Todd Nelson was named President and CEO of Perdoceo Education Corporation in August 2015 and appointed to the Perdoceo Education Board of Directors.

Mr. Nelson’s career includes leadership of several of the largest education companies in the US. He served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of Education Management Corporation, where he ultimately served as Chairman of the Board. Prior to his service at Education Management Corporation, Mr. Nelson held several roles of increasing responsibility at the University of Phoenix and Apollo Group Inc. (now known as Apollo Education Group, Inc.), including serving as the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Apollo. While under his leadership, both companies experienced enrollment and financial growth, development and implementation of new programs and acquisitions of additional schools and programs.

Mr. Nelson received his B.S. degree from Brigham Young University and his M.B.A. from the University of Nevada.

Jeffrey Ayers joined Perdoceo Education in December 2007 as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Mr. Ayers is an experienced chief legal officer who has been a member of the executive teams of listed companies.

Mr. Ayers has significant compliance and transactional experience, having practiced law for more than 20 years in law firms and corporations. Prior to joining Perdoceo Education, he was Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for NovaStar Financial. Prior to joining NovaStar, Mr. Ayers was Vice President and Associate General Counsel at GE Insurance Solutions.

Mr. Ayers received his B.S. degree from Graceland University, summa cum laude, and earned his J.D. with high distinction and M.B.A. from the University of Iowa.

David Czeszewski joined Perdoceo Education in 2001 and currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Prior to being appointed interim CIO in 2013, Mr. Czeszewski served as Chief Technology Infrastructure Officer managing the enterprise technology infrastructure and service management functions. He previously served as CIO for Perdoceo Education’s then Online Education Group from 2005 to 2006, and also held roles such as Vice President of Strategic Development, overseeing Internet development with a special focus on admissions effectiveness, and Director of Project Office/Major Projects, overseeing the enterprise upgrade of a student administration system at each of Perdoceo Education’s campuses, the centralization of a datacenter and the creation of a new wide-area network.

Prior to joining Perdoceo Education, Mr. Czeszewski was Vice President of Product Development for Commerx, Inc., a provider and operator of eBusiness networks enabling companies and their trading companies to rapidly optimize supply chains. He has worked in the technology field since 1986, serving in the consumer electronics, financial services, software product development, and postsecondary education industries..

Mr. Czeszewski completed his bachelor’s degree at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Ill., and his M.B.A. at Dominican University in River Forest, Ill.

Ashish Ghia was appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in March 2018, after serving as Interim Chief Financial Officer since September 2017. Mr. Ghia joined Perdoceo Education in June 2008 and has served in various financial planning and analysis roles with increasing responsibility, including as Vice President Finance since February 2016 and Vice President Financial Planning & Analysis from October 2012 through January 2016. Mr. Ghia has also served as Assistant Treasurer of the Company since August 2016. Prior to joining Perdoceo Education, Mr. Ghia was a Business Finance Manager with Sears Holdings Corporation from 2006 to 2008 and also held associate positions with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Ernst & Young prior thereto.

Mr. Ghia holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in financial accounting and audit from the University of Mumbai and his M.B.A. from Georgia State University and is a certified public accountant.

Andrew Hurst joined Perdoceo Education in April 2014 and serves as Senior Vice President - Colorado Technical University. Mr. Hurst also serves as President of Colorado Technical University. Mr. Hurst has over 30 years of experience in higher education, with much of his tenure focused on serving the educational needs of adult and distance learners.

Mr. Hurst joined Perdoceo Education following 10 years at Education Management Corporation (EDMC), where he most recently served as Vice Chancellor for Online and Strategic Operations for South University. At South University, he oversaw all online operational aspects of the university, including marketing and admissions, student retention, faculty recruitment, student affairs, new program development, academic technology, program portfolio and assessment, academic strategy as well as research and development.

Prior to his Vice Chancellor position at South University, Mr. Hurst served as Vice President of Academic Operations for EDMC’s Online Higher Education division, supporting all of EDMC’s online programs offered by Argosy University, South University and the Art Institutes. In addition, he served as Chair of EDMC’s Education Innovation Council, leading the development and implementation of several key strategic initiatives, including EDMC’s “classroom of the future,” its mobile app platform and Argosy University’s competency-based program. Mr. Hurst first joined EDMC in 2004 as Vice President of Online for South University, responsible for implementation, development and growth of the university’s online programs. He later served in a similar role for Argosy University.

Mr. Hurst began his higher education career in the early 80s and held a variety of cross-functional leadership roles within his family’s educational business. His company developed and supported distance education programs for traditional not-for-profit universities, such as Saint Joseph’s College, Upper Iowa University and Indiana Institute of Technology, as well as founded Virginia College in 1983. In 1988, Mr. Hurst was instrumental in the development and management of the first directed independent study RN to BSN program in the nation. This innovative, distance education program was developed with Graceland University and later expanded to include MSN and RN to MSN programs. Mr. Hurst is a graduate of the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia.

John Kline joined the Company in October 2015 as Senior Vice President – American InterContinental University. Reflecting AIU’s implementation of a university system, Mr. Kline currently serves as Senior Vice President – American InterContinental University System. Mr. Kline also serves as President of the American InterContinental University System. Mr. Kline’s career includes executive leadership roles of several of the largest education companies in the US. He served as Senior Vice President of Operations of Education Management Corporation, where he also served as President of EDMC’s Online Higher Education Division. Prior to his service at Education Management Corporation, Mr. Kline was the Chief Executive Officer of Nelnet Enrollment Solutions. NES provided solutions to higher education institutions in the area of marketing, recruiting, and retention of high quality students.

Prior to his service at Nelnet, Mr. Kline held several roles of increasing responsibility at the University of Phoenix and Apollo Group Inc. (now known as Apollo Education Group, Inc.), including serving as the Chief Administrative Officer of Apollo. While under Mr. Kline’s guidance, these businesses were able to improve the quality of student outcomes by increasing student success rates while lowering student debt levels.

Mr. Kline received a B.S. degree from Arizona State University.