1. In a few sentences, what does impact mean in the context of your work?
For me, impact is bringing rigorous evidence to inform education policy decisions, so that all children get a quality education that sets them up to flourish and thrive. I’ve been fortunate to devote my career to this goal, whether through work in international development organizations and think tanks, or now at Harvard University.
2. What aspect of your work process do you focus on most day-to-day, and why?
I strive to do the best I can in all aspects of my work – whether preparing my classes, advising students, or leading research to inform education policymakers in Latin America. Since my work is so varied, I focus on ensuring that I am sufficiently organized to deliver reliably and with quality.
3. Is there an innovation, new initiative, or new approach that has impacted, enhanced, or otherwise expanded/improved your organization’s work in recent years?
I’m very excited about the Education Lab for Latin America (ELLA) (ella.gse.harvard.edu) that I launched last year at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Through rigorous academic work and practical policy engagement, we aim to generate evidence to support the development of education systems that adapt to the region’s complexities and alleviate education inequalities. The Lab’s work is driven by a commitment to building more inclusive and resilient education systems that serve all students, from early childhood to higher education. At present, we have two initiatives – one in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and another for Venezuela’s new democratic government, which I’m very excited about.
4. How do you balance mission-driven work with the need for financial sustainability?
This is a real challenge, especially in Latin America, where international funding is less available than in other regions. However, I have found through ELLA that when you combine a clear vision with rigor and the capacity to deliver, it is a powerful combination for attracting funding.
5. In what ways do you see the role of arts leaders transforming in the years ahead?
Arts leaders can have a huge social impact. I hope they choose to devote their energy to improving educational opportunities, as the arts provide an incredible platform to develop many skills – including resilience, collaboration, and creativity – all critical for success in any sector.
About Harvard Graduate School of Education
About Emiliana Vegas
Emiliana Vegas is a professor of practice and Chair of the Education Policy and Analysis program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her research and practice focus on improving educational opportunity in developing countries, with a focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. At Harvard, she is also the founding director of the Education Lab for Latin America and the Caribbean. She earned a Doctor of Education degree from HGSE, a Master of Public Policy degree from Duke University, and a Bachelor’s degree in communications from Andres Bello Catholic University in Caracas, Venezuela.
Before returning to HGSE, Vegas was co-director of the Center for Universal Education at Brookings. Prior to Brookings, she was Chief of the Education Division at the Inter-American Development Bank, where she oversaw the Bank’s lending operations and technical assistance projects across Latin America and the Caribbean. She spent over 10 years at the World Bank, where she led research and operations focused on education systems across various low- and middle-income countries. She has written extensively on issues affecting education systems in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as in other developing regions. Her papers and books cover topics including policies to leverage technology to accelerate learning and skills development, raise teacher effectiveness, and improve school finance and early childhood development. Her book, Let’s Change the World: How to work within international development organizations to make a difference, was published in September 2024 by Rowman & Littlefield.
Instagram: @emivegasv
Facebook: facebook.com/emiliana.vegas
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/emivegasv
