Julie Koenke is the incoming President and CEO of ConnectED: The National Center for College and Career. She leads the organization’s mission to expand high-quality, equitable college and career pathways nationwide, partnering with school districts, communities, and states to ensure all students—especially those furthest from opportunity—graduate prepared for postsecondary success.

Before stepping into the role of President and CEO, Julie had been an integral part of ConnectED for the previous 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 to New Orleans to Portland, co-designing equitable college and career pathways systems 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 ConnectED’s most recent and wide-reaching college and career systems-level partnerships with North Kansas City (Missouri) and Gallup-McKinley School District (New Mexico).

Before joining ConnectED, Julie worked in the Madison Metropolitan School District in Wisconsin as a youth worker, educator, and district leader, creating and scaling college and career readiness programs and partnerships across 16 middle and high schools serving 16,000 students annually. 

With more than 25 years of experience in educational systems transformation, Julie has guided initiatives impacting over 250,000 students, secured more than $27 million in funding for youth-serving programs, and developed 50+ cross-sector partnerships connecting schools, higher education, industry, and community organizations. She is widely recognized for her expertise in systems change, equity-centered leadership, and building collaborative teams that improve outcomes for students of color and those living in poverty.

Julie holds a BFA from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Based in Asheville, North Carolina, she enjoys hiking and spending time in her art studio in her free time.