Dallas-based Education is Freedom (EIF), a college access advocate serving 25% of the public school students within Dallas County, has hired Dr. Susanna Russell as its new CEO.

Currently, Russell is the chief leadership officer of Garland Independent School District. Next year, Russell will replace outgoing CEO Marcia Page, who announced her desire to retire earlier this year after leading the EIF organization for more than 14 years.

“Marcia Page’s exceptional leadership has been instrumental in our journey, and we’re immensely grateful for her many contributions,” EIF Chairman of the Board Mark Okada said in a statement. “As we welcome Dr. Russell, we look forward to building upon our legacy, confident in her ability to lead us into an even brighter future for Dallas students.”

Russell sees her new post as an opportunity to help continue EIF’s work.

“First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to Marcia Page for her remarkable leadership over the past 14 years serving our community, including Garland ISD. Her relentless dedication has created the strong foundation for an exciting new chapter at Education is Freedom,” Russell said in a statement. “EIF served my district well, and as we embark upon this journey, I am honored to have the opportunity to help continue to expand post-secondary options for countless Dallas-area students.”

Russell’s career spans more than 37 years in Texas public schools, and she brings a wealth of knowledge and distinctive insight to her new role. EIF said Russell has excelled in various roles, including teacher, vice principal, principal, executive director, associate superintendent, assistant superintendent, and chief leadership officer in public school districts across the state.

Reducing poverty and improving economic mobility

Dallas County ranks eighth in the nation in the number of children and young adults living below the federal poverty line, and improving post-secondary attainment rates is an increasingly critical strategy in reducing those rates of poverty and improving regional economic mobility, EIF said.

Education is Freedom said it seeks to help change those metrics by expanding its scope to provide underserved middle and high school students with college and career advising at a greater regional scale, increasing access to scholarships, and providing more summer intern experiences through Dallas Works.

“I have been fortunate to work alongside Dr. Russell for the past 15+ years. Her passion, persistence, and high sense of purpose are key factors to her success, and her abilities to make the improbable a reality are unmatched, leaving a definite void in Garland ISD,” Garland Superintendent Rick Lopez said in a statement. “The winners are the children of Dallas County, as they will have a champion who will follow Page’s path in removing every obstacle to ensure they cross the graduation stage with a post-secondary credential in hand.”

Russell represents “the embodiment of what EIF aspires to be, making us confident in our future as she takes the helm, following in the footsteps of Marcia Page,” EIF founder James Keyes said.

“The students we serve are the future of the Dallas region,” Drexell Owusu, longtime EIF board member and chief impact officer at the Dallas Foundation, said in a statement. “Under Dr. Russell’s leadership, I’m certain we can help make those students’ dreams of a post-secondary education that much closer to reality.”

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