The WestEd Board of Directors today announced Jannelle Kubinec has been named the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Kubinec is currently WestEd’s Chief Administrative Officer. WestEd is a nonpartisan research, development, and service organization that works nationwide with education and other communities to promote excellence, achieve equity, and improve learning for children, youth, and adults.

“We believe that Jannelle will provide exactly the leadership necessary to help WestEd and its partners and clients navigate the complex environment currently surrounding education and human development,” said WestEd Board Chair Ken Coll. “She will help WestEd maintain our laser-like focus on equity and excellence, as we continue to conduct and apply rigorous research to address the wide range of challenges in education and human development in order to reduce opportunity gaps and help build communities where all can thrive.”

Kubinec brings more than 24 years of experience improving outcomes for children, youth, and their families through research, policy, and technical assistance. For the past 12 years she served as an accomplished leader at WestEd supporting the organization’s growth, innovation, and impact. Notable contributions include helping guide California through a once-in-a-generation redesign and transformation of its K-12 funding formula and accountability system and serving as principal architect and manager of a diverse team of researchers and policy experts to craft the California Master Plan for Early Learning and Care. The Plan has resulted in historic increases in funding, improved support for the workforce, and expansion plans to include all four-year-old children in Transitional Kindergarten.

As a servant leader, Kubinec has dedicated her career to social and public good in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. For the past four years she has served as WestEd’s Chief Administrative Officer, leading the creation of teams and organizational units for Learning and Development; Employee Engagement; and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and helping to bring equity and inclusion to the foreground of WestEd’s operations. She also managed the organization’s growth through the pandemic and its evolution from an office-based to a hybrid work environment.

“I am honored and excited to accept the CEO position at WestEd,” said Kubinec. “I deeply value the high priority WestEd places on research, excellence, integrity, equity, and impact, and the organization’s talented, skilled, and dedicated staff are second to none. I look forward to working with them to continue their important work to achieve positive outcomes and sustainable improvements in education and human development.”

Kubinec was selected following an extensive nationwide search and will assume the role of CEO on October 2.

Glen Harvey, Kubinec’s predecessor served as WestEd’s CEO for 26 years. Under her leadership, WestEd established itself as one of the nation’s premier nonpartisan research, development, and service organizations working to promote excellence, achieve equity, and improve learning for children, youth, and adults. Harvey will continue to serve as CEO during the transition.

“We owe a great debt of gratitude to Glen, for her visionary leadership in helping WestEd grow to an organization with more than 1,000 full-time staff nationwide and an annual revenue of more than $200 million,” said Coll.  “For more than 25 years, Glen has helped build WestEd into an exemplar in education reform, best practices, and innovation. Under her leadership, WestEd has received recognition as among the best in its class for its work in research, development, and service and achieved a first-rate reputation. Thanks to her vision and dedication, WestEd has made and will continue to make a significant difference in the education world.”

“I am certain that Jannelle will serve WestEd with great distinction, helping to further our decades-long goal of helping every learner achieve success,” said Harvey. “This is a pivotal time in education and for WestEd. It requires strong leadership and a deep commitment to our mission and vision. I am confident that Jannelle will provide exactly the leadership needed to address the challenges that lie ahead.”