Today, leading education nonprofit the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) announced five new board members. The new members bring experience and expertise from across the education sector including parent engagement and advocacy, research, education leadership, and philanthropy.
“CASEL is proud to welcome these education leaders with decades of experience to our Board,” said Dr. Aaliyah A. Samuel, CASEL president and CEO. “As we looked to expand our Board, we specifically sought out leading local and national experts from a variety of sectors in the education world. Daniel, Summer, Tommy, Rose, and Melissa bring a wealth of talent, expertise, insight, and invaluable experience to our team. As we celebrate CASEL’s 30th anniversary this year, I look forward to how they will shape the decades to come. I am certain their valuable contributions and guidance will further our mission, ”
The five new board members are:
- Daniel Anello, CEO, Kids First Chicago. Anello brings deep quantitative analytical skills and authentic lived experience to his role in supporting parent-led and data-informed change within Chicago’s public schools.
- Dr. Summer Braun, Assistant Professor, Psychology, University of Alabama. Braun’s research focuses on the intersection of teachers’ social and emotional competencies, their occupational health and well-being, and their students’ social, emotional, and behavioral development using a variety of methodological approaches. She is an alumnus of the inaugural CASEL Weissberg Scholars program.
- Dr. Tommy Chang, CEO, New Teacher Center (starting Fall 2025). A national new teacher mentoring and professional learning nonprofit leader, Chang brings 25 years of experience as a former teacher, principal, and superintendent. He has also served on multiple education-focused non-profit boards, always centering research and evidence in service of students.
- Dr. Rose Prejean-Harris, Assistant Superintendent 6-12 Curriculum & Instruction, DeKalb County School District. Prejean-Harris brings 29 years of experience working as a principal, assistant principal, counselor, and science teacher, as well as the social emotional learning director for Atlanta Public Schools.
- Melissa Johnston, CEO, Lemnis. Johnston brings a wealth of experience in education policy and nonprofit leadership, with a strong commitment to advancing learning opportunities for every student, from her years working with organizations such as NWEA and the Council of Chief State School Officers.
“As CASEL looks to the future of education, it’s crucial that we have the leadership, expertise, and guidance on our Board to steer us in the direction that benefits all children in their classrooms and homes and communities,” said Dr. Timothy Shriver, CASEL co-founder and Board chair. “The additions to our Board today bring all of those qualities and then some. Our newest Board members have insights and leadership experience from almost every part of the field of education. I cannot wait to collaborate with them going forward.”
The new members will be announced at CASEL’s SEL Exchange, the nation’s largest SEL conference, held Nov. 12-14 in Chicago. They join twelve current members of CASEL’s Board, who include leading researchers, education nonprofit leaders, and school system experts. See the full CASEL Board of Directors here.
