Ian is a born and raised Iowan, and transplant to Seattle by way of Washington, DC. He is also a graduate of Wartburg College with a degree in Public Relations and Organizational Leadership.

Ian has worked in educational justice organizing since 2013 at local and national organizations. While in high school, he founded the Iowa Student Learning Institute, working to equitably include youth in education decision-making across the state and in their local school communities. Afterward, Ian led operations and communications at Student Voice, a national organization that positioned students as storytellers, organizers and partners who advocate for student-driven solutions to educational inequity. The organization’s most notable advocacy work included two national tours training young people from coast to coast and federal legislative work with the Biden Administration. Most recently, before joining the Alliance, Ian spent time in Washington, DC working at a social impact tech startup, Savi, advocating for student debt relief and connecting loan borrowers to better ways to eliminate and forgive their student debt.

All to be said, Ian is a strong believer in the intertwined connection and power between communications and social justice and practices this belief daily with the Alliance for Education.

When not at work, you’ll find Ian always in motion traveling, caffeinating, cycling, practicing yoga or exploring local restaurants and shops near and far with his partner and their dog.