Carmen L. Araoz is a program manager at Ithaka S+R for the American Talent Initiative. She is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in education research and non-profit management, specializing in program evaluations, operations, and collaborative initiatives. With a doctoral degree in public administration, her expertise lies in fostering public-private partnerships and research-practitioner collaborations in education. Her experience spans various roles, including leadership positions at SRI International where she excelled in roles ranging from operations manager to researcher, demonstrating her versatility and commitment to driving positive change in education. Prior to her tenure at SRI International, Carmen served as a director of programs at Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis leveraging her experience to build strategic partnerships, manage staff, and develop gender-equitable curriculum and programs.