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Celine N. Fejeran is the senior director & chief of staff of policy and partnerships at StriveTogether, where she leads efforts to advance public policy and strategic partnerships that support communities in transforming systems and improving outcomes for youth and families. She brings expertise in cross-sector collaboration, grantmaking and advocacy, helping to scale effective solutions across the Cradle to Career Network.

Before joining StriveTogether, Celine managed a national portfolio of place-based partnership investments at Ballmer Group, with a focus on policy, data and postsecondary success. She previously served as senior policy advisor in the Washington, DC, mayor’s office, where she led interagency dropout prevention and reconnection initiatives, founded the citywide youth Reengagement Center and helped launch Raise DC, the city’s cradle-to-career partnership. As Raise DC’s deputy director, she led data and programmatic collaboration across public and charter schools to improve eighth-to-ninth grade transitions and advanced advocacy efforts to win transportation subsidies for young adults enrolled in alternative education programs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Celine served as chief of staff at Martha’s Table, overseeing one of the city’s largest direct-service nonprofits providing comprehensive supports to families experiencing poverty.

Celine began her career as a public school teacher, and she currently serves as board chair for The Next Step Public Charter School. Throughout her career, she has contributed to citywide task forces on education, youth and family well-being, ensuring parent and student expertise is centered in policy solution design and advocacy. She holds a master’s in education policy from George Washington University and a bachelor’s in elementary education from American University. Celine lives in her adopted hometown of Washington, DC.