ADELPHI, Md.(Aug. 4, 2025)--Following a national search, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) has appointed Angela Besendorfer, Ed.D., as its first Chief Learning Experience and Success Officer (CLESO).
In this newly created role, Dr. Besendorfer will lead the university’s efforts to deliver a seamless, learner-focused experience for more than 100,000 students worldwide. This experience is shaped by a focused effort to see the world through the eyes of learners—from the time they first hear about t è through graduation and beyond—and tailor the university’s products and services accordingly.
As CLESO, Dr. Besendorfer will oversee academic success, student affairs, digital engagement, and workforce readiness, ensuring that enterprise resources, technology, and operations align with student success priorities. Her work will help shape career-aligned, flexible education pathways that meet the evolving needs of adult learners in the workforce and the military.
“This role is purpose-built to drive UMGC’s evolution as the university of the future, one where every team and function prioritizes the needs and expectations of learners,” said UMGC President Gregory W. Fowler, Ph.D. “I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Besendorfer to UMGC’s leadership team, and look forward to the energy, expertise, and vision she brings. Her extensive experience with learning and education at every level aligns fully with the scope and purpose of this new role and with our institutional mission.”
Dr. Besendorfer brings more than three decades of visionary leadership experience in higher education, workforce development, and student success. She most recently served as chief impact officer and general manager of Skills to Work at AstrumU, where she led national efforts to empower under-resourced communities through skills-based hiring and AI-driven talent intelligence. Before that, she served as executive vice president of KC Scholars—a nonprofit focused on increasing educational access for low- and modest-income individuals—and as regional vice president of Western Governors University (WGU), interim academic vice president and dean of WGU’s Teachers College, and chancellor of WGU Missouri.
“I have witnessed firsthand how education is a powerful force for change,” Dr. Besendorfer said. “I’m honored to help lead a global effort that puts learners first, prioritizes skills acquisition, and builds pathways that are as diverse and dynamic as the students we serve.”
Earlier in her career, Dr. Besendorfer held several leadership roles in K-12 education, including as superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, and director of Special Services. She began her career as a classroom teacher.
Her work has earned national recognition, including the prestigious National Milken Educator Award and Missouri Governor’s Leadership Coin.
A graduate of Missouri Southern State College with a degree in elementary education, she holds an MS in elementary administration from Central Missouri State University and an EdD in educational leadership from the University of Missouri–Columbia.
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University of Maryland Global Campus was founded more than 75 years ago specifically to serve the higher education needs of adult students in the workforce and the military. Today, UMGC is the largest provider of postsecondary education in Maryland and one of the largest public universities in the world. It continues its global tradition, offering online and hybrid courses at classroom and service locations in 20 countries and territories worldwide, and more than 135 degree and certificate programs backed by the reputation of the University System of Maryland (USM). For more information, visit umgc.edu.