Team LRAP
LRAP Association provides the LRAP to institutions across the country, as a proven tool to change the conversation of attending college from cost to benefit. Our team of highly experienced professionals is passionately dedicated to helping increase access to higher education. LRAP was designed with careful consideration and input from industry experts, including the “Father” of the LRAP, Stephen Yandle, who developed the first LRAP at Yale Law School. Peter Samuelson first experienced the benefits of LRAP when he attended Yale Law School, and later created this program to extend its benefits to undergraduates across the country - helping students attend their first-choice college.
Peter Samuelson, President
Peter is a graduate of Yale Law School and a former management consultant with McKinsey & Company. He developed the idea for LRAP Association while serving on the Board of Directors of a private liberal arts college that was searching for ways to increase enrollment and help more students attend their first-choice college.
Peter is a graduate of Yale Law School and a former management consultant with McKinsey & Company. He developed the idea for LRAP Association while serving on the Board of Directors of a private liberal arts college that was searching for ways to increase enrollment and help more students attend their first-choice college.
Paul Carey, Board Member
Paul served as Executive Vice President at Sallie Mae. Paul is currently Chairman of Campus Partners.
Paul served as Executive Vice President at Sallie Mae. Paul is currently Chairman of Campus Partners.
Matt Osborne, Member of LRAP Association Advisory Board
Matt serves as Vice President for Enrollment at Spring Arbor University. Spring Arbor University has over 5,500 students across the main campus, satellite campuses, and online. During Matt’s leadership, Spring Arbor University has increased main campus undergraduate enrollment by over 60%. Matt provides advice on product development and how to continually improve the program to better meet the needs of our students and colleges.
Matt serves as Vice President for Enrollment at Spring Arbor University. Spring Arbor University has over 5,500 students across the main campus, satellite campuses, and online. During Matt’s leadership, Spring Arbor University has increased main campus undergraduate enrollment by over 60%. Matt provides advice on product development and how to continually improve the program to better meet the needs of our students and colleges.
Carroll Stevens, LRAP Foundation Board Member
Carroll has extensive experience and deep expertise in higher education. He advises LRAP Association on product development and on our philanthropic efforts to provide LRAPs to disadvantaged students. As Associate Dean at Yale Law School, Carroll helped develop and raise funds for Yale Law School’s LRAP. Carroll is currently the Senior Vice-President at Cambridge Education, and serves on the board of two private colleges.
Carroll has extensive experience and deep expertise in higher education. He advises LRAP Association on product development and on our philanthropic efforts to provide LRAPs to disadvantaged students. As Associate Dean at Yale Law School, Carroll helped develop and raise funds for Yale Law School’s LRAP. Carroll is currently the Senior Vice-President at Cambridge Education, and serves on the board of two private colleges.
Stephen Yandle, Chairman of the LRAP Association Advisory Board
Stephen developed and managed the Yale Law School LRAP while serving as Associate Dean there. He is now Associate Dean at Peking University School of Transnational Law – Shenzhen.
Stephen developed and managed the Yale Law School LRAP while serving as Associate Dean there. He is now Associate Dean at Peking University School of Transnational Law – Shenzhen.
Justin Mead, Chief Operating Officer
Justin has served in a variety of executive roles in the insurance and financial services industries with a specific focus on the financing of risk. Before joining LRAP, Justin directed the strategy and business development of Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings’ captive insurance operations in the United States. Prior to that, Justin oversaw the administration of $22 billion worth of securitization and credit derivative products for ABN Amro/LaSalle Bank's Global Securities Trust Services group. With LRAP, Justin oversees the operations, including underwriting, finance and systems. Justin is a proud graduate of Coe College and a firm believer in the value of higher education.
Justin has served in a variety of executive roles in the insurance and financial services industries with a specific focus on the financing of risk. Before joining LRAP, Justin directed the strategy and business development of Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings’ captive insurance operations in the United States. Prior to that, Justin oversaw the administration of $22 billion worth of securitization and credit derivative products for ABN Amro/LaSalle Bank's Global Securities Trust Services group. With LRAP, Justin oversees the operations, including underwriting, finance and systems. Justin is a proud graduate of Coe College and a firm believer in the value of higher education.
Ruthie Wellhausen, Vice President of Client Service
Ruthie first used LRAP while working in financial aid at one of our client universities. She was the point person in talking to students and families about LRAP. She quickly found that LRAP was the key tool in changing the decisions of a number of students who had told the university that they would not be enrolling. Without LRAP, they would have gone elsewhere. Ruthie helps train staff at our client colleges to ensure they and their students get the most benefit from our LRAP. Ruthie has over a decade of experience in admissions and financial aid.
