A nationally known leader in education rights for disadvantaged students, Sharon Robinson is president and chief executive officer of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE). The former president of the Educational Testing Service’s (ETS) Educational Policy Leadership Institute, Dr. Robinson is a lifelong civil rights activist who received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Kentucky, where she also earned her doctorate in educational administration and supervision.

Before joining ETS, Dr. Robinson was assistant secretary of education with the U.S. Department of Education’s office of educational research and improvement. She also held a variety of leadership positions at the National Education Association (NEA), including director of the National Center for Innovation, NEA’s research and development arm, and she recently served as interim deputy director of the National PTA’s programs and legislation office.

Dr. Robinson’s many awards include an honorary doctorate from the University of Louisville, the Award of Appreciation from the National Head Start Association, the Founders Award from the National Helping Hands Enrichment and Leadership Foundation, the Girl Scouts’ Women of Distinction award, and the Teacher for America Award. She serves on boards of the Management and Training Corporation, Alfred Harcourt Foundation, and Jobs for America’s Graduates. Dr. Robinson also serves on the supplemental education task force of Columbia University and has chaired the diversity issues in measurement committee of the National Council for Measurement in Education.