Natalie A. Walrond

Natalie Walrond brings to her work twenty-five years of experience in K- 12 education, finance, and strategy, for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Walrond serves as director of the national Center to Improve Social & Emotional Learning and School Safety housed at WestEd. In this role she leads the vision, strategic direction, and external engagement of the center. Walrond leads a team of 17 people who work nationally to build state and local capacity to integrate evidence-based approaches to social and emotional development and school safety with academic teaching and learning, school climate and culture, and all of the ways that children and youth experience school. Walrond speaks and writes for the Center on social and emotional well- being, excellence, alignment and coherence, and equity.

Walrond began her career in investment management and investment banking. After ten years, she served as a nonprofit Chief Financial Officer, before becoming an associate partner at NewSchools Venture Fund. Prior to joining WestEd, she was an independent consultant for several years serving mission-driven education organizations, providing strategic planning, financial strategy, and board effectiveness consulting. She earned a B.A. in international studies and international business from Trinity University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, with concentrations in analytic finance and policy studies. She earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1999. Walrond has served on several boards and is currently a member of Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC).