Dana Powell Russell has devoted her 25-year career to advancing education in traditional and alternative settings. She has worked as a preK-12 teacher and teacher educator, program director, strategic planner, program evaluator, researcher, and writer for education and public benefit organizations nationwide.

Dana helps education-minded organizations develop strong infrastructure and effective programs through strategic planning and utilization-focused evaluation. In addition to consulting, she regularly presents on the topics

of creativity in learning and instruction, program design and evaluation, and arts education advocacy at local, state, and national conferences. Dana’s most recent teaching includes graduate level courses in integrated curriculum design, instruction, assessment.

Dana earned her Ed.D. in Learning and Instruction at the University of San Francisco, where she focused on creative education, program evaluation, and educational technology. She also holds an M.A. in Museum Studies / Public Programming from John F. Kennedy University, and a B.A. in Visual Arts from the University of California San Diego.

Dana lives in San José, California, with her husband, Scott, and their sons, Oliver and Benjamin.

dana powell russell, ed.d. | info@danapowell.org | 408 373 8879

employment history

Independent Consultant
Organizational Development & Learning (present)

Adjunct Professor, Creative Arts in Learning
Lesley University (on hiatus)

Visual and Performing Arts Officer
Santa Clara County Office of Education

Director, Creative Education Program
Cultural Initiatives Silicon Valley

Director of Education
Triton Museum of Art

Educator for School, Youth, and Family Programs
San Diego Museum of Art

Director of Education for Public Programs
Kidspace Museum

Exhibition Developer                          
Independent Exhibitions, Inc.

selected leadership

Grants Officer
Hammer Montessori Foundation (present)

Public Policy Chair, Board Secretary, and
Board Member
California Alliance for Arts Education (2003-2009)

Content Review Panelist, Visual and Performing Arts Primary Instructional Materials Adoption
California Department of Education (2006)

Research Review Editor
Teaching Artist Journal (2004-2006)

Professional Development Chair and
Executive Committee Member
Arts Education Council
Americans for the Arts (2004)

President, Vice President, and Board Member
Cultural Connections: Northern California Museum Educators Consortium (1996-1999)

Grant Review Panelist
Community Arts & Education Program
San Francisco Arts Commission (2003)