Daniel Cardinali

Daniel Cardinali currently serves as President of Communities in Schools (CIS), a leading organization that serves at-risk American youths by providing community support, helping to reduce dropouts, and improving graduation rates. Daniel Cardinali also serves on the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, a position to which he was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2011.

Having served as President since 2004, Daniel Cardinali has led CIS to become the preeminent dropout prevention organization in the country. The organization employs proven methods to help students increase their reading and math proficiency scores and works directly with schools to deliver much-needed social services to students and their families. Through CIS, Mr. Cardinali and his staff serve more than 1.25 million students in more than 2,700 public schools around the country. Prior to his current position, he served as Executive Vice President of Field Operations for CIS. He also worked with Partners of the Americas as the Assistant Director of Leadership Development, in which role he coordinated Fellowship in Community Development, the organization’s leadership training program. Mr. Cardinali received early training in Guadalajara, Mexico’s public education system by working as a community organizer.

Beyond his professional obligations, Mr. Cardinali serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Peace First and as a Trustee for America’s Promise. He also sits on the board of the Harwood Institute of Public Innovation and Child Trends.

Daniel Cardinali earned his Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Services from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Services. He then earned his Master’s degree in Philosophy from Fordham University. Additionally, Mr. Cardinali was named an Annie E. Casey Children and Families Fellow in 2007.