Keynote: A Foundational Approach to Research Impact
Posted On: 03-10-2026
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Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace is president and chief executive officer of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. With more than 2.5 billion dollars in assets, the Kauffman Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the U.S. and focuses its work on providing equitable economic mobility for all.
Prior to joining the Foundation, she served as the secretary of administration and the chief information technology officer for the State of Kansas under Governor Laura Kelly. She was the first African American to hold either cabinet seat in the state’s history.
For more than 25 years, Dr. Burns-Wallace’s leadership has opened greater access to opportunities, shaped policies that expand resources, and better positioned communities to thrive. Of her numerous titles, honors, and awards, she says her most important title is mom to her son, Xavier.
Dr. Elizabeth Christopherson is President and CEO of the Rita Allen Foundation, an organization investing in transformative ideas in their earliest stages. She is leading the Foundation through a period of rapid expansion, developing initiatives and coalitions that drive increased investment in science, civic engagement, and their intersection—advancing a culture of civic science.
In 2020, Elizabeth launched the Civic Science Fellows program in partnership with influential science, media, academic, civic, and philanthropic organizations to support early-career leaders working to broaden the benefits of scientific progress. This work emphasizes understanding the ethical and societal implications of emerging research by working with communities, policymakers, and diverse partners.
A respected advocate for improving how the social sector listens to and learns with communities, Elizabeth helped develop the Fund for Shared Insight and its Listen for Good initiative. She has served on numerous boards, including the Public Broadcasting Service, Science Philanthropy Alliance, and Media Impact Funders. She is the recipient of five honorary degrees and numerous awards for public service, including the International Women’s Forum’s Women Who Make a Difference Award.
Dr. Na’ilah Suad Nasir is the sixth President of the Spencer Foundation, which funds education research nationally.
Prior to joining Spencer, she held a faculty appointment in Education and African American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley where she also served as the chair of African American Studies, then later as the Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion. Her scholarship focuses on race, culture, and learning, and how what we know about learning has implications for how we design schools for equity.
In her foundation work, she has worked to bring a deep equity lens to grantmaking and has spearheaded innovative funding opportunities rooted in the promise of research to support more equitable education systems.
She is a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the National Academy of Education and is a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association. She is a Past President of the American Educational Research Association and serves on the board of Sage Publications, the National Equity Project, and the UC Berkeley Board of Visitors.
Event Timeslots (1)
March 31, Day 2
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Panelists: Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace; Dr. Elizabeth Christopherson; and Dr. Na’ilah Suad Nasir
This panel features dynamic leaders from three foundations at the forefront of advancing research that positively benefits society. Each panelist will highlight innovative initiatives from their organization and discuss the role of impact in their research strategy. There will also be time for audience Q&A.