Rena Dorph is the newly elected chair of WestEd’s Board of Directors. Currently the Director of the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Dorph has three decades of experience in the field of education. She begins her one-year term as Board Chair on July 16, 2020.

Rena began working at the Lawrence Hall of Science as the Director of its Research Group in 2003. Since then, she has served as the Principal Investigator for many projects, including the Activation Lab. Her research focuses on the relationship between learning experiences and outcomes, paying consistent attention to issues of equity, access, and impact. In 2019, she was recognized by the San Francisco Business Times as one of the Bay Area’s Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business.

“With her extensive experience in education, and as the leader of a world-renowned science center, Rena brings a wealth of expertise and insight to our Board,” says WestEd CEO Glen Harvey. “I look forward to her tenure as Board Chair and working with her to carry out WestEd’s mission of helping all learners thrive.”

WestEd’s Board of Directors comprises leaders from public and private education, business, and the human services sector. Board members take an active role in agency leadership and strategic planning. Dr. Dorph is taking over the Board leadership role from Beverly Hurley, who served as chair for 2019–20.

“As a member of WestEd’s Board since 2001, I am invested in the agency and its mission,” says Rena. “I believe strongly in the critical role that education plays in our society and I value the important work WestEd does regionally and nationally. I look forward to collaborating with the Board to help WestEd continue to support equitable and successful outcomes for all learners.”

Dr. Dorph’s past experience includes serving as the Director of Research, Policy, and Technology at the Teacher Education & Professional Development Unit of the University of California Office of the President; educational consultant for California schools, districts, and county offices of education; and Lead Researcher for the School Restructuring Study at UC Berkeley. She also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC).

Rena has a BA in psychology from the University of California, Davis; an MA in education from Teachers College, Columbia University; and a PhD in education from the University of California, Berkeley.