Executive Vice President and Executive Director,
Center for Rising Generations at the Aspen Institute

Kaya Henderson serves as Executive Vice President and Executive Director of the Center for Rising Generations at the Aspen Institute. Kaya has devoted her career, as a teacher, a leader, and an entrepreneur, to expanding opportunities for young people. Prior to joining the Aspen Institute, Kaya was the founder and CEO of Reconstruction, an innovative educational organization dedicated to teaching young people about African-American history, culture, and contributions in a comprehensive and affirming way, so that students of all backgrounds benefit from a more complete understanding of our shared history and society. Kaya is perhaps best known for serving as Chancellor of DC Public Schools from 2010 to 2016. During her tenure, DCPS was nationally recognized for leading the nation in improved student performance. At the same time the district enjoyed enrollment growth, an increase in graduation rates, improvements in student satisfaction and teacher retention, and increases in AP participation and pass rates.