Tanesha Ford

Tanesha Ford is the Executive Director of Kauffman Scholars, Inc. (KSI), the largest and longest standing investment of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. As a postsecondary success and scholarship provider, Tanesha is responsible for oversight and management of the program. She provides supervision to a team of fourteen who have supported thousands of Kansas City students in persisting to and through postsecondary education and navigating career journeys.

Prior to joining Kauffman Scholars in 2008, Ford gained knowledge and experience in student affairs, student support services, and residence life at both Muskingum University and Lehigh University.

Ford was elected to serve on the Kansas City Public Schools Board of Education in 2021. She previously served as a board member for Girls on the Run of Greater Kansas City and is an alumna of the Centurions Leadership Program of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Tanesha was also named in Ingram’s Forty Under 40 feature in 2018.

Ford earned a master’s degree in Higher Education Student Affairs Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation and Disability Studies from the University of Central Missouri.

Outside of work, Ford enjoys spending times with family and friends. She is a wife and mother to a son and daughter. She also enjoys running and recently completed her first marathon in 2020.