Hillary Knudson

Vice President

Hillary bridges policy and politics, focusing on strategy, advocacy, and research across the PK-12 education system. She strives for system-level change that promotes equity in opportunity and success for all students.

Her experience in federal and state education legislation and implementation spans over a decade. Serving as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Tennessee Department of Education, Hillary co-authored Tennessee’s plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and oversaw the implementation of  multi-million dollar strategic initiatives connected to early literacy, high quality instructional materials, and school improvement efforts across the state. Prior to TDOE, Hillary worked as K-12 policy staffer for the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee supporting the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act through the legislative process and final passage.

Hillary’s current portfolio supports PK-12 organizations—including national non-profits, philanthropic foundations, private equity firms, and edtech companies—in navigating the complexity of education policy and market dynamics to identify opportunities at the local, state, and federal level. 

Hillary earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Child Development from Vanderbilt University and her master’s degree in Education Policy and Organizational Leadership from Stanford Graduate School of Education. She currently lives in Oakland, California and enjoys cooking without a recipe, exploring the Bay Area’s food scene, and searching for the perfect cold brew coffee.