Academic Partnerships Appoints Dr. Akiba Covitz as Senior Vice President of Strategic Relationships

DALLAS, Sept. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Academic Partnerships (AP), one of the largest representatives of online learning in the United States and around the world, today announced that it has appointed Dr. Akiba Covitz as senior vice president of strategic relationships.  In this role, Dr. Covitz will work to implement AP's global strategy and develop partnerships with select private universities inside and outside of the United States.

Dr. Covitz joins AP from edX, a non-profit created by founding partners Harvard and MIT that now includes 27 of the world's leading universities.  At edX, he was vice president of university relations.  In that role, he worked with new edX university partners globally to on-board them, establish best practices, and collaborate on educational policy.

"Akiba brings many years of higher education experience to Academic Partnerships, and I am pleased to welcome him to our team," said AP's Chairman and CEO Randy Best.  "Throughout his career, he has excelled in both teaching and university administration, and he has made significant contributions to the growth of online learning through his most recent role at edX.  AP and the universities we serve will benefit greatly from his leadership, and I look forward to the contributions he will make in establishing strategic partnerships as we continue to internationalize our operations."

Before joining edX, Dr. Covitz held senior leadership roles at a number of universities.  He was associate dean for faculty development and a member of the faculty at Harvard Law School and previously served as associate dean for academic affairs at Phoenix School of Law, a member school of the InfiLaw System consortium. 

Dr. Covitz also has extensive teaching experience as a tenure-track professor of political science, including at the University of Richmond, where he also served as special assistant to the president. 

Dr. Covitz's excellence in teaching has been recognized throughout his career.  He is the recipient of numerous teaching awards, including being named a top-rated teacher at Harvard's Extension School and Faculty Member of the Year at the University of Richmond.  Dr. Covitz is also a recipient of the Dean's Award for Distinguished Teaching at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Dr. Covitz holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal arts from St. John's College (Annapolis), a Master of Studies in Law degree from Yale Law School, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in political science from the University of Pennsylvania.

About Academic Partnerships 
Academic Partnerships (AP) helps universities convert their traditional degree programs into an online format, recruits qualified students, and supports enrolled students through graduation.  Serving more than 40 public universities in the United States and numerous top foreign institutions, AP is guided by the principle that the opportunities presented through distance learning make higher education more accessible and achievable for students in the United States and around the world.  The company was founded by social entrepreneur Randy Best, an 18-year veteran of developing innovative learning solutions to improve education.  For more information, please visit www.academicpartnerships.com.

Contact:
Jaquelyn M. Scharnick
Academic Partnerships
+1.866.939.6323
[email protected]

SOURCE Academic Partnerships