About XQ

XQ is working to radically transform the high school experience for young people everywhere

Our Mission

XQ exists to transform high school in America so every student graduates ready for the world they’re entering—prepared to thrive in college, career, and life. 

From classrooms to statehouses, we work to redesign teaching, learning, and policy in support of this goal. Since 2015, XQ has helped communities build new schools, redesign old ones, and replace outdated seat-time systems with mastery-based, relevant learning.  

Guided by research and the experiences of students, we partner with educators and policymakers to make lasting change. Our mission is simple and urgent: to ensure every high school prepares every student for our shared future. 

History

XQ is a nonprofit organization and independent affiliate of Emerson Collective founded in 2015 by Laurene Powell Jobs, founder and president of Emerson Collective, and Russlynn Ali, XQ’s CEO and former U.S. assistant secretary for civil rights in education. That same year, XQ issued an open call—an invitation to the nation to join teams, build community, and reimagine the high school experience. The response was overwhelming. 10,000 people from all 50 states formed 700 teams. Sixteen schools were selected as part of our “Super School Project” and we worked hand-in-hand to turn their vision into reality. Today, alongside that cohort of schools we have a presence in over 180 sites across the country. 

Whether it’s working with communities to reimagine the high school experience, collaborating on products that enable new ways of teaching and learning, or identifying policies that create the conditions for systemwide change, we’re on a mission to radically transform what high school looks like for young people everywhere. 

Helping communities dream big about what high school can be

We work closely with students, families, educators, and district leaders to turn their ideas into action. Together, we embark on a journey—grounded in XQ’s design principles and learner outcomes—that strengthens the high school experience. This work, based on the science of how adolescents learn, is driving meaningful outcomes for young people across the country.

Empowering educators with innovative products

XQ’s suite of free, high-quality tools and resources helps bridge the gap between vision and practice. Developed alongside educators, makers, learning scientists, and other experts, our products put high school transformation within reach of communities everywhere. 

Unlocking the conditions for lasting, systemwide change

Policy makers at all levels can accelerate high school redesign by creating the conditions for educators, students, and community members to undertake bold innovation. XQ engages in research and analysis to identify policies that support meaningful transformation—and lay the foundation for sustained change. 

Russlynn Ali
Chief Executive Officer
Azeez Alli-Balogun
Chief Design & Product Officer
Stephanie Arata
Senior Creative Production Manager
Karim Biaye
Facilities & Workplace Experience Manager
Carolyn Bielfeldt
Senior Editorial Director
Jamira Burley
Chief of Community & Engagement
Michele Cahill
Senior Advisor
Julie Carpenter
Senior Director, Operations & Administration
Joseph Chan
Finance Manager
Mike Cohen
Senior Director, Engineering
Jon Dooley
Chief Financial & Administrative Officer
Molly Drill
Art Director
Keith Dysarz
Chief Academic Officer & Co-Chief of Schools & Systems
Marc Ecko
Senior Advisor
Jennifer Golub
Senior Advisor
Daniel Hagos
Director, Legal Operations
Joshua Hamlet
Financial Systems Analyst
Sheena Heikkila
Director of Program Management & Design Operations
Laurence Holt
Senior Advisor
Evan Jackson
IT Manager
Craig Jerald
Senior Advisor for Policy & Analysis
Kayleah Kellybrew
Senior Project Manager, Grants & Partnerships
Zoe Lewis
Head of Impact & Alignment
Ryan Linsey
Executive Assistant
Anne Mackinnon
Senior Advisor
Molly Mauer
Chief Strategy Officer
Megan McCormick
Executive Assistant
Eddie Montalvo
Director of Field Learning
Sarah Navarro
Chief of Schools & Systems
Annie Nguyen
Deputy Chief of Staff
Isabel Ouziz
Executive Assistant
Rikha Sharma Rani
Chief of Content & Editorial
Keylin Rivera
Senior Executive Assistant & Board Liaison
Nytesia Ross
Director, Stakeholder Engagement
Mary Ryerse
Senior Advisor
Rachel Safferstone
Senior Director, Product Management
Stephanie Shultz
Deputy Chief of Strategy
Jaime Smith
Executive Assistant
Tahlia Smith
Administrative Assistant
Patrick Starzan
Chief of Staff
Carlee Strathmann
Director, Community Operations
Katie Tague
Chief Legal Officer
Stacy Tran
Senior Product Manager
Kris Daniel Udang
Senior Manager, Digital Product & Experiences
Showit Woldu
Senior Experience Coordinator

XQ was co-founded by board chair Laurene Powell Jobs, founder and president of Emerson Collective, and Russlynn Ali, XQ’s CEO and former U.S. assistant secretary of education for civil rights. XQ’s board of directors also includes Larry Berger, Geoffrey Canada, Marc Eckō, Jimmy Iovine, Michael Klein, and Yo-Yo Ma.

Emerson Collective

XQ works in direct collaboration with Emerson Collective, a company founded and led by Laurene Powell Jobs that uses a range of tools to increase opportunity, so that every person can make the most of their life, fueled by their own hard work and determination. Emerson Collective’s work focuses on addressing complex challenges in education and economic mobility, immigration and the environment. XQ is an independent affiliate of Emerson Collective.