As a Senior Program Associate and Project Director at WestEd, Sheila Arredondo collaborates with educators and policymakers to implement evidence-based policies and programs that improve academic outcomes for students. Arredondo coleads the Arizona Mayors Education Roundtable. The Roundtable brings together mayors, superintendents, and key staff to share and learn about promising strategies that address local challenges affecting students’ educational and career success. Current initiatives focus on expanding high-quality early childhood and college promise programs.
She also provides technical assistance to state and local education agencies served by the Region 13 and 15 Comprehensive Centers. Her projects have helped strengthen statewide comprehensive school counseling programs, increase support for and preparation of school counselors, implement and improve personalized learning plans for students, enhance secondary options and choices, and bring career development and work-based learning initiatives to scale.
Arredondo has authored publications on improving college and career readiness in Colorado, Nevada, and Utah. She currently serves on the Scientific Committee for the National Coalition for Career Development.
Arredondo’s education career began at the University of Colorado as a biology instructor. She worked at the Education Commission of the States as a policy analyst and managed the State Leader Forum on Educational Accountability. She also directed the Pueblo Community Compact for Student Success — a college promise initiative involving business, education, and community-based organizations in Pueblo, Colorado.
Arredondo earned an AB from Occidental College, an MBS from the University of Colorado, and a PhD in higher education with an emphasis in public policy from the University of Denver.