Elena Silva is President and CEO of the Learning Policy Institute. She previously served as Senior Director of Education at New America, where she led efforts to improve public education nationwide. Under her leadership, New America’s birth through 12th-grade education program grew into a nationally recognized hub for research and policy innovation, driving systemic change in areas such as teacher preparation, school finance equity, and support for English learners and students with disabilities.

She brings decades of experience working across sectors—including philanthropy, government, and nonprofit organizations—to improve education from early childhood through higher education and workforce development. Prior to her tenure at New America, Silva held leadership roles at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Association of University Women, shaping national research agendas and leading policy initiatives focused on teaching and learning. Silva began her career managing youth leadership programs for the DC-based ASPIRA Association, one of the largest national Hispanic-serving organizations, where she developed and directed one of the first AmeriCorps service programs in the nation. 

Silva received a PhD and MA in Education from the University of California, Berkeley, and a BA in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Guided by the belief that education is the foundation of a just and thriving society, she has dedicated her career to fostering policies that expand access and opportunity for all students.