WorldQuant University (WQU), the not-for-profit, accredited, no-fee university, appointed Gbemi Disu as Senior Vice President of Global Partner Development, effective
June 2, 2025.
In this newly created executive role, Ms. Disu will lead sourcing and development of partnerships across government, industry, and academia; identify opportunities to deepen engagement in current markets and expand in new ones; and serve in a key role alongside WQU’s leadership to execute on its strategic goals.
“WQU is pioneering a new era of higher education by prioritising accessibility, quality, and relevancy of skills for the future workforce,” said Igor Tulchinsky, Founder of WQU. “I’m happy to welcome Gbemi and look forward to seeing her many contributions as we deliver on the University’s potential to be a global force for education.”
Ms. Disu brings nearly 20 years of experience in the higher education, financial services, and energy sectors across North America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. Her career spanning the private and public sectors has focused on developing and executing international growth strategies, advancing digital transformation, advocating for global prosperity, and fostering student engagement. She has held roles at institutions including HSBC Bank, Northeastern University, Carnegie Mellon University, Chevron Texaco, George Mason University, and more. Ms. Disu is a Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executive Fellow and earned her doctorate in Global Leadership and Sustainability from London Graduate School, her MBA in Global Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management, and her Bachelor of Science in economics and international business from Arizona State University.
“As WQU continues to grow and institutionalise as a platform, Gbemi’s diversity of experience across
Fortune 500 companies and premier research universities will help propel us towards new heights,” said John Endrud, CEO of WQU. “She is a global leader with a proven track record of driving strategic growth, fostering innovation, and advancing inclusive initiatives. I’m excited to work closely with her on efforts to scale WQU and pursue our goal of enrolling over 100,000 learners worldwide.”
“I’m thrilled to join WQU and help drive forward the mission to expand educational opportunities to students globally,” said Gbemi Disu, WQU’s incoming Senior Vice President of Global Partner Development. “The University’s inspiring focus on bridging the gap between talent and opportunity
deeply resonates with what I’ve dedicated my career to—advancing communiCes, aligning business goals with social impact, and fostering lifelong learning. I look forward to seeing the global impact we’ll deliver together.”
Since its establishment in 2015, WQU has made remarkable strides towards its mission to make quality education and advanced degrees accessible to capable students everywhere through cost-free online courses. WQU is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) and has over 18,000 students in more than 150 countries.
About WorldQuant University
WorldQuant University is a not-for-profit advancing global education in technical and quantitative fields. The mission of WorldQuant University is to make advanced, quality education accessible to capable students everywhere by delivering entirely free, online programs. With enrolment in more than 190 countries, WorldQuant University delivers rigorous curricula developed by industry professionals. From anywhere in the world, students are guided by professionally experienced faculty to develop the high-level quantitative and data-driven skills in high demand across industries. WorldQuant University is U.S.-based and accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). To learn more about WorldQuant University and its offerings, please visit www.wqu.edu.
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