Credo Education’s foundational skills solutions close core competency gaps
Credo Reference, which has partnered with more than 2,500 libraries over the past 16 years to drive more effective and efficient student research activities and information skills instruction, has launched Credo Education. The new subsidiary partners with educational institutions to prepare students for continuous learning and success in the knowledge economy.
“It has been since last year that we started evolving toward an education solution,” said Mike Sweet, Credo’s CEO for the past eight years. “It grew out of our focus on information literacy and critical thinking, and it became clear we had an opportunity to make a larger impact in higher education institutions.”
In addition to helping academic institutions assess gaps in students’ core critical thinking abilities, Credo Education also provides effective instruction to measurably improve student outcomes and cultivate lifelong learners. “Supporting the mission of higher education institutions to develop learners aligned with the knowledge economy and its demands fuel Credo Education,” Sweet added.
Leading the new division is Michael Serafino, who has been hired as Vice President of Educational Solutions.
Prior to joining Credo, Serafino’s career has spanned technology sales and operations leadership, strategic planning, and product and corporate development. He was COO for WaterSuite in Rockland, Mass., and held the same position for Corona Environmental Consulting prior to that. He also has held Vice President positions with Cohealo and Zipcar, both based in Boston.
“I’ve known Credo and their work for many years,” said Serafino said. “Education and learning have been a passion of mine throughout my career and life. When the opportunity arose to join and contribute to Credo Education, and realizing its vision, I had to accept. The potential we have to effect change and impact how education is delivered and how learners are developed is substantial. I’m excited and grateful to be a part of Credo and this community.”
As Sweet and Serafino focus efforts on the growth of Credo Education, Credo Reference takes leadership under newly appointed general manager, Ian Singer. As Chief Content Officer since September 2015, Ian elevated Credo Reference’s positioning within the first-year experience space in higher education, increased market share in the K12 segment by establishing a strategic distribution partnership with Follett, and helped bring to market Credo’s SKILL modules and Issue Briefs.
“Credo’s strong brand recognition in the market, coupled with our deep partner base of long- standing customers, gives us a clear opportunity to expand our strong market position as an industry leader and innovator,” according to Singer. “Our focus on the areas of research skills development at both the high school level in support of college readiness, as well as at the post-secondary level to support student success and lifelong learning, puts Credo at the center of key industry trends.”
Before joining Credo, Ian served as Vice President, Group Publishing for Media Source, Inc., where he was responsible for strategic planning and day-to-day operations of such prestigious publications as Library Journal, School Library Journal, and The Horn Book. Prior to Media Source Inc., he held positions at ProQuest/Bowker LLC and Joint Information, Inc. In 1996 Ian co-founded eComp, a web-based executive compensation database covering all US public companies, which was sold to Aon Consulting in 2002. For more information about Credo Education, visit www.credoeducation.com.
