MEET CHANDRA

Public education changes lives...

"I'm proud to be the first in my family to graduate from college, because education opens doors to opportunity."

Chandra's personal experience makes her passionate about the power of an education to transform futures. After college, she spent time working in private sector financial services and then for the U.S. Department of State. She came to the Bay Area almost 30 years ago to bring together her passion and her purpose in the work of service to community.

As a community leader, Chandra gets things done.

Working hard in Marin County, Chandra continues to lead change efforts for equity and access to opportunity for all. For the past six years at the helm of the county's largest nonprofit provider of social services, she has seen first-hand what the challenges are for students and families, particularly those of low income. Issues like housing, school readiness, access to services, and racial disparities in educational outcomes impact our entire community.

Chandra's vision and fiscal acumen have successfully leveraged public investment and mobilized resources to increase well-being across Marin. Her efforts have helped to ignite anti-poverty movement building strategies and strengthen partnerships across public and private sectors in support of our community.

With proven business skills, experience supporting public education, and a deep commitment to public service, Chandra offers perspective and hope in tackling difficult issues. Earlier in her career, Chandra's work at the Bay Area Council, a business-sponsored public policy advocacy organization, led to important wins for affordable housing, as well as early education and K-12 initiatives supported by the Hewlett Foundation. At Partners in School Innovation, an education reform nonprofit, Chandra helped to promote national scale for approaches to working with the lowest performing schools and districts in five states, including sites across the Bay Area and Silicon Valley in California.

From local, to regional, to international efforts, Chandra's focus has been on equity, our shared humanity, and the value of creating deepened understanding as a means to moving through difficult times. A lifelong learner, she recently became a certified conflict mediator and earned a professional designation for her poverty fighting work.

Chandra gives back through volunteering and service. She is a board member of Marin Community Clinics, Marin Promise Partnership, and on the United Way of the Bay Area Advisory Board. Chandra holds an MBA in sustainable management and a doctorate in the humanities specializing in Asian & Comparative Studies. Her undergraduate degree is from Columbia, where she double majored in psychology and philosophy.

Chandra lives in Novato with her husband and daughter. She and her family love to travel, SCUBA dive, and enjoy local adventures together.