Russell Reynolds Associates Recruits CEO for Uplift Education
September 2, 2025 – After a robust succession planning process led by the board and in partnership with global leadership advisory firm Russell Reynolds Associates, Uplift Education has appointed Remy Washington as its next CEO beginning in January 2026. Longtime CEO Yasmin Bhatia will retire from her role at the end of December 2025. Dr. Washington, currently president of Uplift, was chosen for her proven leadership, deep connection to Uplift’s mission and people, and outstanding track record in advancing academic results and postsecondary outcomes for scholars. She will continue building on Uplift’s legacy of innovation and achievement.
After retiring as CEO, Ms. Bhatia will continue serving Uplift in a volunteer capacity, leading the launch of Uplift’s first-ever endowment to commemorate its 30th anniversary and focusing on securing additional funding to ensure Uplift’s signature programs remain strong and sustainable.
“Uplift is more than a school network—we are a catalyst for regional and statewide change,” said Ms. Bhatia. “With this endowment, we will ensure that every scholar continues to benefit from the programs that set Uplift apart — and protect those programs from future funding shortfalls. Despite the exceptional results our scholars are delivering, Uplift is not funded at a level that reflects the scale or impact of that success.”
“This transition reflects Uplift’s commitment to thoughtful leadership succession and long-term mission stability,” said Lael Melville, board chair. “We’re grateful for Yasmin’s visionary service—and confident that Dr. Washington will lead Uplift boldly into its next era.”
Dr. Washington is the president of Uplift Education and a lifelong educator with more than 20 years of experience. Since joining Uplift over a decade ago, she has served as a principal, managing director of schools, chief academic officer, and now president, helping lead the organization through key milestones and advancing a bold vision for academic excellence. In her current role, Dr. Washington champions Uplift’s proven strategies in early literacy, accelerated math instruction, and college and career readiness, continuing to strengthen a foundation that has driven strong scholar outcomes across the network. She oversees Uplift’s nationally recognized Road to College and Career program, which has helped scholars, most of whom identify as Latinx and are first-generation college students, achieve college graduation rates three times the national average. On average, Uplift alumni earn $20,000 more annually than their Dallas County peers.
Uplift Education is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to changing the lives of teachers, families, and, most importantly, students. With a network of 45 college-preparatory, community charter schools in six cities in North Texas, Uplift offers students a safe, supportive place to learn with individualized attention in class and a priority on students’ personal, intellectual and emotional development.
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Russell Reynolds Associates is a global leadership advisory and search firm. Its 520-plus consultants in 47 offices work with public, private, and non-profit organizations across all industries and regions. The firm also conducts in-depth organizational culture assessment and measures the cultural fit of key leadership and candidates in the following areas: arts and culture, global development, higher education, non-profit health and human services, public sector, social justice and advocacy, as well as trade and professional associations.
Shatterproof Search
After a rigorous, six-month national search led by global leadership advisory firm Russell Reynolds Associates, Pam Jenkins has been appointed as CEO of Shatterproof, a national non-profit dedicated to reversing the addiction crisis in the U.S. She succeeds founder and CEO Gary Mendell, who launched Shatterproof in 2012 following the loss of his son to substance use. Mr. Mendell will remain deeply involved in the organization as chairperson emeritus and member of the executive committee.
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“This transition marks a new chapter for Shatterproof,” said Mr. Mendell. “Pam’s deep expertise in public health, passion for health equity and strategic insight make her the right leader for our next phase of impact. As a key advisor to Shatterproof over the years, I’ve come to count on her experience, creativity and innovative thinking to achieve health outcomes and help position Shatterproof for maximum impact.”
Ms. Jenkins, a nationally recognized leader in public health, public affairs and communications, has spent more than three decades counseling and partnering with government agencies as well as numerous healthcare companies and national and international non-profits, to engage stakeholders in critical issues, drive behavior and policy change and improve health outcomes. She most recently served in a dual role as chief public affairs officer and chief public health officer at global communications firm Weber Shandwick, where she led a large North America business unit and oversaw the global public affairs practice. Ms. Jenkins leaves The Weber Shandwick Collective after a 21-year tenure.
Related: Russell Reynolds Associates Recruits New Leader for the National Hockey League Players’ Association
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
