Brenda Lilienthal Welburn served as the Executive Director of the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) from 1994 until 2012 and is an association manager and legislative professional with more than 35 years of experience in policy development and analysis in education and human service issues.

A graduate of Howard University with graduate work at the University of Pennsylvania, Ms. Welburn is one of the nation’s foremost experts on state education policy. She possesses not only professional expertise, but a unique historical perspective on the evolution of education governance and policy development at the state and federal levels.  She has given workshops and presentations on state education policy in the United States around the nation and in several foreign countries. She has provided leadership training and board development in more than forty states.

Ms. Welburn is an accomplished writer and has made numerous public appearances addressing issues that affect the nation’s students, including standards, assessments and accountability; cultural diversity and its impact on education; the need for safe and supporting learning environments for all students, lay leadership in education governance, and general school reform.

She serves on several boards, task forces and commissions responsible for improving the health and welfare of children.