The Future of Work is Now
2021 presented new opportunities and challenges The Washington Center (TWC) embraced with agility and resilience. As TWC nears its fifth decade of mission impact, I am proud to have joined as the organization’s fourth president in October 2021. It is an honor to advance TWC’s mission as a national leader in career-connected learning and ensure continued innovation to meet the evolving needs of students, educators and employers.
TWC has been the go-to bridge between higher education and the workplace in every sector: government, for-profit and non-profit in the United States and around the globe. We serve students, we partner with colleges and universities and we team up with employers who require the next generation of professionals to realize their goals. Today, we’re at a crossroads – a moment where the future of work is on everyone’s lips and where we all strive to break down systemic racism, barriers and biases to build access and inclusion.
That’s why we launched a robust strategic planning process in October 2021, engaging our Board of Trustees, students, 60,000 alumni, employers, higher education leaders, funders and partners. We’ve created a roadmap for our future, centering historically marginalized communities and making a renewed commitment to our mission. Thank you to all who provided research, data and important inputs to guide us on our journey.
As a higher education-adjacent organization, TWC aims to supplement, not duplicate, what students learn on their campuses. Our mission is to provide new flexible and immersive learning pathways, so more learners have access and opportunity to prepare for their professional futures. That means, we’ll continue to innovate to offer more than a “one-size-fits-all” model to meet the needs of learners today. I’ll look forward to sharing new programs over the coming months.
TWC’s talented staff, students, alumni and partners will rise to meet this transformative moment. Together we'll ensure we build access and pipelines for future professionals of all backgrounds, with a demonstrated commitment to creating a more equitable and inclusive workforce. I’m grateful to each one of you for your passionate partnership.
Onward!
Kimberly Churches, President
Our Vision
Empowering every learner to secure a better future for themselves and the world around them.
Our Mission
Creating flexible, immersive pathways to enhance the pipeline of diverse talent and build more equitable, inclusive workplaces and communities.
“As a first-generation college student, I am now better equipped to handle life post-graduation, and that is all thanks to my experience and the network of support I found at TWC.”
Alexis Michael Rodriguez, Academic Internship Program participant
My TWC experience has not only affirmed my career path, but also helped me lay a solid foundation for my future in civil service.”
Bobby Olejarczyk, Academic Internship Program participant
Board of Trustees
Susan Pannullo, M.D. '81* Chair of the Board Director of Neuro-Oncology New York-Presbyterian Hospital/ Weill Cornell Medical Center
Paige Warren Vice-Chair of the Board Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellow Harvard University
Carol Ann Blinken Founder Blinken Interiors
Sheila McRevey Burke Co-founder The Washington Center
Yisel Cabrera '04* Government & Community Relations Manager Ford Motor Company
Christopher Cooper Chief Operating Officer Catapult
Dr. Constantine “Deno” Curris President Emeritus American Association of State Colleges & Universities
Ivelisse Estrada Senior Vice President (retired) Univision Communications
Michael B. Goldstein Managing Director Tyton Partners
Dr. Lawrence J. Korb Senior Fellow Center for American Progress
Dr. Leo Lambert President Emeritus Elon University
Hon. Kenneth McClintock Hernández Senior Advisor Politank
Tia Brown McNair, Ed.D. Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Student Success Association of American Colleges & Universities
John S. Orlando '76* Founder Point52 Group, LLC
Christine Park Former President New York Life Foundation
Debbie Sallis Founder Coaching Conversations
Dylan Solomon '19* Capture Analyst Prescient Edge
Thomas J. Stanton, III Managing Director Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc.
GT Svanikier '16* Associate, Engineering Management & Strategy Goldman Sachs
Dr. Marta Tellado '81* President & CEO Consumer Reports
Ketty Trivedi Chief Marketing Officer Prudential Group Insurance
*The Washington Center Alumni