James H. Shelton, a former top official at the U.S. Department of Education known for captaining several high-profile competitive grant programs, is taking a job at 2U, Inc., a technology company focused on higher education.

Shelton served as deputy secretary at the department, a role in which he led the Investing in Innovation Fund and a number of other grant programs.

He will serve as 2U’s “chief impact officer,” the company said, overseeing a variety of management and research responsibilities. 

The company’s work “aligns with my life’s aim, to leverage innovation to expand opportunity and quality outcomes for students around the world,” Shelton said in a statement released by 2U.

Before joining the federal agency, Shelton served as program director education at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which invests across the K-12 space. At the philanthropy, he oversaw a portfolio worth between $2 billion and $3 billion. He also previously served in a leadership role at LearnNow, a school management company.

2U supports colleges and universities in delivering online learning. The company said that a platform it offers provides schools with cloud-based infrastructure support in various operations, including recruiting and enrolling students. 

Michele Molnar contributed to this report

See also:

• U.S. Deputy Ed. Secretary Jim Shelton to Step Down
• Q-and-A: Ed. Dept. Innovation Chief Articulates Federal Role
• Ed. Department, Gates Plans for Teachers Converge
• N.Y. Schools Chief John King Tapped as Senior Adviser to Ed. Dept.