Academic Partnerships CEO and leadership

Dr. Amanda Lynne Smith has 20 years of experience in curriculum and instruction, education management, and online program development in elementary, secondary and postsecondary settings. Her work with Academic Partnerships as Senior Vice President, Academic Services and Products has given her the opportunity to apply nearly two decades of best practices, subject matter expertise and professional passion to serving online students across the country and world. Prior to AP, she served as Vice Provost Curriculum and Academic Services for Ultimate Medical Academy where she oversaw online and campus curriculum; online instructors and an academic coaching team. Her experience also includes having held the role of Vice President Curriculum and Development for a full-service post-secondary academic resource firm. Following in the footsteps of her family who have owned and operated Fairmont Private School since 1974, Amanda began her career in the K-12 space as a classroom teacher and curriculum coach in the State of California and Colorado. Dr. Smith holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver, a M.Ed. in Cross Cultural Studies in Education from National University, Fresno; and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from California State University, Fresno.

Howard Rouse is a Chief Operating Officer at Academic Partnerships and is based in Dallas/Fort Worth Area. He has worked as Senior Vice President of Financial Operations at Academic Partnerships, Chief Financial Officer at American College of Education, and Senior Vice President of Operations at Academic Partnerships. Howard studied at Brigham Young University (BYU) between 1984 and 1991.

Katelynn Thomas Dugan is a Chief Of Staff at BEST ASSOCIATES and Chief Of Staff at Academic Partnerships and is based in Dallas, Texas. She has worked as Assistant to the Director, National Association of State Personnel Executives at Council of State Governments; Marshal, Activities Chair, Programming Committee, Homecoming Committee 2010 at Kappa Kappa Gamma; and Marketing/ Engineering Intern at Lockheed Martin. Katelynn attended Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo between 2010 and 2010 and University of Kentucky between 2007 and 2011.

Robert Hilliard is a Chief Information Officer at Academic Partnerships. He has worked as Head:Technology at LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC..