Sherry Lachman

Founder and Executive Director, AugmentED, Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF)
San Francisco, California,United States
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Who Is Sherry Lachman?

Total Experience19 years
CompanyAdvanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF)
CountryUnited States

Sherry Lachman is a prominent leader and social entrepreneur dedicated to improving the child welfare and education systems. She is widely recognized as the founder and former Executive Director of Foster America, a national non-profit that recruits, trains, and supports professionals from diverse sectors to work as fellows in child welfare agencies, driving innovation and systemic reform. Before founding Foster America, Sherry served in the Obama Administration, first as a Senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Education and later as a Special Assistant to the President for Education Policy at the White House Domestic Policy Council. Her work has consistently focused on creating equitable opportunities and improving outcomes for vulnerable children and families. She holds a J.D. from Yale Law School and a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania. Her career reflects a deep commitment to public service and leveraging talent to address complex social challenges.

How Did Sherry Lachman's Career Path Shape Their Journey?

Sherry Lachman's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:

Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF) - Founder and Executive Director, AugmentED(2025 to Present)
Accelerate - Board Member (2024 to Present)
Playlab AI - Board Member (2024 to Present)
OpenAI - Head of Social Impact (2023 to 2024)
The White House - Associate Director for Education, Income Maintenance and Labor, Office of Management and Budget(2021 to 2023)
Foster America - Founder and Executive Director (2015 to 2021)
U.S. Department of Education - Senior Policy Advisor(2011 to 2013)
Senator Al Franken - Senior Education Counsel(2009 to 2011)
Juvenile Law Center - Zubrow Fellow in Children's Law(2007 to 2009)

What Are Sherry Lachman's Key Achievements?

Founder and Executive Director of Foster America

Launched and scaled a national non-profit organization that places skilled professionals (fellows) into child welfare agencies to drive innovation and improve outcomes for children and families. Successfully built partnerships with government agencies and philanthropic organizations.

Special Assistant to the President for Education Policy (Obama Administration)

Advised President Obama and senior White House officials on all aspects of education policy from early learning through K-12 and higher education, contributing to national initiatives like My Brother's Keeper and efforts to improve college access and affordability.

Senior Policy Advisor, U.S. Department of Education

Developed and helped implement key federal education policies and programs under Secretary Arne Duncan, focusing on areas such as early learning, K-12 reform, and civil rights in education.

Champion for Child Welfare Reform

Consistently advocated for systemic changes in the child welfare system, emphasizing data-driven approaches, cross-sector collaboration, and talent development to better serve children in foster care and their families.

Clerkship for the Honorable Barrington D. Parker, Jr.

Served as a law clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, gaining valuable experience in federal appellate litigation and judicial decision-making.

What's Sherry Lachman's Educational Background?

MPP, Policy

Harvard University - Year 2005

Doctor of Law (J.D.)

Columbia University School of Law - Year 2003

M.Phil., Philosophy

University of Cambridge - Year 2002

BA, Philosophy, Politics, and Economics

University of Pennsylvania - Year 1999

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Company Overview

Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF)
Total employees35
HeadquartersWashington D.C.
Founded2021

Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF) is a national nonprofit organization that aims to catalyze the development of new and transformative approaches to teaching and learning for PreK-12 students, particularly those who are Black, Latino, or experiencing poverty. It funds and supports diverse teams of researchers, educators, and developers to create breakthrough solutions that address persistent educational inequities and accelerate student learning.

Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF) Funding Information
Unknown - Total Funding Raised
$200M - Most recent funding amount
1 - Number of funding rounds
March 10, 2021 - Latest funding round
Lead Investors:
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Walton Family Foundation
Siegel Family Endowment
Anonymous Donor

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