edX CEO Anant Agarwal honored with the prestigious Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize

PHOENIX, (Diya TV) — Anant Agarwal, the Indian American CEO of edX, was named among the three winners of this year’s Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education — the prize is awarded annually, and for the first time, was delivered through a joint-sponsorship between Arizona State University and McGraw Hill Education. Additionally, it was the first time the award solicited nominations from the public.

Honorees receive an award of $50,000, in addition to what has widely become considered one of America’s most prestigious educational awards since its inception in 1988.

“ASU is proud to be a part of this partnership that honors outstanding innovators in education,” said ASU President Michael Crow. “From increasing access to education to incorporating technology in the classroom, this year’s winners have tacked some of the biggest challenges facing educators around the globe. Each of them provides an example of success from which we all can learn.”

Phil Regier, university dean for educational initiatives and CEO of ASU EdPlus, shared why he though the merger between the university and McGraw Hill was the perfect fit.

“ASU is at the forefront of educational innovation, and we both believe in the power of technology to increase access to education and enhance the learning experience. It’s a great partnership.”

Specifically, Agarwal will receive the U.S. Higher Education Prize for his leadership work in the development of of the Massive Open Online Course movement. The course has streamlined affordable education for millions of children across the world. He was selected, along with two others — Alberto M. Carvalho, superintendent of the Miami-Dade school district and Sakena Yacoobi, CEO of the Afghan Institute of Learning — during a vote of the 19 panelists selected to distribute the awards.

“Anant, Alberto, and Sakena have changed the lives of millions of students,” president and CEO of McGraw-Hill Education David Levin said. “Their accomplishments and innovation should be lauded and shared with others who are working to make a difference around the world.”

Aside from his work at edX, Agarwal also serves as a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he additionally serves as the director of the school’s computer science and artificial intelligence laboratory. Agarwal is a graduate of IIT Madras and Stanford University, with degrees in electrical and electronics engineering and a doctorate in electrical engineering and computer science. He has founded a variety of companies, including Virtual Machine Works Inc., InCert Software, Determina Inc. and Tilera Corporation.

“These three winners are extraordinary educational leaders who will inspire the next generation of learners around the world,” said Harold (Terry) McGraw III, former chairman and CEO of The McGraw-Hill Companies. “We are proud to have them join the other illustrious recipients of the McGraw Prize in Education.”

“Anant, Alberto, and Sakena have changed the lives of millions of students,” said David Levin, president and CEO of McGraw-Hill Education. “Their accomplishments and innovation should be lauded and shared with others who are working to make a difference around the world.”