At GradBridge, we are passionate about removing financial barriers to Higher Education.
Our Mission.
Our Mission.
At GradBridge, our mission is to provide innovative second-look financing solutions that enable students to overcome financial barriers and continue their education. We are dedicated to helping students who are determined to succeed, offering them the resources and support needed to achieve their academic goals and build brighter futures through responsible and accessible lending.
Our Purpose.
The purpose of GradBridge is to create opportunities for students who have been turned down by traditional lenders. By addressing financial obstacles and offering a path forward, we empower students to stay on track with their education, unlocking their potential and shaping a better future for themselves and their communities.
Our Story.
GradBridge was founded by a team with deep experience in traditional student lending and a personal understanding of the challenges students face. Having worked at leading student loan companies, we’ve seen firsthand how financing can be the deciding factor between a student continuing their education or having to put their dreams on hold. As parents of college-age students ourselves, we know the value of higher education and the impact it has on shaping brighter futures.
We started GradBridge with a simple yet powerful mission: to provide a second chance for students who fall just outside traditional lending criteria. We realized there was a critical gap in the market for those determined to succeed but held back by financial obstacles. That’s why we built GradBridge—to bridge the gap and help students stay on the path to achieving their goals.
At GradBridge, we are more than just a lender—we are a trusted partner. We measure our success by the success of our customers. From flexible financing options to personalized support, we are committed to empowering students and their families. Together, we’re building brighter futures, one second chance at a time.
Our Leadership Team.
Jen O'Donald
Chief Executive Officer
Jen O'Donald
Chief Executive Officer
Jen is a seasoned financial services executive with over 25 years of experience in consumer credit, analytics, and student lending.
As an executive at Sallie Mae, she led product, marketing, business development and analytics. Jen launched new credit products at large companies and early-stage startups and built a consulting practice helping companies launch new revenue generating products.
As both a former student lending leader and a parent of college-aged kids, Jen founded GradBridge to solve a critical gap in the market: helping capable students access the funding they need to graduate and succeed.
Brian Carp
Chief Financial Officer
Brian Carp
Chief Financial Officer
Brian brings more than 25 years of experience in financial leadership, strategic planning, and operational excellence.
He has held senior roles at both startups and public companies, including Head of FP&A at Sallie Mae and CFO/COO at Maergo. Known for his ability to connect financial strategy with execution, Brian has helped organizations drive growth and improve performance.
As a parent of college-aged children, he’s deeply connected to GradBridge’s mission and is passionate about creating solutions that help students stay on track and reach their potential.
TJ Devlin
Chief Credit Officer
TJ Devlin
Chief Credit Officer
TJ brings more than 25 years of experience in consumer lending, credit risk management, and portfolio analytics.
Prior to joining GradBridge, TJ led enterprise credit risk governance, portfolio analytics, and loss forecasting across OneMain Financial's consumer lending businesses. He also held senior credit risk leadership roles at JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo Auto Finance. Throughout his career, TJ has overseen multi-billion-dollar lending portfolios, developed data-driven credit strategies, and helped organizations navigate changing economic and regulatory environments.
At GradBridge, he leverages this experience to support responsible growth, expand access to education financing, and deliver strong outcomes for students and stakeholders.
Mike Ranauto
Chief Compliance Officer
Mike Ranauto
Chief Compliance Officer
Mike has more than 30 years of experience in financial services with stops at Jenius Bank/SMBC, Continental Finance, Wells Fargo, Barclays, Juniper Bank and MBNA. He has experience in compliance, internal audit, regulatory relations and sponsor bank programs.
Mike lives in Wilmington, DE with his wife Beth and their 3 dogs. They are the proud parents of 3 college graduates.
Lisa Kaplan
Head of Product
Lisa Kaplan
Head of Product
Lisa Kaplan has over 20 years in the student lending and financial services business. She was the VP of Product Operations for Sallie Mae for almost 15 years and most recently a member of the Executive Leadership team at MPOWER Financing overseeing Product and University Relations.
She has also been a management consultant, professor and strategic advisor at several startups.
She holds an MBA in Marketing from George Washington University and a BS in Computer Science from Binghamton University.
Leanne Carson
Head of Operations
Leanne Carson
Head of Operations
Leanne brings 15+ years of progressive experience in student loan operations, digital strategy, and enterprise transformation. As a Vice President in Operations at Sallie Mae, she led large-scale initiatives spanning originations, servicing, collections, and digital capabilities — driving measurable outcomes in operational efficiency, loss reduction, and customer engagement.
Known for translating strategy into execution, Leanne has a strong track record of building high-performing teams, modernizing operations, and advancing digital adoption through data-driven decision making and technology.
Leanne holds an MBA in Finance and Operations Management from The Wharton School. As a lifelong learner herself, she is passionate about GradBridge's mission to create financial pathways for students determined to achieve their goals of graduation.
Our Strategic Advisors.
Paul Thome
Executive Advisor
Our Values.
Access with Integrity
We believe every capable student deserves the opportunity to finish their education. We expand access while maintaining a disciplined, responsible approach to lending.
Student - First Solutions
Our borrowers aren’t just loan applicants — they’re future graduates. Every decision we make is guided by one goal: helping students succeed academically, financially, and in life beyond school.
Built on Trust
From our lender partnerships to how we treat our customers, we’re committed to earning and keeping trust. With transparent practices, and a long-term view, we aim to be a partner you can count on.
Our Partners.
