John Barnes brings four decades of education experience

Ancora Education, a nationwide industry leader in education, has announced a new key appointment to its leadership team. John Barnes, an experienced education leader, assumed the role of President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on September 1st.

In his new role as President & CEO of Ancora Education, Barnes will oversee all Ancora divisions, including expanding ground campuses, growing online degree offerings, and developing diverse workforce development programs.

“Ancora offers a broad range of educational opportunities, with flexibility to meet the needs of any learner,” says Barnes. “From high school to higher education to workforce training that’s upskilling and reskilling those currently employed, we’re preparing future generations of the country’s critical workforce.”

Previously, Barnes was President and CEO of Dorsey College, a part of the Lindenwood Education System family, for 11 years. Founded in 1934, Dorsey prepares individuals for careers in the nursing, healthcare, emergency medical services, culinary arts, skilled trades, and beauty fields.

Prior to Dorsey College, Barnes was Executive Vice President and General Manager for Cengage Learning, overseeing a $100M+ portfolio of businesses focused on online education, research and EdTech. Barnes has previously held senior leadership roles at Thomson Reuters and ProQuest.

Barnes holds a Bachelor of Science from the DeVry Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan.

Ancora Education was acquired by Lindenwood Education System, the non-profit parent entity of Lindenwood University and Dorsey College in April 2025. Ancora Education continues to operate separately, utilizing its own name, accreditations, and academic programming. With locations across the United States, Ancora’s network of schools, workforce training solutions, online courses, and high school completion program offer students and employers a diverse range of vocational education programs.

About Ancora®

Ancora is a leading workforce solutions provider addressing America’s labor gaps through innovative and technology-driven educational programs. Ancora operates in four divisions: Ancora Academy®, Ancora Education®, Ancora High School®, and Ancora Training®. Ancora Academy offers online courses for personal or professional development to individual learners. Ancora High School, accredited by Cognia®, provides adult learners the opportunity to complete a high school diploma in a highly flexible, self-paced, completely online format. Ancora Education offers technical education training programs specializing in healthcare, IT, business, and skilled trades through five private, post-secondary brands with 17 campus locations across the nation. Brands include: Arizona Automotive Institute® (AAI), Berks Technical Institute® (BTI), Miller-Motte® College (MMC), Miller-Motte® Driving Institute (MMDI), and South Texas Vocational Technical Institute™ (STVT®). Ancora Training offers workforce solutions, such as CDL and other customizable training solutions, for corporate, community college, and government agency partners. Learn more at ancora.com.

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