Education is about people.

We’ve got some great people.

Each member of our team leverages their unique talents and skill sets to help our clients reach their goals.

Meet the Team

  • Head-shot of Susan Chiaramonte

    Susan Chiaramonte

    Chief Executive Officer & Founder

    As an overly inquisitive kid, Susan’s quest for understanding and learning new things led to good grades coupled with consistent comments of, “she’s a delight to have in class but talks too much.” Undeterred, her curiosity never wavered as she pursued her undergraduate and graduate degrees in liberal arts before enrolling in law school. She used her “gift of gab” to persuade, argue, and defend topics of interest. She uses these same skills to learn about her clients and help them effectively communicate their mission.

    Susan's prior experience in leading higher education administration and operations, along with her love of the law, helps clients navigate the often opaque and confusing accreditation and compliance landscape. She starts all client engagements by gaining a comprehensive understanding of every institution’s mission and strategic goals before presenting multiple options to achieve their ambitious ideas. Sometimes all that stands in the way between organizations and the students they seek to serve—are clearly communicated practices. Success rarely occurs alone. Susan leverages her knowledge to provide organizations with the tools they need to do the most good.

  • Head-shot of Andy Thompson

    Andy Thompson

    State Licensure & Special Projects

    If child-generated energy could power a city, elementary school-aged Andy could have replaced every power plant in the United States. A constant asker of, “why?”—which his teachers both loved and found exhausting—Andy’s curiosity and outspokenness served him well in school and beyond. “Why?” is a question he asks a lot. Andy focuses on fully understanding the complexities of a situation so that he can identify and implement efficient solutions.

    Andy has spent 12 years in higher education and, in that time, his commitment to asking questions and finding answers has provided him with the skills needed to navigate the complications of state licensure, policy development, financial aid, registrar services, and regulatory compliance. After seeing several institutions struggling to maintain compliance with regulatory requirements, Andy asked, “why?” Why couldn’t there be one clear, accurate resource that showed an institution what they needed to do to comply with every state’s requirements? Over the last few years, he has channeled his considerable energy into building an extensive knowledge base about state licensure requirements for the higher education space. He works collaboratively with higher education leaders navigating challenging regulations to create transparent and efficient processes that further their mission.

  • Head-shot of Emily Haworth

    Emily Haworth

    Marketing and Special Projects

    When Emily turned four, her parents gave her three pet goldfish for her birthday. She named them all “Flounder,” so that if/when any of them died, she’d still have at least one sidekick named Flounder (just like Ariel). This strange mix of imagination and pragmatism remains a key component of her personality and is a big part of why she loves marketing and communication. This, combined with her passion for celebrating authenticity, creativity, and originality, led to the development of Emily’s guiding philosophy, “own your weirdness.”

    She has worked in many different fields, but no matter what role she was originally hired for, content and media creation would always find their way into her work. When EduCred Services takes on new clients, one of Emily’s first questions is, “What is this client telling the world?” Emily focuses on learning how organizations see themselves, what they communicate about their identities, and how they represent themselves to a target audience. An organization can have an utterly beautiful, inclusive, world-changing, life-affirming mission and culture, but if it is getting buried in meandering, confusing, jargon-filled explanations, no one actually benefits. Emily helps organizations convey their histories, procedures, and plans for the future with words that honor their unique character and mission, and with content that helps them own their weirdness.

  • Headshot of Amy DiMaio

    Amy DiMaio

    Accreditation & Special Projects

    An introvert by nature, Amy’s response to being told by her mother to “Go play outside,” as a child, involved keeping her nose firmly planted in a book as she relocated under a tree in the backyard. Her sustained passion for reading ignited a lifelong love of learning and an enthusiastic pursuit of knowledge. Much to her practical father’s dismay, she earned an undergraduate degree in philosophy, which sparked a desire to earn a Ph.D. in literature. Embracing her bookish nature, she evolved into an active listener, critical thinker, and thoughtful online instructor and administrator dedicated to improving the student experience and providing equitable opportunities for students in higher education.

    With over twenty years of service in higher education administration, online instruction, and student support, Amy helps clients navigate the complexities of accreditation, curriculum, assessment, and institutional development. Her work is driven by a deep dedication to compassionate leadership, integrity, and a desire to serve students. Amy’s profound understanding of mission-driven objectives, accreditation standards, inclusive curriculum, and achievement of outcomes helps clients create and sustain a continuous cycle of improvement to deliver high-quality, accessible, and applicable educational experiences.

  • Deb Maeder

    Accreditation & State Licensure

    Deb’s journey began in the Deep South and Midwest as the daughter of a Methodist minister, where a blend of Southern charm and Midwestern practicality shaped her brash yet surprisingly endearing sense of humor (which she’ll admit might take some getting used to). Starting her career in elementary education, Deb soon discovered a passion for assessment and accreditation. And yes, she’s fully aware that most people find this odd—who gets excited about accreditation? Deb does.

    Deb's enthusiasm for accreditation led her down a winding path through higher education, curriculum development, policy, and compliance. Along the way, she earned both a master’s and doctoral degree—entirely in nontraditional delivery formats—because she felt it was important to experience what distance learners face firsthand.

    With years of experience untangling the complexities of education systems, Deb has become a trusted expert for helping institutions fine-tune their operations and ensure they meet both regulatory standards and strategic goals. She’s got a knack for seeing the big picture while honing in on the details, making her an invaluable resource for organizations navigating the often-confusing world of higher ed compliance.

Our Mission

Empowering educational leaders to pursue extraordinary missions that ignite student success.

What’s with the llamas?

Llamas are our unofficial mascot, and you may see them hidden throughout our media. Just like us, llamas are surefooted and adaptable, navigating tricky and changing terrains with finesse. They embody the strengths we all strive for—precision, stability, tenacity, and teamwork. So, when it comes to intricate details and high-stakes situations, we take inspiration from these poised creatures.

Core Values