Photo of Julie Koenke

ConnectED: The National Center for College and Career is excited to announce that Julie Koenke has been appointed as the organization’s new President and CEO. Julie brings more than 25 years of experience leading educational systems transformation in communities across the nation to increase the engagement, learning, and success of all our students.

Honoring Our Past, Shaping Our Future

Julie has been an integral part of ConnectED for the past eight years as the Director of District and Regional Support. In this role, she helped expand ConnectED’s impact nationally by partnering with communities from Boston, Massachusetts, to Portland, Oregon, co-designing equitable college and career pathways that are now preparing thousands of young people for postsecondary success. Most notably, she has co-led The Great Lakes College and Career Pathways Partnership, along with our most recent and wide-reaching college and career systems-level partnerships with North Kansas City (Missouri) and Gallup-McKinley School District (New Mexico).

Throughout her career, Julie has dedicated herself to building educational systems that expand opportunity for historically underserved students. She has led initiatives impacting more than 250,000 students, raised over $27 million to support youth-serving programs, and developed 50+ public–private partnerships connecting schools, higher education, industry, and community organizations.

A Vision for What’s Ahead

As President & CEO, Julie is committed to building on ConnectED’s strong foundation in partnering with local communities, working together to shape the future of education. Her vision emphasizes collective action to create effective and equitable systems of career-connected learning that:

  • Equip ALL students with the academic, college, career, and life-ready skills they need to thrive in today’s and tomorrow’s society.
  • Embed integrated, real-world, career-connected learning experiences into students’ daily lives and everyday classroom learning experiences.
  • Expand students’ social capital and networks by fostering deep relationships with community and industry partners that open doors to new opportunities.
  • Strengthen students’ sense of belonging and connection by cultivating inclusive learning environments.
  • Personalize supports for each student’s academic, social-emotional, and physical well-being.

Under Julie’s leadership, ConnectED is eager to partner with students, families, educators, non-profit organizations, higher education institutions, workforce partners, and communities at large to address today’s most pressing educational challenges, while developing and sharing innovative solutions that can be adapted locally and scaled nationally.

Looking Forward Together

“Relationships are at the heart of systemic change,” Julie said. “As we learn from the work that has come before us and embrace the challenges of today, I am committed to listening deeply, building on local strengths, and co-designing equitable solutions with non-profit, higher education, work-force and k-12 partners at every level of our educational systems to ensure every student has the opportunity to dream, set goals and design a future that brings them meaning, purpose, and joy.”

Sri Ananda, Chair of the Board for ConnectED, states, “Julie has been an extraordinary leader at ConnectED for many years, and we are thrilled to welcome her as our next President and CEO. Her deep commitment to expanding opportunities for all students, her successful track record in partnering with a wide range of communities to implement effective college and career pathways,  and her vision for the future of education make her the right leader for this moment. The Board is confident that under Julie’s leadership, ConnectED will continue to build on its strong foundation while  enhancing its reach and impact to ensure that all students are prepared and ready to participate in the future economy and community.”

With Julie’s leadership, ConnectED will continue to honor its past successes, meet the moment, and design the future—always with a focus on equity, excellence, collaboration, and student success.