Each day, we will profile an innovative leader who was selected for the 2026 edition of Az Business Leaders magazine. Today, meet Chris Lynne, president of University of Phoenix.
Chris Lynne, president, University of Phoenix
Background: Lynne is a first-generation college graduate who has spent more than 20 years in higher education leadership, championing career-focused education for working adults to achieve career and social mobility. Since joining the university in 2018 as chief financial officer and becoming president in 2022, Lynne has driven institutional transformation and innovation expanding beyond degrees into career mobility solutions, resulting in improved student retention and graduation rates as well as sought after employer solutions.
Upcoming challenge: “Higher education must prove its value to working adults seeking career-relevant skills. We’re already aligning curriculum to workforce needs, embedding AI fluency, and offering lifelong career support. As AI transforms how people learn, organizations upskill, and industries evolve, we’re building responsive, skills-aligned programs for students’ agility in a tech-driven age.”
Leadership lesson: “Vision, trust, and data-driven insight must work in harmony. A clear vision inspires, but belief is built through communication, early wins and removing barriers. Empowering teams and grounding decisions in data creates a trust-driven culture where people feel both the responsibility and the excitement of achieving something meaningful together.”
Surprising fact: “Few know my journey closely mirrors our students’. Raised by a single, working mom, I lived out her dream to attend college — then earned my MBA while working and starting a family. This fuels my belief that education transforms lives, and I’m committed to making that possible for our students.”
