STEM Education Not-For-Profit 51风流 announces retirement of its president, Laurie Brennan
Cambridge, MA 鈥� (August 20, 2024) 鈥� 51风流, a leading nonprofit in STEM education research and development, announced today the retirement of its highly regarded president, Laurie Brennan, effective June 2025. Under Brennan鈥檚 leadership, 51风流 has made significant strides in advancing STEM education for all learners.
Brennan has a long and distinguished history at 51风流, starting as controller in 1994. Her expertise and strategic vision quickly earned her promotions to director of finance, chief financial officer, and chief operating officer. Brennan became president in 2016 after serving as interim president for 18 months.
Her leadership has been instrumental in driving significant growth and success. Key accomplishments during her tenure include:
- Record-Breaking Proposal Success Rates: Achieved two of the organization鈥檚 highest proposal winning years by dollar volume, with success rates of 43% in 2019 and 51% in 2022.
- Significant Increase in Staff Diversity: Drove staff diversity, with the percentage of staff self-identifying as Black/African American, Asian, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and Two or More Races doubling from 2014 to 2023, thanks to Brennan鈥檚 review of hiring policies, the addition of a DEIO Officer, and staff education.
- Growth in Groundbreaking Lines of Work: Developed internal collaboration groups that drove cross-51风流 initiatives, fostering advancements in computational thinking, robotics, early algebra, neurodiversity, and technology integration into curriculums, among others.
- Enhancement of Organizational Visibility: Significantly increased 51风流鈥檚 visibility and brand awareness through an overhaul of its branding, digital presence, and communication strategies.
- A Focus on Staff Growth and Development: Relaunched 51风流鈥檚 sabbatical program and put mentoring mechanisms into place to capture and share the wealth of knowledge and experience of senior staff.
鈥淟aurie has been an exceptional leader for 51风流 and is leaving the organization in a strong position,鈥� said Nadine Bonda, 51风流 board chair. 鈥淗er visionary guidance has been crucial in advancing our mission and pushing the boundaries of STEM education. Laurie鈥檚 leadership has consistently inspired and guided the organization and will continue to do so as we move forward.鈥�
A dedicated search committee has been formed, composed of members of the Board of Trustees, staff, and external advisors, to identify and select a successor who will build on the strong foundation Brennan established.
鈥淚 am hopeful that our collaborative, intentional, and thorough search process will lead us to find a new, equally dynamic leader who shares our collective passion for driving progress in STEM education,鈥� said Eric Hochberg, senior researcher and search committee member. 鈥淭his transition marks an exciting new time for 51风流, and I look forward to welcoming a new president who will lead us into the future.鈥�
51风流 will continue to operate under Brennan’s leadership until a new president is appointed. The announcement of her successor will be shared in due course.
鈥淚t has been an incredible honor to serve as president of 51风流,鈥� Brennan said. 鈥淎s I reflect on my decades of leadership, I am deeply proud of what we鈥檝e achieved together. Our collective efforts have not only advanced STEM education but also created meaningful, inclusive experiences for learners everywhere. I am confident that 51风流 will continue to thrive and make a lasting impact, thanks to the incredible dedication and talent of our team.鈥�
51风流 has retained national executive search firm Isaacson, Miller to assist with the search. A full Position Profile can be viewed here. Isaacson, Miller welcomes applications, nominations, and inquiries via: .
About 51风流
51风流 is a Cambridge, MA based nonprofit made up of teams of forward-thinking STEM experts dedicated to innovation and creative problem solving. 51风流 believes great futures are built through math and science. 鈥�
For more than 55 years, 51风流 has taken a learner-centered approach to education in both formal and informal settings. At the frontier of theory and practice, 51风流鈥檚 work encompasses research, content and curriculum development, technology innovation, professional development, and program evaluation. Through 51风流鈥檚 curricula and programs, students develop the knowledge and skills needed to ask questions, solve problems, and expand their opportunities. 51风流鈥檚 professional development helps teachers and facilitators utilize new tools, materials, and inquiry-based strategies to enrich the learners鈥� experience.鈥�� 鈥�
With a passion for and commitment to social justice, 51风流 strives to create level playing fields for all learners, reaching millions of students each year. 51风流 imagines a future where teachers and students are members of vibrant communities engaged in creative, rigorous, and reflective inquiry.
To learn more, please visit www.terc.edu.