Brenda leads SCRI as Managing Partner and serves as Chief Impact Officer for BellXcel. She is a longtime visionary in the field of OST and youth development. Brenda oversees research and evaluation and develops solutions to elevate the quality and impact of educational experiences nationally.For more than 15 years, Brenda has worked at the intersection of research, policy, and practice, translating key learnings to positively influence the education and well-being of young people and… Show more Brenda leads SCRI as Managing Partner and serves as Chief Impact Officer for BellXcel. She is a longtime visionary in the field of OST and youth development. Brenda oversees research and evaluation and develops solutions to elevate the quality and impact of educational experiences nationally.For more than 15 years, Brenda has worked at the intersection of research, policy, and practice, translating key learnings to positively influence the education and well-being of young people and their families. Her insight and expertise have led organizations and communities to develop strategies that expand their capacity to serve more young people.Prior to joining BellXcel, Brenda founded and led The Learning Agenda, a consultancy dedicated to building knowledge and capacity in the nonprofit, philanthropic and education sectors. She also served as vice president of the National Summer Learning Association. Brenda has a particular interest in studying the pivotal role that summer, afterschool, sports, arts, and enrichment programs play in supporting the holistic development and academic trajectories of youth.Brenda holds a MA in Public Policy from the Johns Hopkins University, and a BA in Spanish and Latin American Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. Show less

Brenda serves as Chief Impact Officer for BellXcel, a national nonprofit that empowers educators to design and deliver summer and afterschool experiences that accelerate academic achievement and social-emotional learning. Brenda oversees research & evaluation and develops solutions to elevate the quality and impact of OST and education experiences nationally.

The Learning Agenda's purpose is to strengthen the capacity of youth-serving organizations for the ultimate benefit of youth and families in under-resourced communities. Our core areas of work include: 1) Professional Facilitation & Learning Communities; 2) Program Development & Technical Assistance; and 3) Research & Evaluation. Specialties in expanded and summer learning, system-building, youth program planning and operations, research syntheses, and continuous growth and improvement.… Show more The Learning Agenda's purpose is to strengthen the capacity of youth-serving organizations for the ultimate benefit of youth and families in under-resourced communities. Our core areas of work include: 1) Professional Facilitation & Learning Communities; 2) Program Development & Technical Assistance; and 3) Research & Evaluation. Specialties in expanded and summer learning, system-building, youth program planning and operations, research syntheses, and continuous growth and improvement. Clients have included The Wallace Foundation, Ford Foundation, the RAND Corporation, the National Summer Learning Association, Afterschool Alliance, BELL, Horizons National, 'Iolani School, and others. Learn more at www.agenda4learning.com. Show less

Grantmakers for Education is a national membership organization with a mission to strengthen philanthropy to improve outcomes and expand opportunities for all learners. GFE supports several affinity groups, including an Out-of-School Time Funder Network. Brenda coordinates the network, sharing knowledge and effective practices, and facilitating collaboration and learning opportunities. The network includes approximately 170 members across 90 philanthropies.

Conceptualized, planned and oversaw implementation of initiatives, research and evaluation projects. Primary functions included strategic consulting and thought leadership in systems-building efforts; facilitation of learning communities; program-level quality assessment and evaluation; partner brokering and strategic alignment of resources; knowledge sharing of effective practices; and assessment of summer learning landscape, includnig supply and demand.

Directed the Center's research portfolio, established research priorities, and led efforts to fill critical gaps in knowledge in the summer learning field. Led the Center's growth, organizational development, and implementation of strategic plan as a key member of the senior leadership team. Wrote and published books, briefs, and articles on a variety of out-of-school time topics, including the characteristics of effective summer learning programs, finding funding for programs, and navigating… Show more Directed the Center's research portfolio, established research priorities, and led efforts to fill critical gaps in knowledge in the summer learning field. Led the Center's growth, organizational development, and implementation of strategic plan as a key member of the senior leadership team. Wrote and published books, briefs, and articles on a variety of out-of-school time topics, including the characteristics of effective summer learning programs, finding funding for programs, and navigating the public policy landscape. Show less

Managed activities on all education-related grants, including coordination with consultants, subcontractors and funding agencies, and required reporting and deliverables. Developed and delivered training and provided technical assistance to various groups and stakeholders, including education and workforce development professionals.