Steven Cederquist

Steven Cederquist, Ph.D. Digital Credentials & Skills-Based Hiring

Steve Cederquist is a researcher and consultant working at the intersection of digital credentials, skills-based hiring, and the broader learn-and-work ecosystem. At NLET, he advises on credentialing systems for GoEducate, a digital talent marketplace designed to connect learners to educational programs and employment opportunities.

His research focuses on how skills are evaluated at key transitions between school, employment, and career development. Driven by a commitment to expanding opportunity for underserved learners, his research examines how digital credentialing can make informally developed skills more visible in college admissions and post-graduate hiring. His work ultimately seeks to inform the development of a more human-centered learn-and-work ecosystem.

Prior to his research career, he taught English language learners in South Korea and Iraq, and later served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Albania. Following his doctorate, he completed an Atlas Research Fellowship at the University of Michigan’s Center for Academic Innovation, examining equity in undergraduate club recruitment processes and outcomes. He is currently managing the pilot of the AI in Public Libraries Project at the University of Michigan School of Information, conducting needs assessments and designing AI literacy training for Michigan public librarians. He holds a Ph.D. in Information and M.A. in Higher Education from the University of Michigan, and a B.A. in History from Michigan State University.