Department of Education: Deregulatory Task Force Members

Holly Ham was a data adviser for the Trump campaign, and a sales executive for Hewlett-Packard, which has lobbied the Department of Education and has vied for agency contracts. The agency said that she didn't work on education policy at HP and has also recused herself from working on issues related to the company. — ProPublica

Bio, via White House via Internet Archive:

Ms. Ham has had a long career in private enterprise as a management consultant and sales executive at Hewlett-Packard Enterprise. Ms. Ham earned her BBA and MBA, with a focus on finance, from the University of Houston, graduating as a member of Beta Gamma Sigma. Ms. Ham is an APAWLI fellow through The Center for Asian Pacific American Women’s leadership program. Ms. Ham has long been involved in efforts supporting families and students in need, serving on the Board of Directors for Skills for Living, Inc. and advising the Board of Financial Mentors of America.

Candice Jackson worked for Judicial Watch and ran her own law firm. While at Stanford University, she wrote that she was disappointed that she was ineligible to join a study group because it was only offered to students of color. — ProPublica

Bio, via LinkedIn:

After developing excellent litigation skills with the non-profit legal watchdog organization Judicial Watch, I opened my own private practice in southern California, representing a diverse clientele in transactional and litigation matters ranging from anti-discrimination claims to business start-ups and film production. From March 2008 to August 2009, I worked for a premier West Coast law firm headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Bullivant Houser Bailey PC, where I expanded my practice to include Oregon and Washington clients. I am originally from the Pacific Northwest, so it has been wonderful being back in the Portland-Vancouver community representing clients up and down the West Coast in business, anti-discrimination, entertainment, and litigation matters. I have enjoyed working for a wide range of clients, from restaurants to medical clinics, and from authors and musicians to independent filmmakers and record labels, as well as employees, students, and citizens whose civil rights may have been violated. I also appreciate staying connected to my alma maters, Stanford University and Pepperdine University School of Law. I believe in being part of a team to help any person, business, or creative endeavor succeed, achieve dreams, correct injustices, and make the world a better place.

Jim Manning previously consulted for USA Funds, once one of the largest guarantors of federal student loans. The agency said he has recused himself from working on issues related to his former client. — ProPublica

Bio, via Udall Foundation via Internet Archive:

James Manning is a veteran of government and public service. He has served in six Presidential Administrations and as a leader in the non-profit community. Mr. Manning currently serves as Acting Under Secretary of the U. S. Department of Education. Mr. Manning's career began at the U.S. Department of State where he served in the career Foreign Service. He went on to serve as a Special Assistant to the President and Director of Projects for the First Lady during the Reagan Administration. In that position, he planned and directed the First Lady's "Just-Say-No" anti-drug abuse campaign. In 1989, Mr. Manning moved to the Department of Education for the first time, serving in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education as Deputy Assistant Secretary. Mr. Manning left government in 1993 and joined the National Basketball Association as Director of International Events. He planned and directed events worldwide to promote the NBA's commitment to social responsibility and to helping people achieve an improved quality of life. Some of the key events he directed include the league's South Africa Tours, USA Basketball Women's National Team Tour and Dream Team II Tour, All-Star weekend and the Special Olympics World Games. In the late 1990's, Mr. Manning served as head of two non-profit organizations; the non-profit Congressional Award Foundation, a public-private partnership designed to work with business, community and congressional leaders to foster personal development and community service in America's youth. He also served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Catholic Alliance, a bipartisan grassroots Catholic citizens organization. In 2001, he was called again to government service and returned to the Department of Education where he was appointed as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary. In that position, Mr. Manning served as the principal advisor to the Deputy Secretary on all policy and program issues. He oversaw the day-to-day operation of the Department, and, for a period, led the Department's largest component, Federal Student Aid (FSA) as Acting Chief Operating Officer (COO). In 2003, while serving at Education, Mr. Manning was asked by the White House to assume leadership of the Corporation for National and Community Service during a crisis period when the operation of the Corporation's flagship program, AmeriCorps, was suspended due to program management problems. On re-establishing smooth operation of the Corporation, Mr. Manning returned to the Department of Education and assumed the duties of Chief of Staff in FSA. He subsequently served as FSA’s Deputy COO and Acting COO as well as Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights in 2005; and in 2006, he served as Acting Assistant Secretary of Postsecondary Education. After retiring from federal service in 2015, Mr. Manning worked as a self-employed consultant until he was called to join President Trump’s transition team. As the lead for the Trump Administration’s transition efforts at the Department of Education, Mr. Manning ensured a steady transition of leadership. On April 13, 2017, Secretary DeVos appointed Mr. Manning as Acting Under Secretary, where he brings his breadth of experience, skills as an administrator and a deep understanding of the workings of higher education issues all of which make him uniquely qualified for this position. Mr. Manning makes his home in Virginia with his wife, Ann. They have four grown children.

Jose Viana served as an administrator of the Migrant Education Program for North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction. — ProPublica

Bio, via Department of Education:

Prior to joining the Department, Viana served for eight years as an administrator of the Migrant Education Program for North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction. The mission of that program is to help migrant students and youths meet high academic standards by overcoming obstacles due to frequent moves, educational disruption, cultural and linguistic differences, and health-related problems. During that time, Viana also served as the vice-chair of the Governing Board for the North Carolina Farmworker Health Program. Viana began his career in Miami-Dade County Public Schools as an elementary school teacher for English language learners and later was a humanities instructor at an International Baccalaureate World School. The International Baccalaureate Organization aims to develop knowledgeable young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. Concurrently, Viana prepared and delivered general teaching skills sessions to Florida International University's undergraduate students receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in education in all levels and content areas. After acquiring his degree in educational leadership in 2006, Viana became an elementary school administrator for Durham (North Carolina) Public Schools, where he established the districtwide Title I Parent Advisement Committee for Hispanics to help ensure that Latino children from low-income families met challenging state academic standards. Viana is a second-generation Cuban immigrant who started his primary years as an English language learner. The magnificent teachers he encountered in his early learning inspired him to become an educator. Viana has devoted his life to improving educational opportunities for minority populations and is honored to serve our nation's English learners and their families. Viana and his wife, Aimee, the senior executive director for marriage and family life in the Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina, have two children. They are expecting their third child this fall. Viana also manages to find time in the evenings to prepare high school students from China for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).