About the Foundation

The Team   Cincinnati Office
1 West 4th Street, Suite 200
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-3634
(513) 929-4777
(877) 852-3863

Columbus Office
41 South High St.
Suite 1680
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 456-6500


Chad WickChad Wick, President & CEO

Chad Wick is driven by a desire to create equity of educational opportunity in order to effectively prepare all students for college, work, and citizenship in the 21st century. Recognized by former U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley as "one of the outstanding education leaders in the country," Chad leads KnowledgeWorks Foundation in its mission to increase the number and diversity of people who value and access public education. As the founding president and CEO, he has led the Foundation to achieve this mission by providing not only seed grants and operating funds, extensive technical assistance and training, but policy and advocacy projects that promote and support sustainable, system-wide changes.

Matt Barcus, Senior Manager, Technology and Web Services

As the Senior Manager of Technology & Web Services for KnowledgeWorks Foundation, Matt Barcus is responsible for creating and aligning the Technology & Web vision with the Program Initiatives and Foundation strategies. He also oversees the coordinating development and implementation of the Foundation?s Technology & Web Services plan.

Andrew Benson, Director, Policy & Communications

As Policy & Communications Director for KnowledgeWorks Foundation, Andrew Benson combines his extensive experience in both communications and public policy to improve public education and support college access across the state of Ohio, moving the Foundation closer to the goal of removing barriers to education for all.

Kevin Boyce, Senior Program Officer, Statewide Community Relations

As Director of External Relations, Kevin Boyce leads the management of the Foundation's Columbus Office, Government Relations, Affairs, and Advocacy Additionally he oversees statewide community affairs on behalf of the Foundation.

Patricia Ruggie Conley, Executive Vice President & COO

Patricia Ruggie Conley serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of KnowledgeWorks Foundation. She has been with the Foundation since its inception in 1998.

Jillian Darwish, Program Director, Collaborative Knowledge Management

Dr. Jillian Darwish, program director of Collaborative Knowledge Management, heads a team working to create and support an online peer-to-peer learning network for teachers. Through Educator's Knowledge Network, teachers are creating a shared knowledge base for learning, growing and innovating together with the ultimate goal of teacher-led transformation in education.


Barbara Diamond, Senior Advisor

Ms. Diamond was recently appointed to the role of Senior Advisor at KnowledgeWorks Foundation. She previously served as Vice President for Education Strategy where she oversaw the development and release of the foundation?s 2006-2016 Map of Future Forces Affecting Education. For several years, she was responsible for the Foundation?s work on Communities and School Facilities and public policy.

Jeff Edmondson, Program Director, Strive

Jeff Edmondson is the executive director of Strive, a coalition of postsecondary, K-12, business and nonprofit organizations in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky aimed at increasing educational aspirations, achievement, and attainment of students throughout the region.


Shannon Herald, Senior HR Generalist


Monica Martinez, Ph. D., Vice President for Education Strategy

As Vice President for Education Strategy for KnowledgeWorks Foundation, Dr. Monica Martinez guides the Foundation's work to transform the national education landscape, overseeing the development of new initiatives and coordination of strategic planning that result from our 2006-2016 Map of Future Forces Affecting Education.

William McNeese, Senior Vice President & CFO

As senior vice president and CFO for KnowledgeWorks Foundation, William L. McNeese manages the Foundation's investment portfolio and all aspects of accounting and finance. McNeese brings significant experience in both for-profit and non-profit organizations to his CFO position.

Terry Seery, Program Director, College and Career Access

As program director for College & Career Access, Terry Seery directs and advocates for initiatives that focus on increasing access to higher education for all Ohio students.

KnowledgeWorks Foundation employs a professional staff to achieve its mission. With broad interests and areas of expertise, the staff works to ensure the Foundation's operating and grantmaking activities further the organization's public purpose.

KnowledgeWorks Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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