Linda Collins is the Executive Director of the Career Ladders Project and the founding Executive Director of LearningWorks. Linda has extensive experience with educational and workforce development policy, having worked on several state-funded initiatives, including the Career Advancement Academy demonstration project designed to connect disconnected young adults to high-wage career pathways. Linda is frequently asked to consult on state and national policy efforts and has served on numerous steering committees and leadership councils. She is also a founding Executive Committee member of the non-partisan California EDGE Coalition, focused on policy change and systems alignment to improve the state’s workforce development system. Previously, Linda served two terms as President of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges and taught sociology and interdisciplinary studies at Los Medanos College for more than 15 years.