Kim Graham began her tenure as CEO of the of the Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) in November 2018. Since then, she has shepherded AEF’s growth to a staff of 10 and a projected annual budget of $1.6 million. She is the driving force behind AEF’s newly launched “AEF Academy,” the first and only Cox Innovation Lab for teachers. Former positions include serving as Deputy Director of Louisiana A+ Schools, and as the Director of Education and Community Engagement at The Phoenix Symphony, where she established the Mind Over Music program and the award-winning B-Sharp Music Wellness program. Graham also served as the former Chair of the Arts Education Advisory Group for the National Endowment for the Arts.

Graham’s Fellowship plans include visiting other nonprofits that serve public schools, such as the Education Trust in Washington, D.C., which advances policies and practices to address inequities embedded in the American education system; she will also meet with The Pencil Foundation in Nashville, a successful model for nonprofit and school district partnerships.

Founded by esteemed Arizonans Carolyn Warner, Bill Shover, and Eddie Basha—Graham plans to continue their drive for innovation and excellence through Fellowship activities focused on effective ways to build cross-sector partnerships that support a thriving public education system.