University of Phoenix
Phoenix, US · Arizona corporation
Find your way into University of Phoenix
624 people in our graph share verified history with the University of Phoenix team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Ericunlockedknows Cheryl Naumann · together at University of Phoenix (overlapped)
×2knows the team · via University of Phoenix
knows the team · via University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
×2knows the team · via Carleton University
×3knows the team · via Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
knows the team · via The University of Texas at San Antonio
University of Phoenix provides career-focused higher education to working adults, offering accessible degree programs delivered through online and in-person formats.
Founders & leadership
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John SperlinginFounder
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Kimberly KauffmaninVice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary
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Raghu KrishnaiahinChief Operating OfficerRaghu Krishnaiah is an executive officer at University of Phoenix with over 20 years of experience in leadership roles spanning education, financial services, and technology sectors. He has held positions involving P&L management, product development, operations, and strategy across companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500 organizations.
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Daniel P. LitteralExecutive
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Christopher LynneExecutive
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William MolinainExecutiveWilliam Molina is a Ph.D. candidate in immunology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, conducting research in macrophage biology and tumor immunity under the Haldar Lab.
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Cheryl NaumanninChief Human Resources OfficerCheryl Naumann is an executive human resources leader with experience in talent acquisition, organizational development, succession planning, and employee engagement across publicly traded, private, and private equity firms in technology, higher education, sports, and hospitality sectors. She has also served in general management roles overseeing finance, operations, and marketing at a major Arizona nonprofit organization.
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Peter J. CoheninMember of Board of DirectorsPeter J. Cohen is an executive at University of Phoenix with experience leading large-scale operations in education and multi-unit retail businesses in regulated environments.
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Joan BlackwoodinSVP, Chief Marketing Officer2015–2019She previously worked as a Fractional Chief Marketing and Growth Officer at Chief Outsiders, where she led strategic planning and marketing initiatives across financial services, technology, healthcare, and higher education sectors.
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John WoodsinProvost and Chief Academic OfficerJohn Woods is Chief Academic Officer and Provost at University of Phoenix, overseeing academic program development for working adults. He holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Bowling Green State University and brings over 25 years of experience in higher education, including prior roles as dean, chief academic officer at adult-serving institutions, and work with educational technology companies.
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Ruth VeloriainChief Strategy Officer
Board
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Everette FreemanBoard director
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$25.9M disclosed across 5 rounds · 2017–2020
▶$127.1KraisedApr 2020 · 3 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
▶$127.1KraisedApr 2020 · 3 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Kimberly KauffmanExecutive Officer
- Christopher LynneExecutive Officer
- William MolinaExecutive Officer
- Ruth VeloriaExecutive Officer
- Raghu KrishnaiahExecutive Officer
- Eric RizzoExecutive Officer
- Martin NesbittDirector
- Jamie SmithExecutive Officer
- Celestino FernandezExecutive Officer, Director
- Anthony MillerDirector
- Gregory W. CappelliDirector
- Brooke Skinner RickettsDirector
- Cheryl NaumannExecutive Officer
- Laurence BergDirector
- Daniel P. LitteralExecutive Officer
- Peter J. CohenExecutive Officer, Director
- Everette FreemanExecutive Officer, Director
- Simit D. ShahExecutive Officer
- John WoodsExecutive Officer
- Ruth E. Williams-BrinkleyDirector
- Christa PageExecutive Officer
- Nicholas B. DirksDirector
- Steve GrossExecutive Officer
- Sean P. BuckleyDirector
- Offering amount
- $127.1K
- Amount sold
- $127.1K
- First sale
- Apr 2020
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Arizona
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$383.7KraisedMay 2019 · 3 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
