Warren Simmons is an accomplished senior executive, education advocate and scholar. Currently, he is a senior policy advisor at the National Education Policy Center at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Before that, he was a senior fellow at the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University and served for 16 years as its executive director.

Simmons has built a record of technical and executive leadership excellence in organizations committed to raising education standards and performance, increasing learning options and expanding opportunities for those living in underserved communities. Before leading the Annenberg Institute, he founded the Philadelphia Education Fund, an organization that helped the School District of Philadelphia to fund, develop and implement comprehensive school reform.

An expert in mobilizing partnerships and resources to support underserved communities, Simmons has been recognized for his service and sought out as an advisor. In addition to receiving the Distinguished Service Award from the National Governors Association, he has served on several prominent nonprofit and corporate boards, including the National Center on Education and the Economy, the Merck Institute for Science Education, and the Campaign for Educational Equity. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Nellie Mae Education Foundation.

Simmons received his doctoral degree in psychology from Cornell University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Macalester College.

Simmons joined the FHI 360 Board of Directors in 2015 and is its vice chair.