Guest Blogger

Director, Fiduciary Board

Oakland, California

Russlynn Ali is managing director of the education fund at the Emerson Collective, an education philanthropy founded by Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple co-founder Steven Jobs. Previously, she served as assistant secretary for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Education, where she served as a primary advisor on equity and civil rights. She also was vice president of the Education Trust in Washington, D.C., and Oakland, California. In addition, she was a teacher, attorney, liaison for the president of the Children’s Defense Fund, assistant director of policy and research at the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, and chief of staff to the president of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Board of Education. Ms. Ali received her bachelor’s degree from American University and law degree from Northwestern University.