The Woolf Academic Advisory Council (WAAC) provides thought leadership and guidance as Woolf navigates changes in regulation and technology. Comprised of distinguished academic leaders from various fields, the WAAC plays a pivotal role in framing the strategic direction of Woolf. By providing expertise in their respective fields and through their years of experience, the WAAC ensures that Woolf remains at the forefront of global education.
The WAAC’s role is to provide advice to Woolf’s Head of Institution on matters of strategy, regulatory, academic policy, and the creation of an environment of excellence. The WAAC evaluates the highest priorities of Woolf as it establishes its global collegiate presence. Woolf is grateful to the WAAC’s group of visionary academic leaders who understand the importance of innovation in the higher education space and are dedicated to advancing its future.
With their collective knowledge and diversified experience, ranging from EdTech to higher education policy, the WAAC is committed supporting the development of a world-class institution that seamlessly integrates Woolf's quality assurance standards with cutting-edge technological advancements. This alignment keeps in view the needs of regulators, students, and faculty alike.
Joshua is the founder of Woolf, which exists to increase access to world-class higher education and ensure it is globally recognized and transferable. At the University of Oxford, Joshua has been a member of the Faculty of Philosophy, a member of Wolfson College, and a member of the governing Congregation of the University.
Teri is the Founding President at Minerva University. She has more than 35 years of experience in higher education and is deeply knowledgeable in the areas of accreditation, student achievement, and institutional excellence. She is licensed to practice law in the state of California and has served as the Executive Vice President of WASC.
Stephen is the President of Active Learning Sciences, as well as the Founder and Chief Academic Officer of Foundry College. Prior to that, he was the Founding Dean and Chief Academic Officer at Minerva University and the Chair of the Department of Psychology at Harvard University.
Shuo is a member of the University of California, Berkeley faculty, where she teaches entrepreneurship, and a General Partner at IOVC, where she invests in early-stage startups in Silicon Valley. Shuo is also appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom to serve as 1 of 13 voting members on California's Mental Health Commission.
Lluís is a member of the Royal Academy of European Doctors and is currently Rector of the European University of Gasteiz. He is also the Founder of La Salle Open University, which works across the global LaSallian university system.
Sowmyanarayanan served as the President of IIIT-Bangalore, a PhD-granting university, until July 2021. Prior to that, he was a member of the faculty at IIT Kanpur (1979-95), IIM Bangalore (1995-99), Rutgers University (1997), and AIT Bangkok (1990). IIITs represent a set of new-generation universities that started in India in the late 1990s with a special focus on IT.
Pramath is a pioneering force in Indian higher education. He is the Founder & Chairman of Harappa Education, which strives to become India’s largest online institution focused on teaching thrive skills, critical to workplace success in the 21st century. He is the Founding Dean and a member of the Executive Board of ISB which rapidly became one of the top-20 business schools in the world. He is also a Founder & Trustee of the acclaimed Ashoka University, a liberal arts university which launched the popular Young India Fellowship.
Ralph has had a distinguished career spanning 32 years at WASC, the esteemed US accreditation agency based in California. Serving as the President of WASC for 17 years, Ralph continues to contribute as a senior advisor. His dedication to quality education also extends beyond borders — he is currently a member of the University Quality Assurance International Board (UQAIB) in Dubai.
