Indianapolis-based education nonprofit The Mind Trust announced two new executive positions alongside four promotions on July 10.
The Mind Trust has been committed to making an “indelible impact” on the Indianapolis community by not only ensuring students retain access to high-quality schools but also bringing talented educators to the city and championing imaginative solutions to improve the education system, Brandon Brown, CEO of The Mind Trust, said in a statement.
“These organizational shifts reflect our deep commitment to continuing that work in Indianapolis and beyond,” Brown said. “We have a team full of leaders who embody our enduring belief that every student, no exceptions, deserves access to a great education.”
The two new roles include Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, which aim to establish an executive leadership structure in response to The Mind Trust’s increasing development in its growing priorities in addition to its continued commitment to students and families in the community.
Shannon Williams will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President. In her new role, Williams will oversee the organization’s impact on education in Indianapolis. Serving alongside The Mind Trust’s CEO, Williams will “ensure the success of various local and statewide initiatives that accelerate student learning.”
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However, Williams will continue leading all external affairs by managing The Mind Trust’s community engagement, communications and development teams while also assuming management of The Mind Trust’s school support teams, overseeing local and statewide efforts driving student achievement.
Kristin Grimme will take on the role of Chief Strategy Officer, which will have her oversee the implementation of The Mind Trust’s strategic plan by ensuring strategic coherence across the organization. Grimme will also manage the organization’s programmatic and geographic expansion efforts as it pertains to its impact.
In this role Grimme will supervise The Mind Trust’s school incubation, leadership development, research and policy priorities in addition to managing investments and relationships “with a robust network of education nonprofit organizations, many of which launched with support from The Mind Trust.”
The newly created role of Vice President of Expanded Impact was filled by Porsche Chisley, who will now manage the expansion of The Mind Trust’s programmatic work outside of Indianapolis.Chisley will take charge of The Mind Trust’s efforts in bringing its organizational experience, knowledge and results to regions beyond the city that are seeking a collaborative partner to drive academic outcomes for students.
Madeline Poulakidas received a promotion to Senior Director of Finance and Operations, where she now serves as the organizational lead on risk management and contracts for The Mind Trust in addition to executing critical financial management and accounting duties. Poulakidas will also work to provide strategic operational support to the organization’s growth and expansion opportunities beyond Indianapolis.
“The Mind Trust is a national leader in creating solutions that make a real difference in the lives of students and families,” Jim Schumacher, board chairman of The Mind Trust, said in a statement. “I am excited to see the organization’s work deepen in our state and grow to serve additional communities.”
The promotions stand to elevate leaders within the organization who are dedicated to educational equity, programmatic and operational excellence and offering innovative solutions to generate transformational impacts for Hoosier students and families.
