Northwestern College Announces 2018 Commencement Speaker: Ret. US Congressman Steve Gunderson
President & CEO, Association of Career Education Colleges & Universities
[Bridgeview, IL] Northwestern College President Lawrence Schumacher announced that the Commencement Speaker for the College’s 2018 ceremony will be Retired US Congressman Steve 
Gunderson of Wisconsin, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU). During Gunderson’s entire career he has focused on the issues of education and workforce investment. As CECU’s President and CEO since 2012, he has publicly advocated on behalf of workforce education programs offered by higher education institutions like Northwestern College, institutions that offer certificate and degree programs designed to prepare students for available jobs in their communities.
Gunderson began his public advocacy of education and workforce investment at the age of 23 when he was first elected to the Wisconsin State Legislature. After three terms serving on a state level, he was elected to the US Congress from the 3rd District of Wisconsin, primarily representing the western portion of the state from St. Croix south to the Illinois border. While serving in Congress, he maintained his sharp focus on education and employment policy, yet he was also recognized nationally as a consistent leader in the areas of agriculture, health care and human rights issues.
After serving sixteen (16) years in the US Congress, Gunderson retired from public service and accepted a position as the Senior Consultant and Managing Director in the Washington office of The Greystone Group. At this strategic management and communications consulting firm, he continued his focus on education and workforce needs, with his portfolio of work centering on research, writing, speaking and consulting, particularly on the subject of the jobs revolution in America. During this period, Gunderson was the lead author of a book entitled, The Jobs Revolution: Changing How America Works, and was also responsible for publishing The New Middle Class: Creating Wealth, Wages and Opportunity in the 21st Century.
Gunderson then transitioned to the Council on Foundations where he served as the President and CEO from 2005-2011. Some of his many priorities there continued to be education and workforce investment. As a result of his leadership, a division for Public-Private Partnerships was established, the National Fund for Workforce Solutions.
Gunderson became the President and CEO of the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities (APSCU) in 2012, now known as Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU). During his now six year tenure, he has worked to refocus the association and the sector on workforce education programming and has established CECU nationally as a strong voice for postsecondary career education. He has written and spoken on the topic across the nation and continues to advocate for college access for all in our nation’s capital. With nearly two decades of his career spent serving as a US Congressman, Gunderson continues to be recognized for his insight and analysis on national political issues and has lectured widely from Harvard University to The Brookings Institution.
Gunderson is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Brown School of Broadcasting in Minnesota.
“No one understands higher education and the current state of our workforce better than Steve Gunderson,” said Lawrence Schumacher, Northwestern College President. “Where are the jobs? What are the professions that are in demand? What skills are employers looking for these days? What will it take to get hired? Steve Gunderson can share those answers with our 2018 graduates!”
This year’s Northwestern College Commencement Ceremony will take place on Friday, June 8 at The Copernicus Center on Chicago’s Northwest Side, located at 5216 W. Lawrence Avenue. The Ceremony will begin at 5:00 p.m. and include approximately 230-240 graduates. According to past ceremonies, it is anticipated that approximately 2,500 will attend in support of the Class.
This year marks the College’s 114th Commencement Ceremony. Northwestern College has well over a century of history in the Chicagoland area serving primarily Chicagoans and suburban students seeking to fulfill their career-focused higher education dreams. A family-owned institution from its inception, the College was purchased by the Schumacher Family in 1958 and has expanded its original focus on Business to now also include an array of programs in allied health, dental, as well as Nursing, with its Violet L Schumacher School of Nursing that opened in 2010.
About Northwestern College:
Northwestern College (NC) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, 230 S. LaSalle St., Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604, (312) 263-0456, www.hlcommission.org. The college offers focused career-oriented associate degree and certificate programs with flexible schedules and a supportive faculty. Day, evening, weekend, online classes and online programs are available. More information can be found at www.NC.edu or by calling toll-free (888) 205-2283.