▶$383.7KraisedMay 2019 · 3 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Kimberly KauffmanExecutive Officer
- Raghu KrishnaiahExecutive Officer
- Daniel P. LitteralExecutive Officer
- Christopher LynneExecutive Officer
- William MolinaExecutive Officer
- Cheryl NaumannExecutive Officer
- Everette FreemanExecutive Officer, Director
- Celestino FernandezExecutive Officer, Director
- Peter J. CohenExecutive Officer, Director
- Joan BlackwoodExecutive Officer
- John WoodsExecutive Officer
- Ruth VeloriaExecutive Officer
- Simit D. ShahExecutive Officer
- Jamie SmithExecutive Officer
- Offering amount
- $383.7K
- Amount sold
- $383.7K
- First sale
- Apr 2019
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Arizona
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$385KraisedJun 2018 · 4 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
▶$385KraisedJun 2018 · 4 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Celestino FernandezExecutive Officer, Director
- Cheryl NaumannExecutive Officer
- Byron JonesExecutive Officer
- Everette FreemanExecutive Officer, Director
- Joanna AcocellaExecutive Officer
- Patricia M. FairfieldExecutive Officer
- Gregory W. CappelliDirector
- D. Mark HilliardExecutive Officer
- Laurence BergDirector
- Anthony MillerDirector
- Raghu KrishnaiahExecutive Officer
- Nicholas B. DirksDirector
- William R. MolinaExecutive Officer
- John WoodsExecutive Officer
- Peter J. CohenExecutive Officer, Director
- Daniel P. LitteralExecutive Officer
- Sean P. BuckleyDirector
- Ruth VeloriaExecutive Officer
- Joan BlackwoodExecutive Officer
- Offering amount
- $385K
- Amount sold
- $385K
- First sale
- May 2018
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Arizona
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$2MraisedSep 2017 · 40 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
▶$2MraisedSep 2017 · 40 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Gregory IversonExecutive Officer
- Raghu KrishnaiahExecutive Officer
- Amy GibbonsDirector
- Gregory W. CappelliDirector
- Sherri OndrusExecutive Officer
- Byron JonesExecutive Officer
- William MolinaExecutive Officer
- Anthony MillerDirector
- Everette J. FreemanExecutive Officer, Director
- Celestino FernandezExecutive Officer, Director
- Luis M. ProenzaDirector
- Peter J. CohenExecutive Officer, Director
- Sean P. BuckleyDirector
- Laurence BergDirector
- Patricia M. FairfieldExecutive Officer
- Nicholas B. DirksDirector
- Joan BlackwoodExecutive Officer
- D. Mark HilliardExecutive Officer
- Amount sold
- $2M
- First sale
- Sep 2017
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Arizona
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$23MraisedSep 2017 · 40 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
▶$23MraisedSep 2017 · 40 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Gregory W. CappelliDirector
- Sean P. BuckleyDirector
- Patricia M. FairfieldExecutive Officer
- Peter J. CohenExecutive Officer, Director
- William MolinaExecutive Officer
- Gregory IversonExecutive Officer
- Byron JonesExecutive Officer
- Laurence BergDirector
- Anthony MillerDirector
- Everette J. FreemanExecutive Officer, Director
- Sherri OndrusExecutive Officer
- Celestino FernandezExecutive Officer, Director
- Joan BlackwoodExecutive Officer
- Nicholas B. DirksDirector
- Amy GibbonsDirector
- Raghu KrishnaiahExecutive Officer
- D. Mark HilliardExecutive Officer
- Luis M. ProenzaDirector
- Amount sold
- $23M
- First sale
- Sep 2017
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Arizona
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Founder mafia
The University of Phoenix mafia →23 people who came through University of Phoenix went on to found or lead other companies.
Colleen HiltonAdjunct FacultyFounded Alli Connect +2Brandon BruceMBAFounded Cirrus InsightJeremie HabibBachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)Founded GigwellNanette JacksonM.B.A.Founded Venu AIMichael ShattuckEnrollment Advisor / ProgrammerFounded SoonMark FrankMaster of Science - MSFounded SonderMindJacky ChiuMaster of ScienceFounded BrightsideBrijesh KumarMaster of Business Administration (MBA)Founded KlearDr. Donnisha DavisDoctorateFounded FlixMateJohn GrangeTechnology ManagementFounded OpsCompassKai FrazierMaster of Education (M.Ed.)Founded Kai XRShannon WilkinsonMaster of Management Information SystemsFounded Tego Cyber
+ 11 more
In the news
Frequently asked questions
- What does University of Phoenix do?
- University of Phoenix provides career-focused higher education to working adults, offering accessible degree programs delivered through online and in-person formats.
- Who founded University of Phoenix?
- University of Phoenix was founded by John Sperling.
- How much funding has University of Phoenix raised?
- University of Phoenix has disclosed $25.9M raised across 5 rounds.
- Where is University of Phoenix headquartered?
- University of Phoenix is headquartered in Phoenix, US.












