Dr. Donna Phillips is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Civic Education, leading the Center's ambitious strategic plan for developing, implementing, and innovating its research-backed national and international programs.

Previously, as the Center's Vice President and Chief Programming Officer, she proudly led the growth and innovation of its programmatic work, expanding its reach to adult audiences and setting the Center on a path to reach thousands more teachers and students in underserved populations.

Prior to joining the Center, she was the Director of Academic Innovations for DC Public Schools and the Social Studies Curriculum Manager, where she spearheaded the development of a C3 inquiry and social justice–aligned K-12 social studies curriculum. Dr. Phillips has participated in We the People for more than 20 years, serving as a We the People teacher, district coordinator and mentor, and District of Columbia state coordinator.

She was a 2007 recipient of the American Civic Education Teacher Award. She has a PhD in education policy and leadership, curriculum theory, and development from the University of Maryland College Park. Her research on the lived experience of democratic civic education focused on the We the People program, winning the best dissertation award and appearing in several publications.