Dr. Yolanda Watson Spiva is the president of Complete College America (CCA), a national nonprofit founded in 2009 that advocates for dramatically increasing college completion rates by identifying, co-designing, and scaling evidence-based practices. Leading CCA since 2018, Dr. Watson Spiva oversees a nationwide alliance of 53 states, systems, territories, and consortia working collectively to accelerate student success and drive systemic change. Previously, she served as President and CEO of the College Success Foundation, CEO and Executive Director of Project GRAD Atlanta Inc., assistant dean at Trinity College in Washington, DC, and held multiple leadership roles with the U.S. Department of Education. Dr. Watson Spiva holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Spelman College, a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago, and a Ph.D. in higher education from Georgia State University.
Last modified: May 11, 2026