatory mandates, and eroding public confidence in the value of higher education. Her optimism and experience will be valuable assets in addressing these issues. 

Find more information about Branjord on the Higher Digital teams page.