Mei-Yen Ireland

Dr. Mei-Yen Ireland is a passionate advocate for the power of education to unlock opportunities for individuals, families, and communities. From working directly with students at various institution types to leadership roles at national non-profit organizations, her career has always focused on expanding equitable access and success for students of color at postsecondary institutions. Mei-Yen's expertise in strategy development, organizational change, equity and inclusion, and qualitative research is rooted in her relational leadership approach and love for building new things, solving complex puzzles, and bringing disparate perspectives together. Mei-Yen is currently the senior program officer responsible for strategic investments in postsecondary advising and technology-enabled student supports at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In this role, Mei-Yen works with grantees and partners to ensure that more students, particularly Black, Latino, and Indigenous students, and students from low-income backgrounds, obtain quality, affordable credentials offering value and mobility.