Dive Brief:

• President Barack Obama is nominating Ted Mitchell as the Education Department’s top higher-education official.
• The news confirms recent speculation.
• Mitchell is the chief executive of nonprofit education venture fund NewSchools and the former head of Occidental College.

Dive Insight:

Mitchell brings a wealth of higher education experience to the role, though those apprehensive about education reform may be apprehensive given NewSchools' focus on "remaking" elementary and secondary education. The White House announcement has Mitchell's C.V. details, including stints at Dartmouth, Stanford and UCLA.