After a national search, the Civics Learning Project Board of Directors has announced that Erin Esparza will become Executive Director on Oct. 5, 2018, succeeding our founding Executive Director, Marilyn Cover.
Before embarking on her career in education and youth development, Erin worked in the financial industry for more than a decade in senior roles with TD Ameritrade and Charles Schwab & Company. In the 1990s, she served in various roles at Intel, including leading strategic venture capital investments in technologies for small businesses as Corporate Business Development Manager.
Since 2015, Erin has worked in Mexico. At the Universidad Metropolitana de Monterrey, she developed programs and operational models to provide education and social mobility opportunities for underserved populations. As Academic Portfolio Manager, she oversaw the development of academic offerings, launching five new online bachelor’s degrees, and expanding access to higher education in partnership with a technology and innovation network of Latin American Universities.
As Director of Expansion Strategy for Vía Educación, a nonprofit focused on education and participatory citizenship, Erin grew the organization and created the Jóvenes Atiempo program to keep youth in school by matching middle school students with high school mentors. Her work to create a long-term social enterprise funding strategy for Universidad Carolina led to significant new investment, enabling an enrollment increase of more than 50%.
According to Board President Rob Aldisert, “Erin impressed us with her passion for our mission, her experience leading teams and strategy across different sectors, and her commitment to youth development and education. We are excited to work with Erin to grow the reach of Civics Learning Project, while continuing our commitment to excellence.”
With Marilyn Cover’s leadership for 35 years, Civics Learning Project has become a national model in civics education. “We are excited to have Erin join the team and look forward to her leadership in charting the next chapter,” Cover said.
Erin’s education includes a B.A. in Economics and a Masters in Education from Harvard University. She is bilingual in English and Spanish. She has served on several nonprofit boards over the years, and is currently Vice Chair of Journeys Within Our Community, a nonprofit that empowers low income Cambodians with free education and scholarships.