Chera Reid serves as director of strategic learning, research, and evaluation for The Kresge Foundation. She leads organization-wide work to grow the foundation’s learning endowment—drawing from the full suite of philanthropic tools, including evaluation and thought leadership—to join conversations that advance the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Chera previously served at Kresge as program officer in Education, increasing college access and success for low-income and students of color.

Before joining Kresge in 2013, Chera worked in program development at MDRC, a national nonpartisan education and social policy research organization that works to improve programs and policies affecting the poor. At MDRC, she co-authored a brief on college match for low-income students. Chera previously held leadership positions at New York Needs You and the Phillips Academy Institute for Recruitment of Teachers; both are programs that expand educational and career opportunities for low-income and students of color. Chera has taught at LaGuardia Community College and New York University.

Chera earned a bachelor’s degree in English and African American Studies at the University of Virginia, a master’s degree from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in higher education from New York University. In 2011, she received the K. Patricia Cross Award for Future Leaders in Higher Education from the Association of American Colleges and Universities. Chera serves on the advisory board for the Phillips Academy Institute for Recruitment of Teachers.