About Craig

Craig Powell is President and Chief Executive Officer of ConnectEDU, a company he founded in 2002. In his role, Powell has established himself as an industry thought-leader on education and career transition issues facing students, families, high schools, colleges and employers. Under Powell’s leadership, ConnectEDU has assembled the largest, national network of high schools, colleges and employers focused on streamlining education and career transitions for 13 – 35 year olds.  

In 1997, Powell founded IvyTutors, a tutoring and study-skills company, which helped high school students become both better prepared for and aware of opportunities available to them. It provided supplemental education to hundreds of high school students in the Providence, RI area before being sold in early 2002. Powell previously worked at Nautic Partners, a middle-market $2.3 billion private equity fund located in Providence.   

Powell is a graduate of Brown University. He was the recipient of the Cliff Stevenson Award for Outstanding Leadership for his work within the Brown community and received a Big Brothers of Rhode Island Service Citation for his work in the Providence community. Powell has been invited to speak at over fifty industry gatherings on issues ranging from college access to cultivating tomorrow’s workforce.

About ConnectEDU

ConnectEDU is the nation’s leading technology firm dedicated to providing students, educators and employers with comprehensive solutions to successfully navigate education and employment transitions.  

ConnectEDU's mission is to democratize access to higher education and career opportunities for all students by empowering them and their advisors with the information, resources and collective bargaining power required to realize successful life-transitions

What Craig and Craig Talked About

What problem are ConnectEDU is out to solve? 

• Inefficiencies in the college preparation and admission process.
• Lack of budget for high schools to spend on technology.
• Wasted paper in the college admissions process in the context of a “green generation”  

How does ConnectEDU addresse the problem?

• Links high school students, parents and counselors to colleges and employers.
• Puts students at the center of the web solution.
• Verifies student data and admissions documents which are sent directly from high school SIS to college SIS.
• Centralizes “one stop shop” for students to manage the entire process.
• No cost to high school, student or family.