Strada Education Foundation Makes Two Leadership Appointments

Nationally recognized experts on work-based learning and education-to-employment coaching will lead Strada’s efforts to create more equitable pathways to opportunity.
May 7, 2024

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INDIANAPOLIS – May 7, 2024 – Strada Education Foundation, an organization dedicated to strengthening the link between education and opportunity, today announced two new leadership appointments. These leaders will support the foundation’s efforts to conduct research and develop policy solutions in two critical areas: quality coaching and work-based learning.

Laura Thompson Love, who will join Strada as senior vice president, work-based learning, will lead the organization’s work-based learning agenda, which focuses on paid internships and apprenticeships that help students connect their education to their career aspirations. Love’s work will emphasize paid, quality work-based learning experiences that are affordable and accessible, mentorship and employer engagement.

Craig Robinson will join as senior vice president, coaching, and will lead Strada’s efforts to ensure all students have access to education-to-employment guidance that helps them reflect on their talents and interests, choose a career goal, map pathways through education, and successfully navigate challenges. Robinson’s work will focus on developing systems that support education-to-employment coaching that is timely and responsive to student’s talents and interests as well as labor market needs.

“I am delighted to welcome these two content experts to Strada’s leadership team,” said Stephen Moret, CEO of Strada Education Foundation. “Each of them brings a wealth of experience and talent that will support our efforts to create more equitable pathways to opportunity. Strada has embarked on an ambitious effort to create large scale change that is supported by quality, actionable research and effective policy solutions. These leaders bring expertise in vital areas — coaching and work-based learning — that will help us bring this vision to life.”

Love has built her career developing and executing strategy at social impact organizations and is a recognized expert in youth unemployment, work-based learning, and skills-first hiring. Most recently, she served as a partner at Grads of Life, an initiative of the national workforce development nonprofit organization Year Up, where she worked to advise large employers on inclusive talent strategies and led the organization’s research and thought leadership efforts. Previously, Laura led strategic growth efforts at Year Up, overseeing the launch of Year Up’s first employer-based training model in partnership with multinational toy maker Hasbro.

“I am thrilled to join Strada and energized by the organization’s ambitious vision and new strategic plan,” Love said. “Over the past decade I’ve seen firsthand the critical importance of work-based learning in generating strong postsecondary employment outcomes. Strada is poised to dramatically scale this effective practice nationally, and I’m honored to contribute my extensive experience working with employers and learners to this effort.”

Robinson is recognized for his leadership in the areas of college access and completion, college advising, and workforce development. He currently serves as president and chief executive officer of Matriculate, a national tech-enabled virtual advising program that connects high-achieving, low-income juniors and seniors to highly trained undergraduate advisors. Robinson also served as CEO at College Possible, a college access and completion program that matches eligible students with near-peer coaches and a curriculum designed to help them navigate and overcome common barriers to postsecondary success, and national director of Kipp Through College (now KIPP Forward), a comprehensive college and career program.

“I am excited to join the leadership team at Strada at a time when education-to-employment coaching is being recognized as a vital part of a student’s postsecondary journey,” Robinson said. “My career has been focused on helping all students achieve their dreams and ambitions for college and beyond, and Strada is well-positioned to further that mission. I look forward to working alongside a terrific team and designing solutions that will transform lives.”

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About Strada Education Foundation

Strada supports programs, policies, and organizations that strengthen connections between postsecondary education and opportunity in the U.S., with a focus on helping people who face the greatest challenges. We advance this mission through research, grantmaking, social-impact investments, public policy solutions, and Strada-supported nonprofit organizations, including CAEL, Education at Work, InsideTrack, and Roadtrip Nation. We collaborate with students, educators, employers, policymakers, and other partners to help create more equitable pathways to opportunity. Learn more at stradaeducation.org.