Michael Plater, Ph.D.
President, Strayer University
As Strayer University’s academic visionary, Dr. Michael Plater sets the agenda for delivering a rigorous, innovative and quality education that helps adult learners compete in today’s global economy.
After beginning his career in management in the private sector and before joining Strayer University, Dr. Plater served as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at North Carolina A&T State University, where he managed 400 faculty and staff in 13 academic departments and five affiliated academic programs.
Dr. Plater also served as the associate dean of Brown University’s Graduate School. In addition, he taught an undergraduate management course, and the “capstone” business policy/strategic management classes in the Master of Business Administration program at the University of Florida.
He joined Strayer University in 2010 as provost and chief academic officer, and was appointed president in May 2012.
Raised by a single parent, Dr. Plater learned firsthand how education transforms lives. He attended public city schools in Washington, D.C., until the age of 14, at which time he earned a scholarship to Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. After graduation, he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in economics from Harvard University, an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business and a doctorate in American Studies from the College of William and Mary.
His commitment to teaching and learning has led Dr. Plater to focus on educating adult learners and identifying the best instructional methods for adults who must balance work, family and education. He understands this delicate balance well – while pursuing his doctoral degree, he and his wife both worked full-time while raising two children.
Dr. Plater’s goal as president is to “Pay it Forward” – giving ahead instead of giving back – by helping make education more accessible to more people, especially to adult learners. Dr. Plater’s own efforts to Pay it Forward encourage Strayer University students, faculty and alumni to do the same, multiplying the transformative effect of education on individuals and communities.
Randi Reich Cosentino, Ed.D.
Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Strayer University
Dr. Randi Reich Cosentino believes in the capacity of technology to increase educational access, learner engagement and student success. As a former adult student herself, she has made it a priority to deliver rewarding academic experiences that are immediately relevant and applicable in the workplace.
Dr. Reich Cosentino has held a variety of academic leadership positions in her eleven years at Strayer University, including senior vice president of academic administration and senior vice provost for the West Area.
She was appointed provost and chief academic officer in May 2012, in which role she oversees the University’s on-campus and online academic programs, as well as the four schools—School of Business, School of Information Systems and Technology, School of Education and School of Arts and Sciences. She additionally manages the Departments of Faculty Affairs, Institutional Research, and the Registrar’s Office.
Prior to joining Strayer University in 2001, Dr. Reich Cosentino worked in both private industry and public service. She co-founded and managed business and strategic development for Mascot Network, an application service provider serving the higher education market with an enterprise portal. Previously, she served in city government as the assistant director of the Mayor’s Office of Transportation for the City of New York.
An advocate for lifelong learning who believes education has the capacity to change lives, Dr. Reich Cosentino holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and political science from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from Harvard University, and a doctorate in higher education from the University Pennsylvania. She lives in the Washington, D.C., area with her husband and two sons.
