MBAE Appoints New Executive Director

Dear Friends of MBAE,

I am pleased to announce that the board of directors of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education has appointed Edward Lambert, Jr. our new executive director. Ed most recently served as vice chancellor for government relations and public affairs at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Previously, he served as commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and founding director of the Urban Initiative of UMass Dartmouth, a research center focused on strengthening the state’s urban, industrial communities.

Ed was mayor of Fall River from 1996 to 2007 and represented Fall River and Westport in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He was also a member of the Fall River School Committee. Ed’s unique experience at the intersection of policy and education combined with his deep understanding of the challenges facing our gateway cities makes him the right leader at the right time for MBAE to move our policy agenda forward. The business community’s voice on education policy is as important as ever as the availability of a qualified workforce continues to be a top concern of employers across the state. Ed will continue MBAE’s work to ensure the state fulfills its obligation to provide every student a high quality education that prepares them for success.

This legislative session, MBAE is focused on ensuring new school funding is used to close the opportunity gaps faced by too many of our students, as well as creating pathways to the workforce by providing all students opportunities to earn high value, high demand credentials. Ed will be meeting many of you in the weeks and months to come. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Bill Walczak, Chairman of the Board, Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education