Ruthie first used LRAP while working in financial aid at one of our client universities. She was the point person in talking to students and families about LRAP. She quickly found that LRAP was the key tool in changing the decisions of a number of students who had told the university that they would not be enrolling. Without LRAP, they would have gone elsewhere. Ruthie helps train staff at our client colleges to ensure they and their students get the most benefit from our LRAP. Ruthie has over a decade of experience in admissions and financial aid.
Josh David, Director of Student Service and Communications
Josh serves as the primary contact for students and parents interested in learning more about the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP), while also ensuring that LRAP graduates get the assistance they deserve. He also oversees LRAP Association's marketing and communication initiatives, focusing primarily on project design, implementation, and management. He has been involved with numerous entrepreneurial start-ups across both for- and non-profit sectors, and brings a fresh perspective to the LRAP Association, encouraging sustainable organizational development, while supporting the various responsibilities of the LRAP team. Josh is proud graduate of Indiana University and the Liberal Arts and Management Program.
Josh serves as the primary contact for students and parents interested in learning more about the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP), while also ensuring that LRAP graduates get the assistance they deserve. He also oversees LRAP Association's marketing and communication initiatives, focusing primarily on project design, implementation, and management. He has been involved with numerous entrepreneurial start-ups across both for- and non-profit sectors, and brings a fresh perspective to the LRAP Association, encouraging sustainable organizational development, while supporting the various responsibilities of the LRAP team. Josh is proud graduate of Indiana University and the Liberal Arts and Management Program.
Ryan Trout, Director of Client Service
Ryan serves the needs of our clients and their teams, making sure that all training and support needs are met, and that they have the skills and experience needed to maximize the impact of LRAP for their students and families. He joins the LRAP Team with 5 years of Enrollment Management experience, having served both traditional and non-traditional students in both graduate and undergraduate segments. He previously served as a director of admissions at a private liberal arts college, where he used LRAP to help students overcome the fear of student loans. Ryan joined the LRAP team to help increase access to the life-changing power of higher education. Ryan is a proud graduate of Wheaton College.
Ryan serves the needs of our clients and their teams, making sure that all training and support needs are met, and that they have the skills and experience needed to maximize the impact of LRAP for their students and families. He joins the LRAP Team with 5 years of Enrollment Management experience, having served both traditional and non-traditional students in both graduate and undergraduate segments. He previously served as a director of admissions at a private liberal arts college, where he used LRAP to help students overcome the fear of student loans. Ryan joined the LRAP team to help increase access to the life-changing power of higher education. Ryan is a proud graduate of Wheaton College.
Sarah Adams, Client Service Manager
Sarah supports the efforts of our clients and client service initiatives, and has more than seven years of experience in higher education and admissions. She joins the LRAP team with a strong passion for increasing access to higher education, bringing with her a dedication to building lasting relationships between schools and students.
Sarah supports the efforts of our clients and client service initiatives, and has more than seven years of experience in higher education and admissions. She joins the LRAP team with a strong passion for increasing access to higher education, bringing with her a dedication to building lasting relationships between schools and students.
Mike Testy, Vice President of Finance
Mike brings over 15 years of experience in growing businesses to the LRAP team. He most recently was Vice President of a staffing company with revenues of $200 million, and previously served as an adjunct faculty member for Indiana Wesleyan University’s MBA program for 10 years. Joining LRAP, he will help us drive and manage our growth in sales, business development and operations, and will continue to help us in our sustainable expansion. Mike has a bachelor's degree in economics from Indiana University, and attained his MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Mike brings over 15 years of experience in growing businesses to the LRAP team. He most recently was Vice President of a staffing company with revenues of $200 million, and previously served as an adjunct faculty member for Indiana Wesleyan University’s MBA program for 10 years. Joining LRAP, he will help us drive and manage our growth in sales, business development and operations, and will continue to help us in our sustainable expansion. Mike has a bachelor's degree in economics from Indiana University, and attained his MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Sarah Mehrens, Executive Assistant
Sarah brings extensive business experience to LRAP Association, having previously served as the Director of Finance and Human Resources for several non-profits in the Washington, DC area.
Sarah brings extensive business experience to LRAP Association, having previously served as the Director of Finance and Human Resources for several non-profits in the Washington, DC area.
