Lou Pugliese is the recent former executive vice president of the University of Maryland Global Campus, where he brought more than 20 years of experience in e-Learning innovation. A thought leader and successful venture-growth entrepreneur with a passion for seeking and engaging new ways to disrupt, displace, and advance business models, Pugliese’s multidisciplinary career spans private sector entrepreneurship, education focused private and public equity and academic administration and research.

Prior to joining UMGC, Pugliese served as chief executive officer of UMUC Ventures, a nonprofit supporting organization that actively invests in, nurtures, and operationalizes education technologies that promise to improve the online learning experience, student outcomes, and university operations.

Before joining UMUC Ventures, Pugliese served as a senior innovation fellow and managing director of the Arizona State University (ASU) Action Lab EdPlus, a research and development enterprise focused on the design and scalable delivery of digital teaching and learning models. Previously, he held senior leadership positions in venture equity and EdTech companies including as chairman and CEO of Moodlerooms, entrepreneur-in-residence for Novak Biddle Venture Partners, CEO of AnswerLogic, and founding CEO of Blackboard Inc.

Pugliese has taught social entrepreneurship as an entrepreneur in residence at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Maryland, College Park, and is deeply involved with the Community Coalition for Haiti education programs, and Bridge to Rwanda which promote student learning through teacher development, child wellness, and safe, learning-centered school environments. He has also worked to improve access to education via technology-enabled programs in sub-Saharan Africa.