STEM Education Not-For-Profit TERC announces retirement of its president, Laurie Brennan
Cambridge, MA — (August 20, 2024) — TERC, a leading nonprofit in STEM education research and development, announced today the retirement of its highly regarded president, Laurie Brennan, effective June 2025. Under Brennan’s leadership, TERC has made significant strides in advancing STEM education for all learners.
Brennan has a long and distinguished history at TERC, starting as controller in 1994. Her expertise and strategic vision quickly earned her promotions to director of finance, chief financial officer, and chief operating officer. Brennan became president in 2016 after serving as interim president for 18 months.
Her leadership has been instrumental in driving significant growth and success. Key accomplishments during her tenure include:
- Record-Breaking Proposal Success Rates: Achieved two of the organization’s highest proposal winning years by dollar volume, with success rates of 43% in 2019 and 51% in 2022.
- Significant Increase in Staff Diversity: Drove staff diversity, with the percentage of staff self-identifying as Black/African American, Asian, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and Two or More Races doubling from 2014 to 2023, thanks to Brennan’s review of hiring policies, the addition of a DEIO Officer, and staff education.
- Growth in Groundbreaking Lines of Work: Developed internal collaboration groups that drove cross-TERC initiatives, fostering advancements in computational thinking, robotics, early algebra, neurodiversity, and technology integration into curriculums, among others.
- Enhancement of Organizational Visibility: Significantly increased TERC’s visibility and brand awareness through an overhaul of its branding, digital presence, and communication strategies.
- A Focus on Staff Growth and Development: Relaunched TERC’s sabbatical program and put mentoring mechanisms into place to capture and share the wealth of knowledge and experience of senior staff.
“Laurie has been an exceptional leader for TERC and is leaving the organization in a strong position,” said Nadine Bonda, TERC board chair. “Her visionary guidance has been crucial in advancing our mission and pushing the boundaries of STEM education. Laurie’s leadership has consistently inspired and guided the organization and will continue to do so as we move forward.”
A dedicated search committee has been formed, composed of members of the Board of Trustees, staff, and external advisors, to identify and select a successor who will build on the strong foundation Brennan established.
“I am hopeful that our collaborative, intentional, and thorough search process will lead us to find a new, equally dynamic leader who shares our collective passion for driving progress in STEM education,” said Eric Hochberg, senior researcher and search committee member. “This transition marks an exciting new time for TERC, and I look forward to welcoming a new president who will lead us into the future.”
TERC will continue to operate under Brennan’s leadership until a new president is appointed. The announcement of her successor will be shared in due course.
“It has been an incredible honor to serve as president of TERC,” Brennan said. “As I reflect on my decades of leadership, I am deeply proud of what we’ve achieved together. Our collective efforts have not only advanced STEM education but also created meaningful, inclusive experiences for learners everywhere. I am confident that TERC will continue to thrive and make a lasting impact, thanks to the incredible dedication and talent of our team.”
TERC has retained national executive search firm Isaacson, Miller to assist with the search. A full Position Profile can be viewed here. Isaacson, Miller welcomes applications, nominations, and inquiries via: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/terc/president.
About TERC
TERC is a Cambridge, MA based nonprofit made up of teams of forward-thinking STEM experts dedicated to innovation and creative problem solving. TERC believes great futures are built through math and science.
For more than 55 years, TERC has taken a learner-centered approach to education in both formal and informal settings. At the frontier of theory and practice, TERC’s work encompasses research, content and curriculum development, technology innovation, professional development, and program evaluation. Through TERC’s curricula and programs, students develop the knowledge and skills needed to ask questions, solve problems, and expand their opportunities. TERC’s professional development helps teachers and facilitators utilize new tools, materials, and inquiry-based strategies to enrich the learners’ experience.
With a passion for and commitment to social justice, TERC strives to create level playing fields for all learners, reaching millions of students each year. TERC imagines a future where teachers and students are members of vibrant communities engaged in creative, rigorous, and reflective inquiry.
To learn more, please visit www.terc.edu.