Alberto Acereda is an accomplished senior executive with over 20 years of leadership experience at the intersection of academia and business. Specializing in higher education innovation, academic relations, and strategic growth, he has a proven track record of driving multimillion-dollar initiatives, scaling global operations, and forging transformative partnerships that align institutional research priorities with cutting-edge solutions.
In academia, Alberto has held leadership positions at top-tier institutions, particularly at Arizona State University, where he implemented strategic academic initiatives and elevated doctoral programs to national prominence. His expertise includes cultivating collaborations with Research 1 Institutions, research centers, and policy evaluation hubs, creating impactful frameworks to advance institutional excellence. He also led the creation of innovative study abroad programs, including founding Arizona State University’s most popular semester program, which expanded international learning opportunities for U.S. students and advanced the university’s global footprint. Alberto’s scholarly contributions include more than 100 refereed publications and multiple roles as a tenured research professor, academic chair, dean fellow, and president of the academic senate, reflecting a deep commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering educational innovation.
In the business sector, Alberto has excelled in executive roles, including serving as Senior Vice President at the ed-tech company Territorium and as Associate Vice President at ETS, the world’s largest educational assessment and talent solutions organization. He has successfully managed portfolios exceeding $200 million, driven 25% annual revenue growth, and championed AI-driven educational technologies. His expertise includes the application of generative AI to education, leveraging this technology to design flexible, learner-centered solutions and advance the integration of assessments into institutional strategies. As a strategist consultant at PwC, Alberto has collaborated with leading research institutions to drive transformational projects and has provided thought leadership on emerging trends, enhancing PwC’s reputation as a trusted partner in higher education.
This unique combination of academic leadership, research-centered engagement, and corporate innovation enables Alberto to deliver transformative strategies, foster impactful partnerships, and propel higher education institutions to new levels of success. Fluent in Spanish and English, with proficiency in additional languages, Alberto’s global perspective and bilingual expertise are integral to his success in navigating the complexities of international higher education. His career reflects a steadfast dedication to equity, innovation, and collaboration, empowering institutions and learners to thrive in an interconnected and technology-driven world.