Areas of expertise

• Student-centered federal and state education policy implementation
• Driving meaningful education systems transformation through strategic partnerships
• Innovation through rethinking assessment and accountability for modern learners

Lillian directs the foundation’s policy and advocacy strategy, engaging with leaders at all levels of the education system to design and implement policy conditions that enable student-centered learning. She also shapes the organization’s partnerships strategy, facilitating strategic collaborations that help KnowledgeWorks and its network of national and state changemakers accelerate systems transformation.

We don’t just tackle one school at a time – we tackle the big picture, from the school building all the way to the halls of state and federal government.

During her time at KnowledgeWorks, Lillian has served as a national thought leader on education innovation with an emphasis on the development of student-centered assessment and accountability systems.

Lillian came to KnowledgeWorks after directing the U.S. House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education. She spent nearly a decade on Capitol Hill advising policymakers on K-12 and higher education policy.

Lillian received her Master of Public Policy degree from George Washington University and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington and Lee University. She resides in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband and two daughters where she loves to engage in local government, fostering dogs, antiquing and Pilates.

Featured work

A seasoned advisor to policymakers and education leaders, Lillian brings clarity, insight and inspiration to the evolving conversation around student-centered learning. With a focus on how federal and state policies can create the conditions for education transformation, she guides audiences through the complexities of education reform with a balance of vision and practical know-how. Whether rethinking assessment and accountability for modern learners or exploring the power of cross-sector partnerships beyond the classroom, Lillian challenges the status quo while offering tangible strategies for progress.

She has been featured on several national stages including the ASU+GSV Summit, SXSW EDU, the National Conference of State Legislatures Education Summit and the Education Commission of the States National Forum.

• State Policy Framework for Personalized Learning: Our state policy framework guides our partnerships and systems transformation efforts. Explore the conditions that allow and support personalized, competency-based learning to thrive.
• Beyond the Horizon: Co-created with national leaders and education constituents, this publication provides recommendations to move from our current systems of assessment and accountability toward equitable, learner-centered school quality systems.
• Will AI transform standardized testing? (EdWeek) Lillian is quoted in this story looking at AI and its role in the future of assessment.
• Innovating Assessment Through Federal and State Partnerships: Research tells us assessments in traditional education systems aren’t working. Lillian sits with national leaders to discuss opportunities or innovation in assessment and accountability – and provide examples from states across the nation.
• The Feds Gave States the Chance to Create Better Standardized Tests. There Were Few Takers (EdWeek): In this EdWeek article, as a leading expert, Lillian explains the reasoning why states didn’t risk innovating assessment and offers ways forward in how.