Carissa H.

Carissa is a highly versatile leader with two decades of education and non-profit leadership. Carissa has a passion for helping organizations, school systems, and non-profits build the blueprints to bring their mission and vision to life through thoughtful partnership and collaboration with leaders. Carissa has a proven track record of leadership, impact, and results. Whether building and driving organizational growth and strategic improvement initiatives, serving as a trusted advisor and thought partner to senior leaders, or creating solutions to complex challenges, Carissa provides leaders with the capacity needed to maximize her client’s productivity, sustainability, and effectiveness.

Most recently, Carissa served as a member of Education Pioneer’s COVID Response Fellowship and was placed at Shelby County School as their Director of Strategic Operations and Innovation. Carissa provided Chief of Staff-level support to senior leaders as they planned and implemented adaptive approaches to evolving public health policies, operational processes, and academic practices. Before that, she led various teams at KIPP Delta Public Schools, including serving as KIPP Delta’s Interim Executive Director and Chief of Staff. Earlier in her career, Carissa led the development and communications efforts for non-profit organizations, such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Carissa earned her B.S. from the University of Central Arkansas, concentrating in Communications and Public Relations. Carissa currently lives in Little Rock with her husband and two fur children.