Lul Tesfai

Lul Tesfai is an experienced educational and policy leader, currently serving as the Director of Program Development at The James Irvine Foundation since November 2022. Previously, Lul held key roles at New America as a Senior Advisor, and at CNA Corporation as a Senior Policy Director. Lul's background includes significant positions at the U.S. Department of Education, where notable contributions were made in the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education. Early career experiences include roles at the Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute on Law and Social Policy, the California Senate Office of Research, and the Mayor's Office in Chicago, alongside impactful work in the San Francisco Unified School District as an educator. Lul holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Studies from Northwestern University.