I’m delighted to announce that Barbara Chow will join the Heising-Simons Foundation as our new Director of Education. Barbara has deep experience in philanthropy, government, and policy, most recently serving for eight years as the Education Program Director for the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

We could not be more pleased to have Barbara, an insightful and caring leader in the education field, join us in our early education work to prepare children from birth through age 8 for school and life.

Under Barbara’s leadership, the Hewlett Foundation increased availability of open educational resources and expanded support for those “deeper learning” competencies most needed for success in 21^st century work and civic life. In the course of this work, she developed expertise in movement building and systems change, which will be put to good use in the early education field.

Prior to the Hewlett Foundation, Barbara was the Executive Director of the National Geographic Education Foundation, where she managed the Society’s $120 million national foundation and education outreach programs.

Well-respected by her peers in philanthropy and the nonprofit world, Barbara has served on the board of Grantmakers for Education, including a term as its chair.

In addition to her experience in grantmaking, Barbara has equally deep experience in government. She spent eight years in the Clinton White House including serving as Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council; Associate Director for Education, Income Maintenance, and Labor programs at the Office of Management and Budget; and as Special Assistant to the President for White House Legislative Affairs.

Barbara’s first day will be May 17. She looks forward to connecting, learning, and partnering with you to help children during their early, formative years.