Susan K. Urahn

Sue Urahn "is managing director of the Pew Center on the States at The Pew Charitable Trusts. Sue oversees Pew's work in early education and other state-based initiatives, such as government performance, corrections and election reform.

"Sue began her tenure at The Pew Charitable Trusts in 1994 as a program officer in the Planning and Evaluation department. She became director in April 1997. During her tenure, Sue and her staff developed and introduced new methodologies to measure and strengthen the effectiveness of Pew's approach to results-focused strategic philanthropy. She became director of the Education program in 2000. Over the next five years the program evolved to include other state policy work, and in 2005, it was renamed State Policy Initiatives to reflect its broadened focus. Currently, Sue manages a portfolio that advances policy solutions at the state level and has an annual budget of $32 million.

"Sue joined Pew with more than a decade of experience in educational evaluation and policy research. She arrived from the Research Department of the Minnesota House of Representatives, where she staffed the House Education Committee and Education Finance Division and conducted policy analyses of many education programs, including open enrollment, postsecondary enrollment options, and charter schools. In addition to her legislative experience, Sue conducted higher education policy research at the University of Minnesota. She has authored several technical reports on educational programs and issues. Sue holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a doctorate in education policy and administration from the University of Minnesota."