Kanika Lichthardt

Kanika has oversight and accountability for all core assessment operations functions, with the goal of ensuring College Board is able to support the evolving needs of students and educators through quality delivery and a continued emphasis on innovation, flexibility, and responsiveness. She is responsible for refining business delivery processes to support day-to-day business and driving innovation to prepare the organization for the future. 

Kanika has a nearly 20-year tenure at College Board and brings operational savvy, operational excellence, strategic planning, and organizational operations to the division. She was hired by the College Board in 2003 to establish a vendor management function and drive a disciplined and effective approach to all aspects of operational delivery and financial contract management for the ETS® relationship. Most recently, Kanika was vice president of the Global Higher Education and Membership division, where she led College Board’s governance and membership initiatives, worked closely with our Board of Trustees, and oversaw other critical efforts. Before then, she served as chief of staff for College Board CEO David Coleman and former CEO Gaston Caperton. Kanika has also led College Board’s marketing function, including all aspects of marketing and publication services, branding, and strategic campaigns. 

Prior to joining the College Board, Kanika had a distinguished career in finance and management, holding leadership and consulting roles at the Marconi Corporation, Host Marriott Corporation, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Arthur Andersen.

Kanika earned her MBA from George Washington University and her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Maryland, College Park.