As Executive Vice President of ECPI University, Sam Dreyfus helps lead a mission to rethink what higher education can look like when it is built for real life, not just tradition. ECPI focuses on accelerated, career-driven programs that prepare students for high-demand fields such as healthcare, technology, and engineering. Sam is dedicated to serving veterans, adult learners, and working parents—students who need flexible, hands-on models that lead to meaningful careers, faster. He champions innovation in career-focused higher education and works alongside faculty, students, and employers to close the gap between classrooms and careers.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with Higher Education Digest, Sam shared insights into his journey and perspectives on higher education. Sam emphasized the importance of strong partnerships with employers and community organizations, treating them as core stakeholders to align education with workforce demands. He also shared his favorite quote, words of wisdom, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
What originally drew you to a career in higher education, and what has kept you in the field?
This wasn’t something I planned to do. I grew up around the institution but didn’t fully understand its scope until I began working here. What I initially thought would be a short-term role turned into a long-term commitment for two reasons.
First, the work itself is meaningful. There are many jobs that feel transactional; this one feels consequential. I believe in our programs, our culture, and the way we approach education.
Second, this is where I can make my greatest contribution. ECPI represents the continuation and compounding of a vision started by my grandfather and carried forward by my father. Being able to build on that legacy, while adapting it to modern workforce and student needs, is deeply motivating.
What do you find most energizing or rewarding about your current role at ECPI?
What energizes me most is the opportunity to improve education at the scale we operate. We take a nontraditional, outcomes-driven approach to higher education, and we were early on the career-aligned education path. That model isn’t for everyone, but it matters when students are making significant financial and life decisions in an effort to change their circumstances.
I spend a lot of time in the weeds of student-facing processes and interactions, focused on how we can elevate educational delivery. That includes trying new things, particularly around technology, AI, automation, and new instructional models. Because our philosophy is so strongly student- and outcome-driven, it’s usually very clear where to focus. When the goal is to do the right thing for students, prioritization becomes much easier.
From your perspective, how can colleges and universities build stronger partnerships with employers and community organizations to better align education with workforce needs?
The simplest answer is to ask and listen. Employers should be treated as core stakeholders alongside students and the communities institutions serve.
At ECPI, we’ve relied on employer advisory boards for years to understand evolving skill needs and ensure our curriculum remains aligned with workforce demand. Strong partnerships require ongoing dialogue, shared expectations, and a recognition that education exists within a broader workforce ecosystem. When institutions view employers as collaborators rather than downstream recipients, alignment happens more naturally.
ECPI has been a pioneer in embedding apprenticeship opportunities within traditional degree and certificate pathways. What early successes have you seen from this model, and what lessons or advice would you share with institutions looking to replicate it?
Successful apprenticeship models depend heavily on alignment. Institutions must find the right employer partners, ensure expectations are clear, and recognize that apprenticeships vary significantly by state and industry.
There is no substitute for real, on-the-job experience, but it takes time before students can meaningfully contribute in a workplace setting. When both the institution and employer understand that investment timeline and share a commitment to student development, apprenticeships become incredibly powerful pathways.
You’ve been a strong advocate for student and consumer transparency. How can clearer data on earnings, career outcomes, and return on investment help rebuild public trust in the value of higher education?
Value in higher education is subjective. Some students prioritize intellectual enrichment, others career outcomes, and many want both. But in a system that involves significant public investment and student borrowing, transparency is essential.
Clear, program-level data—graduation rates, time to completion, employment outcomes, and earnings—helps students make informed decisions based on what matters to them. Institutions can either respond to regulation or provide consumers with meaningful information. Transparency empowers students and, over time, rewards institutions that consistently deliver strong outcomes.
What’s the role of online learning in future education?
Online learning is often misunderstood. Many people assume it’s easier, when in reality it requires a high degree of discipline and motivation. That’s reflected in historically lower completion rates.
That said, online education works exceptionally well for certain populations, particularly working adults and learners with family responsibilities. With advances in AI and adaptive learning, online education is entering a period of reinvention that could improve outcomes and reduce costs.
Importantly, this evolution doesn’t diminish the value of on-campus learning. Applied learning remains central across both online and ground-based programs, with AI-enabled simulation, simulated work environments, and hands-on instruction continuing to play a critical role as workforce demands evolve.
How do you stay updated on best practices in higher education?
I learn first by listening to students. We also track and analyze a significant amount of internal data, allowing us to iterate quickly based on what’s working.
Beyond that, I stay engaged with faculty, employers, community partners, policymakers, peer institutions, and industry associations. I’ve also been fortunate to have strong mentorship, particularly from my father, which has shaped how I think about leadership and long-term impact.
What is your favorite quote?
“Those who have a why to live can bear almost any how.” — Viktor Frankl
That idea resonates deeply with how I think about education, purpose, and resilience, both for institutions and for students navigating significant life change.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in their career in higher education?
Higher education can feel bureaucratic at times, but it’s also one of the most important and change-ready sectors in the country. If you’re curious, mission-driven, and willing to challenge assumptions, you can make a real impact.
Education, healthcare, and housing are areas where innovation matters enormously. We need talented, motivated people who want to improve systems that shape lives at scale. If that motivates you, higher education is worth pursuing.