Kathryn Edwards, Ph.D., is a research scientist, equity leader, and consultant whose work advances equitable, resilient, and high-performing systems across education, corporate, and community sectors.
She most recently served as the Founding Director of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Division at the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), where she designed and led countywide strategies to advance equity-driven organizational change and culturally responsive leadership. In this role, she supported 80 school districts serving more than 1.4 million students, partnering with education and community leaders to embed equity, inclusion, and accountability into policy, practice, and organizational culture.
Dr. Edwards is the principle author of the award-winning publication Supporting the African American Learner: A Guide for Transforming Beliefs, Systems, and Practices for Black Students, which serves as the foundational roadmap for the GENIUS (Genuine, Empathy & Nurturing Intellect for Underserved Students) Initiative—also known as the Equity Lead Grant— established in 2023 under Senate Bill 114 as part of California’s Statewide System of Support.
Her previous leadership experience includes district-level roles with the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Pomona Unified School District, where she collaborated with educators and administrators to strengthen curriculum, instructional practice, and technology integration. Her public service includes advisory roles focused on anti-racism, human relations, and diversity initiatives at the county and district levels.
Earlier in her career, Dr. Edwards held management roles in marketing, business development, and strategic initiatives at Apple Computer, IBM, and Sun Microsystems. This cross-sector experience continues to inform her approach to leadership, organizational strategy, and change management.
Through her consulting, scholarship, and social justice advocacy, Dr. Edwards is known for bridging research, practice, and leadership development to support leaders navigating complexity and creating conditions in which individuals and organizations can thrive.
