Erin Harless

Erin Harless is the Senior Director of Strategy & Impact at Catalyst Exchange, where she helps shape and execute the organization’s strategic vision. In her role, she leads Catalyst:Ed’s data and insights strategy, fosters a culture of continuous learning and innovation, and ensures that organizational decisions are grounded in evidence and aligned with long-term goals. Erin partners across teams to translate insights into strategic priorities, strengthen alignment, and inform policy, practice, and funding decisions in the broader field.

Prior to joining Catalyst Exchange, Erin served as the Director of Strategy at Merit America, where she drove organizational effectiveness through strategic planning, market research, and incubating key strategic initiatives. She previously was Senior Manager of Research and Learning at NewSchools Venture Fund, driving continuous improvement through rigorous impact measurement, and a Senior Research Analyst at SRI International’s Center for Education Policy, managing large-scale evaluations of initiatives to improve teaching quality and student outcomes. Erin began her career as a small-group instructor at an elementary charter school in Boston, Massachusetts.

She lives in Los Angeles with her family and loves spending time outdoors, cheering on the Lakers, and experimenting in the kitchen.