Education Commission of the States Taps Former U.S. Department of Education Director to Lead Strategic Partnerships

Elson Nash to build, sustain strategic partnerships that advance ECS mission, impact

DENVER, Feb. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Education Commission of the States (ECS), a national nonpartisan organization that informs, counsels and convenes state education leaders to create effective education policy, today announced Elson Nash will support its leadership team to build and sustain strategic relationships that support the organization's mission, impact and fundraising capacity.

Nash will be based in the Washington, D.C. area. His appointment, the first of its kind at the organization, signals the continued momentum of ECS, which this year is celebrating its 60th anniversary.

"Elson is a connector, a community builder, an education leader and an invaluable addition to our team at a pivotal moment in the history of our nation and our organization," said ECS President José Muñoz. "His ability to build meaningful partnerships and align national interests with state education priorities will help strengthen our mission to support state policymakers in advancing educational excellence for all students."

Nash brings to ECS extensive experience in education policy and program leadership. Most recently, he served as the Director of the U.S. Department of Education's Division of School Choice and Improvement Programs. In this position, which he held for more than a decade and across three administrations, he oversaw national initiatives designed to promote educational fairness, community engagement, and policy alignment across states—managing programs with a combined annual budget of nearly $450 million. His leadership in cultivating partnerships has been instrumental in advancing initiatives such as the Promise Neighborhoods and Full-Service Community Schools Programs, Statewide Family Engagement Centers, and Magnet Schools which foster cross-sector collaboration to improve student outcomes.

In his new role as lead consultant for strategic partnerships, Nash will be responsible for developing and managing relationships with corporate sponsors, philanthropic foundations, government agencies and state policymakers. He will also lead efforts to support state policy priorities to ensure ECS remains a trusted resource for education policy development.

"Now more than ever, as the power of states in education decision-making has been emphasized, I'm proud to contribute to the important work of ECS," said Nash. "Collaboration and strategic partnerships are critical to ensuring that education policies across the nation reflect the needs of all students and communities."

About Education Commission of the States
Education Commission of the States (ECS) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advocates for attaining education excellence for all by helping state leaders identify, develop and implement public education policy that addresses the current and future needs of a learning society. Learn more at ecs.org.

SOURCE Education Commission of the States