Katya Nekrasova brings public sector fundraising background to the Education Design Lab as Director, Federal and State Programs and Grant Management working on a broad portfolio of federal grants and state-level initiatives. Her primary focus is to drive expansion of mission-aligned federal funding opportunities and regional awards in targeted states.

Prior to joining the Lab, Katya led the American Association of Community Colleges’ Commission on Small and Rural Colleges, where she created opportunities for peer networking and interaction and promoted dialogue between stakeholders and key national partners to build consensus. Katya also served on the Board of Directors of another rural advocacy organization, Rural Community College Alliance. Katya’s portfolio included supporting community-led economic development to accelerate the economic recovery from the pandemic, serving previously underrepresented students in under-resourced communities, and promoting economic advancement for all. Katya brings over 15 years of managing multifaceted workforce and economic development initiatives and leadership programs for community college executives at the national level, as well as a deep understanding of the critical role of America’s community colleges in promoting upward economic mobility, resiliency and prosperity, and commitment to smart training for the 21st century workforce that reduces workforce inequities.

She is excited to join the Lab because she has always prioritized designing, implementing and fostering robust training programs that address equity and earnings gaps for vulnerable and underrepresented students in underserved areas.

HOMETOWN: Washington, DC

BACHELOR’S: ESL, University of St. Petersburg

MASTER’S: Educational Management, American University

WHEN I’M NOT AT WORK I’M… working out and swimming.