Josephine Bias Robinson
About Josephine Bias Robinson
Josephine Bias Robinson serves as the Executive Director of the District of Columbia Education Research Collaborative at the Urban Institute, where she has worked since 2021. With extensive experience in public service and organizational improvement, she has held various leadership roles across education, healthcare, and human services sectors.
Work at Urban Institute
Josephine Bias Robinson has served as the Executive Director of the District of Columbia Education Research Collaborative at the Urban Institute since 2021. In this role, she focuses on enhancing educational outcomes and research initiatives within the District of Columbia. Her leadership aims to bridge gaps in education through data-driven strategies and community engagement.
Previous Positions
Prior to her current role, Josephine Bias Robinson held several significant positions. She was the Chief Operating Officer at Reconstruction US for a brief period in 2020. From 2017 to 2019, she served as Executive Vice President of External Affairs at The HSC Health Care System and also worked at Harvard University Graduate School of Education as a Facilitator of Family Engagement during the same timeframe. Earlier, she was Associate Director of Public Liaison at The White House from 2001 to 2003.
Education and Expertise
Josephine Bias Robinson earned a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, where she studied International Affairs and Politics from 1987 to 1991. She possesses expertise in facilitating organizational turnarounds and improving low-performing systems across various sectors, including education, healthcare, and human services. Her specialization includes life cycle communications and people strategy, emphasizing community engagement.
Achievements in Education
During her tenure with the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) from 2012 to 2016, Josephine Bias Robinson served as Chief of the Office of Family and Public Engagement. She played a pivotal role in redesigning the District's engagement strategy, which contributed to DC Public Schools becoming one of the fastest rising school districts in the nation. Her work has focused on enhancing family and community involvement in education.
Career in Public Service
Josephine Bias Robinson has a strong background in public service, having worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as Director from 2005 to 2008 and as Chief of Staff in the Office of Public Health and Sciences from 2003 to 2005. She also held the position of Vice President for Income-Community Impact at United Way Worldwide from 2008 to 2012, contributing to community-focused initiatives.