In Conversation with Anne Khademian | Executive Director | The Universities at Shady Grove, Edu Unlocked Podcast

Anne Khademian

Guest

Dr. Anne Khademian serves as the Executive Director of the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) – the third to hold this role – following her appointment in October 2020 after a national search. In addition to leading USG, a regional higher education center of the University System of Maryland (USM) that brings together programs from nine universities on one campus, she also holds the title of Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for USM.
Before joining USG, Dr. Khademian built an accomplished 17-year career at Virginia Tech, where she served as a Presidential Fellow and professor. She previously led the School of Public and International Affairs as its director for seven years, overseeing a period of significant institutional growth that included new academic programs, expanded enrollment, increased faculty hiring, strengthened global partnerships, and enhanced community outreach. As a Presidential Fellow, she contributed to the implementation of the university’s “Beyond Boundaries” initiatives, supporting organizational innovation and cross-campus collaboration.
A nationally recognized scholar with nearly 30 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Khademian is widely respected for her work on inclusive leadership, organizational culture, and public management. Her research covers policy networks, inclusive organizational practices, and the functioning of institutions involved in homeland security and financial regulation. She is the author of three influential books and numerous articles shaping the fields of public administration and public policy. She is also a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, an honor reserved for distinguished leaders in government and public service.
Beyond her academic and administrative leadership, Dr. Khademian is deeply engaged in community service. She serves on the boards of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, the American Red Cross (National Capital Region), and Smart City Works. She is also a member of the Leadership Montgomery CORE Class of 2023.
Dr. Khademian holds a B.A. in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration from Michigan State University, as well as a Ph.D. in Political Science and Government from Washington University in St. Louis. A former collegiate athlete, she was a standout in cross country and track at Michigan State and was inducted into the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.
She is also the host of the USG video podcast “This is USG” and the audio podcast “AKA Innovation,” both of which highlight innovative leadership and practices that drive transformation in education.
Key Highlights:
1. Executive Director, Universities at Shady Grove; Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, USM
2. Nearly 30 years of expertise in inclusive leadership, organizational culture, and public management
3. Former Director of the School of Public and International Affairs, Virginia Tech
4. Nationally recognized scholar; Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration
5. Author of three books and numerous influential publications
6. Board member: MCCOC, MCEDC, American Red Cross (National Capital Region), Smart City Works
7. Inducted into Michigan State University’s Athletic Hall of Fame (2016)
8. Host of the “This is USG” and “AKA Innovation” podcast series

Ashish Fernando

Host

Founder & CEO, EDMO
Ashish Fernando is the visionary founder and CEO of EDMO, a revolutionary educational technology platform that's transforming how people learn and grow. With over 15 years of experience in education and technology, Ashish has dedicated his career to making quality education accessible to learners worldwide. Before founding EDMO, Ashish held leadership positions at several prominent EdTech companies and worked as an educational consultant for Fortune 500 companies. He holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Master's in Computer Science from MIT. Ashish is a frequent speaker at educational conferences and has been featured in publications such as EdTech Magazine, Learning & Development Today, and TechCrunch. He's passionate about the intersection of technology and human potential, believing that the right tools can unlock extraordinary learning outcomes for everyone. Under his leadership, EDMO has grown to serve over 100,000 learners globally and has partnerships with leading educational institutions and corporations. Ashish continues to drive innovation in personalized learning, adaptive assessment, and educational analytics.
Key Achievements:
1. Founded EDMO in 2019, now serving 100,000+ learners globally
2. Named 'EdTech Innovator of the Year' by Learning Technology Awards 2023
3. Featured speaker at Global Education Summit 2024
4. Published researcher in educational technology and learning analytics
5. Advisor to multiple EdTech startups and educational initiatives