Executive Director, Chicago
Will has dedicated his entire career to making an impact on the public education and non-profit sector, and changing the narrative for students furthest from opportunity. Will started his career as a middle school special education teacher in West Philadelphia, where he saw deep educational inequities firsthand. Prior to joining Bottom Line, Will served as Chief Advancement Officer at One Million Degrees (OMD), where he worked with a committed network of champions to provide comprehensive supports to low-income, highly motivated community college students and improve their graduation rates. During his tenure at OMD, Will secured multi-year funding to launch and replicate the program in Colorado. In addition, he has also served as Chief Program Officer at Youth Guidance, where his leadership proved instrumental in scaling programs nationally and internationally as the organization navigated a period of transformation, as the operating budget grew from $15MM to $31MM. Finally, Will has a deep understanding of Chicago Public Schools, having led strategic work for Student Supports and College and Career Success across the district.
Will’s partner, Betsy, is a clinical psychologist, and the two spend many hours discussing the importance of mental health and wellbeing as a critical pillar in education reform. Will and Betsy have two sons, Nicholas and Evan. Will holds a Bachelor of Arts from Kalamazoo College, a Master of Education from Chestnut Hill College, and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago.
Why Bottom Line:
"I have been familiar with Bottom Line's work since early in the region's launch, and have been inspired by the commitment to excellence in serving Chicago's students. The data and stories speak for themselves - when you provide talented and motivated students with caring and knowledgeable relationships, great things happen!"