Impatient Optimists
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Authors / Biography

Hilary Pennington

Title Director, Postsecondary Education
Organization Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

As director of Postsecondary Education, Hilary Pennington leads the foundation’s work in aiming to dramatically increase the number of young adults who complete their postsecondary education, setting them up for success in the workplace and in life.

  Author Website

Posts By Hilary Pennington

Colleges Must Lead on Innovation

February 15, 2011 / Hilary Pennington

These are tough times for higher education leaders. Budgets continue to be slashed, enrollments continue to climb, and the cost of running a school outstrips the resources available. In these difficult times, it would be easy for educators to hunker down in hopes of riding out the downturn.

Full Blog Post ›

Details

What Is ‘College’ Anyway?

October 04, 2010 / Hilary Pennington

A number of critics are suggesting that college is overrated and unnecessary for many young adults. But that line of thinking is misguided and short-sighted, because it’s predicated on a narrow and elitist idea of what “college” is, and should be.

Full Blog Post ›

Details

Completion Must Be a Community-Wide Effort

September 27, 2010 / Hilary Pennington

Now, more than ever, a college degree or postsecondary credential is critical to getting (and holding onto) a well-paying job.

Full Blog Post ›

Details


Reader Comments
See All ›Partner Headlines
See All › Last Thought

  • "Our desire to bring every good thing to our children is a force for good throughout the world. It’s what propels societies forward." —Melinda Gates

  • The Global Fund has helped to deliver more than 190 million bed nets to protect families from malaria.

  • "The world faces a clear choice. If we invest relatively small amounts, many more poor farmers will be able to feed their families." —Bill Gates, 2012 Annual Letter

  • "When it come to global health, Bill and I are optimists—but we're impatient optimists. Tremendous progress is being made. But there is still so much we're impatient to see done." —Melinda French Gates

  • In Senegal, 80% of households now have a bed net, helping the number of malaria cases there drop 50% in a single year.

©2013 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation