Kim Merritt

Kimberly Merritt is an educational architect committed to expanding access to high quality, innovative learning experiences that connect career, community, and technology. She challenges traditional education models to build scalable, inclusive pathways that bridge learning and opportunity. As Vice President and Deputy of Arizona State University’s Learning Enterprise, Kimberly designed and incubated this university-wide initiative, shaping its structure, voice, and impact. She led the development and scale of Universal Pathways, a transformative model integrating college and career pathways, and launched ASU Local, a first-of-its-kind hybrid college model. She also forged workforce partnerships that make educational access part of employee growth, ensuring learning drives both individual and economic advancement. With a deep focus on structural innovation and inclusivity, Kimberly bridges K-12, higher education, industry, and community organizations to create more connected and accessible learning pathways. This collaborative approach shaped her work at ASU, as well as her leadership in designing education models that integrate academics with realworld experience at Da Vinci Schools. She has also played a pivotal role in national initiatives with Transforming Learning Collaborative, Schools That Can, and Reach University. She holds a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and an EdD in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University.