Catherine Walcott is WestEd’s Chief Development Officer. She is responsible for creating and implementing the agency’s comprehensive business development plan and strategic initiatives, leading the development of major proposals, strengthening relationships with funders, and building new partnerships.
Walcott previously directed WestEd’s Fast Response Applied R&D Unit, which provides evidence-based information and unbiased analyses about current education issues and trends to policymakers and practitioners served by the Regional Educational Laboratory West (REL West) and nationally.
As a result of Walcott’s leadership, REL West has published dozens of studies that help inform regional policymakers about pressing education issues such as district improvement, teacher demand, postsecondary access, and re-enrolling dropouts.
In addition, REL West has hosted numerous events to bridge research, practice, and policy on a host of topics in the Western region.
Walcott also has experience developing federal legislative proposals and policy guidelines related to school reform, particularly standards and assessment issues,
Walcott is a board member of Partners in School Innovation, Flex Public Schools, and University High School in San Francisco.
She received a BA in psychology from Stanford University and an MA in public policy from Harvard University.