News Article

IEL Announces Karen Mapp as the New Board Chair and Welcomes Ana Tilton to the Board

IEL Announces Karen Mapp as the New Board

Chair and
Welcomes Ana Tilton to the Board

MEDIA CONTACT:

Helen Janc Malone, Secretary of the Board

maloneh@iel.org

Washington, DC - November 6, 2017 | The Institute for Educational Leadership(IEL) is pleased to announce appointment of its new Board Chair, Dr. Karen Mapp, Senior Lecturer on Education and Faculty Director, Education Policy and Management at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, as well as the appointment of a new Board Director, Dr. Ana Tilton, Executive Director of Grantmakers for Education. IEL also celebrates its outgoing Chair and long-standing Board Director, Dr. Kent McGuire.

IEL is pleased to announce appointment of Dr. Karen L. Mapp as the new Chair of the Board. She is a founding member of the IEL's District Leaders Network on Family and Community Engagement, alum of IEL's Education Policy Fellowship Program, and has served as a Board Director since October 2010.

"I am honored to serve as the Board Chair for an organization whose work I have admired since my time as an EPFP Fellow. I am excited to work closely with Johan, the IEL staff, and our Board to execute our new strategic plan," said Dr. Mapp.

Dr. Mapp will build on Dr. McGuire's legacy to further increase IEL's standing as a true change agent in creating more equitable opportunities in education and workforce development," affirmed Dr. Johan Uvin, President of IEL.

Dr. Mapp's appointment signals departure of Dr. Kent McGuire, IEL's former Chair and Board member of 15 years. Dr. McGuire is the new Program Director, Education, for The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. As Dr. Uvin noted to IEL Board and staff, "It has been a privilege to work with Dr. McGuire in his role as Chair of the IEL Board of Directors. Always using equity as a reference for decision-making, Dr. McGuire succeeded at creating a shared sense of purpose and direction amongst the Directors."

During Dr. McGuire's tenure, he served in several capacities as the Board Director, Vice Chair, Chair of the Board, and on all Board Committees, offering his guidance and expertise that has advanced the work of the Board, strengthen the connections between the Board and the work of IEL, and helped position IEL externally. He has strengthened the organization, supported continued growth, markedly increased visibility of IEL, designed and implemented IEL's Presidential search, and sharpened the focus of the Board.

"This is an organization with a unique and cherished mission. It has been a real honor and privilege to serve as IEL chairman. I look forward to Karen's leadership knowing that IEL will make an outsized difference on her watch," stated Dr. McGuire.

IEL is also pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ana Tilton to its Board. She is the Executive Director of Grantmakers for Education. "On behalf of IEL's Board and staff, I'm excited that Dr. Tilton has joined our Board of Directors. Her vast experiences in working with nonprofit Boards and her standing and deep knowledge in the philanthropic community are a perfect match between IEL's future direction and needs and Dr. Tilton's assets," noted Dr. Uvin.

"The Institute's continued success over more than 50 years shows its ability to be forward thinking and responsive. I am eager to support IEL's efforts as it moves into the future," stated Dr. Tilton.

As Dr. Uvin concluded, "It is particularly exciting that these three leaders have earlier in their programs completed IEL's leadership programs."

Biographies of Drs. Karen Mapp and Ana Tilton

Dr. Karen Mapp, IEL's New Board Chairman

Dr. Mapp is a Senior Lecturer on Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) and the Faculty Director of the Education Policy and Management master's program. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Mapp's research and practice focus has been on the cultivation of partnerships among families, community members, and educators that support student achievement and school improvement. From 2011 to 2013, Dr. Mapp served as a consultant on family engagement to the U.S. Department of Education in the Office of Innovation and Improvement.

Dr. Mapp holds doctorate and master of education degrees from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, a master's in education from Southern Connecticut State University, and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Trinity College in Hartford, CT.

Dr. Ana Tilton, IEL's New Board Director

Dr. Tilton has more than 35 years of experience across the education spectrum including work as an educator, superintendent, consultant and philanthropic leader. As the Executive Director of Grantmakers for Education, she works with hundreds of grantmakers and philanthropic organizations across the nation focused on supporting public education and resolving equity issues for all learners.

Prior to Grantmakers for Education, Dr. Tilton was actively involved in launching the first GEMS World Academy K-12 School in the United States, bringing an international perspective of excellence to education in the US. In 2006, she was the chief program officer for the Communities Foundation of Texas investing in leadership and quality school options.

Dr. Tilton is committed to equity and diversity in education, driven by her personal background. As a Latina, raised with an inner city urban education with immigrant grandparents and bilingual parents, she is particularly sensitive to the challenges faced by English Language Learners.

Dr. Tilton received a doctoral degree in education administration and policy from the University of Southern California and a master's degree in multicultural/bilingual education from the University of Colorado, Denver.

About IEL

For over 50 years, IEL has championed the need for leaders at all levels to shake off their institutional constraints and work across boundaries to address the needs of young people and their families. Bound by no constituency, IEL serves as a catalyst that helps policymakers, administrators, and practitioners at all levels to bridge bureaucratic silos and undo gridlock to improve outcomes for all young people and their families. The work of IEL focuses on three pillars required for young people and their communities to succeed: 1) Involving the broader community with public education to support the learning and development of young people; 2) building more effective pathways into the workforce for all young people and supporting the transition to adulthood; and 3) preparing generations of leaders with the know-how to drive collaborative efforts at all levels. Learn more at www.iel.org.

Mission: To equip leaders to better prepare children and youth for college, careers, and citizenship.

Vision: A society that uses all of its resources effectively to provide an equal opportunity for all children and youth to learn, develop, and become contributing citizens of our democracy.