Meet the Team Stacy
Get to know the faces behind ECE! Our Meet the Team series goes behind the scenes to showcase the skill, dedication, and personality that power our mission every day.
Meet Stacy Riley, President
Meet Stacy Riley, President of ECE. With more than 30 years of experience in higher education and a career rooted in supporting student success, Stacy brings a thoughtful, mission-driven approach to leadership. Before joining ECE, she served as Executive Vice President of Student Affairs at Gateway Technical College, where she led major initiatives focused on enrollment, student services, and organizational effectiveness. Now at ECE, Stacy is helping guide strategic growth while keeping our mission at the center of everything we do. And while her leadership background is impressive, Stacy also brings plenty of personality to the role, from her small dairy farm roots to her love of travel, pasta traditions, and even a past hobby of boxing. Get to know Stacy through the Q&A below.
Q & A Session.
Q: What's your background? What did you do before joining ECE?
I bring more than 30 years of experience in higher education, with most of my career focused on community colleges and student success. Before joining ECE, I served as Executive Vice President of Student Affairs at Gateway Technical College, where I led large, cross-functional teams and worked on initiatives related to enrollment, student services, and organizational effectiveness. Throughout my career, I’ve been passionate about improving systems, supporting learners, and helping institutions better serve students.
Q: What do you do at ECE? What excites you most about your position and/or your team?
As President of ECE, I focus on strategic leadership and organizational growth while helping set direction, supporting our teams, and ensuring we’re continuously improving how we serve our clients. What excites me most is the people - I’m inspired every day by the expertise, dedication, and care our teams bring to their work. Knowing that what we do helps open doors for individuals around the world makes this role especially rewarding.
Q: What do you like most about working at ECE?
The mission, the people, and the opportunity. ECE has a strong history and does such important work, and I’m excited about continuing to ask, “What can we do?” and how we can build on what’s already working. There’s an openness to stretching ourselves and exploring expanded ways to serve our clients and partners and increase our impact.
Q: What are three words that describe ECE's culture?
Dedicated, thoughtful, and trustworthy.
Q: What’s one of your favorite activities when you’re not working? Tell us something that others might find surprising.
I grew up on a small dairy farm, which taught me the value of hard work early on. Over the years, I’ve found some unexpected ways to unwind, including boxing (until my gym sadly closed), rollerblading, and taking our dog for long walks. As a recent empty nester, I’ve also picked up paint-by-number as a new creative outlet. And my favorite role of all? Being a grandma.
Q: Where have you traveled inside or outside of the U.S.? Do you have a favorite country, city, or region that you like to visit?
I love traveling with a sense of curiosity - exploring new places, learning about their history, and experiencing what makes each location unique. One of my favorite places to visit will always be Florida; it holds so many unforgettable memories of family road trips (driving straight through except for gas and bathroom breaks!) with my husband and kids. The sun, the beach, and seeing the joy on my kids’ faces during those vacations still make me smile.
Q: Do you have a favorite cuisine? If yes, a particular dish you love?
Italian - hands down. My maternal grandmother’s family came to the U.S. from Milan in the early 1900s, and our food traditions have been passed down ever since. I love all things pasta! My favorite dish is our homemade ravioli, which we make every Christmas using a family recipe dated 1911. I love that I have a copy of the recipe written in my grandmother’s handwriting - it makes the tradition even more special. None of us can make it quite like my grandma - despite years of trying and even videotaping her making it to try to capture every detail - but nope, hers are still the best.
Lightning Round!
Q. Vacation or staycation?
Vacation – Warmth, sun, and exploring.
Q. Netflix or Hulu?
Netflix – I'm pretty sure I pay for all the subscriptions, but I don't even know how to log into our Hulu account.
Q. Night or morning?
Morning - Even though it is hard to get up early, I enjoy being up before the sun is up and before anyone else in the house is up. It might be the only true quiet time I have for the day.
Q. Lose sleep or skip a meal?
Skip a meal - I definitely need sleep. I'm not sure what the "hangry" word is for lack of sleep but I'd be worse than hangry.
Q. Cooking or being cooked for?
Cooking - I enjoy cooking it is a nice distraction to the day.
Q: Sweating or shivering?
Sweating - I really dislike being cold
Q: Reality shows or documentaries?
Documentaries - I enjoy learning. I just find myself rolling my eyes at most reality shows.
Our "Meet the Team" blog series has celebrated the incredible individuals who bring ECE to life, shining a spotlight on the talents and passions that shape our culture and drive our success. Thank you for following along and getting to know our team!