Pearson Ecollege Selects Arizona State University's Adrian Sannier as Vice President of Product

DENVER-March 16, 2010-Pearson, a global leader in education, education technology, and services, today announced the appointment of Adrian Sannier as Vice President of Product for Pearson eCollege. In this role, Sannier will help drive adoption of Pearson’s next generation learning management systems – Pearson LearningStudio and Pearson LearningStudio Campus – as well as other technology offerings, leveraging his extensive technology and higher education expertise.

For the past five years, Sannier served as Arizona State University’s (ASU) Vice President and University Technology Officer, where he was responsible for the development and implementation of ASU’s strategic plan for the application and use of information systems and technology throughout the university. During his time at ASU, Sannier worked to enhance student access and success for the university’s 65,000 students, empower faculty research, knowledge production and technology transfer, and enhance overall university operations and efficiency. Additionally, Sannier was responsible for the integration of technology to connect multiple ASU campuses with each other and the world. Sannier also served as a professor in the Division of Computing Studies.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Adrian Sannier to our team. A renowned academic and technology thought leader, Adrian’s deep expertise further strengthens our unique ability to develop and deliver the next generation of learning management systems,” said Matt Leavy, CEO of Pearson eCollege. “Adrian’s extensive experience working directly with faculty and students provides not only a welcome addition to our product management team but practical insight into what today’s universities are demanding with regards to online learning.”

Prior to his work at ASU, Sannier was the Stanley Professor of Interdisciplinary Engineering at Iowa State University and Associate Director of the Virtual Reality Applications Center, a $10M research center supporting more than 30 faculty and 150 students. Sannier received his B.S. and PhD in Systems Science from Michigan State University.

“I’m excited to join the Pearson team and am confident that together we can make a positive impact on technology decisions being made in higher education today,” said Sannier. “As the technology needs of colleges and universities continue to expand, I wanted to take a more active role in affecting lasting and positive change within higher education – with Pearson, I’ve found that opportunity.”

Pearson’s LearningStudio solutions expand on two existing technologies – Pearson eCollege and Fronter – and combines them with sizable investments in research, time and resources to offer institutions of higher education a next-generation learning management system. Designed with both educators and students in mind, Pearson LearningStudio aims to enable better student outcomes and increase overall student retention.

About Pearson eCollege

Pearson eCollege is an innovative leader in online personalized learning programs and a part of Pearson (NYSE: PSO), a global leader in education, technology and services. Pearson eCollege’s flagship product – Pearson LearningStudio – represents the next generation in learning management systems and provides a comprehensive, flexible and fully supported environment for online personalized learning in higher education.: Pearson eCollege’s Saas-based education solutions advance, improve, and measure the teaching and learning experience in a vast range of educational institutions and programs.