Naureen Madhani, Ph.D., serves as the Chief of Staff at NCTR, bringing over 25 years of global experience in leading and evaluating education programs. A passionate educator, Naureen has dedicated her career to advancing equitable student outcomes through innovative strategies and research. Before joining NCTR, she was the Director of Research Strategy and Consulting at the Center for Public Research and Leadership at Columbia University. In this role, she collaborated with public-sector and nonprofit organizations, employing design thinking and continuous improvement methodologies to shape education strategies. Her work spans a diverse range of topics, including systems thinking, teacher recruitment and retention, high-dosage tutoring, college access, and asset-based inquiry.
Naureen also contributes her expertise as Chief Learning Officer for the Aga Khan Education Board for the USA, where she leads efforts to enhance learning strategies with a focus on continuous improvement. Previously, she chaired the Aga Khan Education Board for Northeast USA, overseeing volunteer teams committed to supporting the educational outcomes of historically underserved students and families.