From 2017 to 2025, Kent McGuire was the Program Director of Education at The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. He led the investments of its teaching and learning and open educational resources strategies, with a focus on helping all students succeed in college, work, and civic life.
Previously, Kent was the President and CEO of the Southern Education Foundation, an organization committed to advancing public education in the American South, with a focus on equity and excellence. Prior to that, he served as the Dean of the College of Education at Temple University and was a tenured professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
From 2001 to 2003, Kent was a senior vice president at the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation, where he split his time between research projects on school reform and directing its department on education, children, and youth. He has also been an education program officer at the Pew Charitable Trusts and directed the education program at the Lilly Endowment. Kent served as Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education from 1998 to 2001.
Kent earned his Ph.D. in public administration from the University of Colorado, an M.A. from Columbia University Teacher’s College, and a B.A in economics from the University of Michigan. He serves on the boards of The Wallace Foundation, Teacher’s College Columbia University, the Success for All Foundation, the Philanthropic Collaborative for Education, the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, and the Learning Policy Institute.
