Who We Are
About VectorEDU
Strategic advisory and government affairs support for organizations seeking to grow in publicly funded education and workforce markets.
The Company
About VectorEDU
VectorEDU provides strategic advisory and government affairs support for organizations seeking to grow in publicly funded education and workforce markets.
We help leaders cut through complexity, mapping where programs fit, which states to prioritize, and how to align offerings with public funding to accelerate adoption.
Our approach blends senior-level expertise with a flexible advisory model that supports market entry, multi-state expansion, and sustainable growth. VectorEDU operates as a modern, founder-led firm that engages top-tier partners and specialists to deliver clarity, strategy, and measurable impact.
The Founder
Meet Caroline Casagrande
Caroline Casagrande is the founder of VectorEDU and a senior strategist who helps companies navigate publicly funded education and workforce markets with clarity and confidence.
She brings two decades of experience operating at the highest levels of government and industry, leading national expansions, shaping policy, managing major public-sector portfolios, and building the state and federal pathways that drive market access.
Her work focuses on helping organizations understand where opportunity exists, how decisions are made, and what it takes to achieve adoption and scale within systems that are often opaque to innovators.
Career Highlights
Leadership Experience
Executive Director, State & Federal Affairs
Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN)
Led government relations for a $2B public education company during rapid national expansion. Oversaw strategy across 42 states, influenced legislation affecting millions of learners, and negotiated partnerships with governors’ offices, agencies, higher education systems, and workforce boards.
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Managed a $400 million global education portfolio reaching more than 300,000 participants annually. Led 320+ employees in Washington, D.C., and a worldwide network of 2,000 staff across 175 countries. Represented the U.S. in 30+ countries.
Four-Term New Jersey Assemblywoman
NJ General Assembly
Became the youngest woman ever elected to the Legislature and rose to Deputy Republican Leader. Shaped state policy on education and workforce development, collaborated with multiple gubernatorial administrations.
EdTech Impact
Driving Growth at Stride, Inc.
Before launching VectorEDU, Caroline served as Executive Director of State and Federal Affairs at Stride, Inc., leading government relations during a period of rapid national expansion.
Her work strengthened the position of Stride portfolio companies, including MedCerts, Tech Elevator, and Tallo, for public funding and employer-driven growth.
During her tenure, Stride’s Career Learning revenue grew from roughly $250 million to more than $400 million, reflecting the demand for workforce-aligned pathways she helped advance.
“Her work focuses on helping organizations understand where opportunity exists, how decisions are made, and what it takes to achieve adoption and scale.”
Caroline Casagrande, Founder of VectorEDU
Global Experience
International Expertise
As the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Academic Programs, Caroline led diplomatic, workforce, and education engagements that expanded academic cooperation and international talent mobility.
Her federal experience gives CEOs access to rare knowledge and relationships across the globe, including senior leaders in ministries of higher education, universities, and international academic systems.
Foundation
Legal & Regulatory Background
Caroline began her career as a litigator specializing in employment and municipal law, advising public institutions on compliance, governance, and regulatory matters.
This grounding sharpened her ability to interpret statutes, regulations, and administrative frameworks, a skill that underpins her work helping organizations assess eligibility, risk, and long-term sustainability inside state and federal systems.
Advisory Roles
Current Affiliations
Caroline’s advisory work is strengthened by her roles across leading institutions.
Visiting Associate
Rutgers University’s Eagleton Institute of Politics
Senior Advisor
Valcour LLC
Fellow
East-West Center
Let’s Connect
Ready to Talk Strategy?
Whether you’re entering the market or expanding across states, VectorEDU provides the clarity and strategy needed to accelerate growth.