Andrew (Drew) Koch
Chief Executive Officer, Gardner Institute
Dr. Andrew "Drew" K. Koch, CEO of the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Higher Education (Gardner Institute) since 2021, joined the non-profit Institute in 2010 to provide leadership for initiatives that enhance teaching, learning, student success, and completion in postsecondary education. The child of German immigrants and the recipient of need-based aid, Drew's personal educational journey informs his dedication to educational improvement for all learners.
Prior to joining the Gardner Institute, Drew spent nearly two decades working at various colleges and universities with a focus on enhancing opportunities and success for traditionally marginalized student groups. Koch’s academic credentials include a B.A. in history and German and an M.A. in history from the University of Richmond, an M.A. in higher education administration from the University of South Carolina, and a Ph.D. in American studies from Purdue University. Koch was also a 2013 American Council on Education Fellow.
Dr. Koch has led over 50 grant-funded initiatives supported by organizations like Ascendium Education Philanthropy, College Futures, ECMC Foundation, the Gates Foundation, Lumina Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Education. He is also actively collaborating with the American Historical Association on undergraduate education reform projects funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Beyond research, he contributes to the community through service on the Boards of the Gardner Institute and Asheville Empire Youth Lacrosse.
Dr. Koch’s scholarly work critiques the role of higher education in shaping and reflecting democracy in the U.S., with a particular focus on reforming inequitable education systems. Drew co-authored The Transfer Experience: A Handbook for Creating a More Equitable and Successful Postsecondary System published by Stylus in 2021 and Talking about Leaving Revisited: Persistence, Relocation, and Loss in Undergraduate STEM Education published by Springer in 2019. His most recent book, Transforming the Gateway Course Experience: A Call to Action for Higher Education, was released by Routledge in January 2025.
Drew lives in Mills River, North Carolina, with his wife, Dr. Sara Stein Koch, their six children Andrejs, Maks, Hunter, Hudson, Grayson, and Lauren, and their lively dog, Anderson.