Brad Mitchell, PhD

Strategic Advisor

  • Ph.D., University of Utah (1985)

  • Master of Public Administration, University of Utah (1985)

  • Bachelor of Science, Political Science, University of Utah (1978)

As the Managing Director of Pursuit and Partnerships at Battelle for Kids, Brad led the organization’s efforts to build and leverage philanthropic resources and grants to help fund innovative education reform, particularly around rural education collaboratives that serve as learning laboratories to pilot various educational-improvement and leadership development initiatives. He led the Ohio Appalachian Collaborative, a partnership between Battelle for Kids and 27 school districts in southeast Ohio dedicated to developing a comprehensive approach to accelerating college and career readiness in rural communities.

Prior to Battelle for Kids, Brad served as The Ohio State University/Battelle Director of STEM Partnerships, where he identified, launched, and supported public and private partnerships that advanced STEM education. He also served as the proposal manager for Ohio’s successful $400m Race to the Top application. In addition, Brad previously served as CEO of the Educational Council, a partnership of the 16 school districts in Franklin County, Ohio. During his tenure, the Educational Council designed and launched Metro Early College High School, Ohio’s first early college high school focused on STEM and housed on the campus of a major research university.

From 1984 to 2004, Brad was a professor in the School of Educational Policy and Leadership in the College of Education at The Ohio State University. Throughout his career, Brad has worked at the national and state levels in the role of educational policy analyst, serving on the staff of the 1982 National Commission on Excellence in Education (A Nation at Risk), and as Director of Community Partnerships for the Ohio Children and Family First Initiative (2000-2002). For the Commission on Excellence in Education, Governor’s Office, 1990–1992 he served as Chief Policy Analyst.  From 1986–1990 he served as the Policy Research for Ohio-Based Education (PROBE) Educational Policy Center Director. Selected Publications:

  • Mitchell, B. (2009). Laboratories of reform: Initiatives in Midwestern states to improve math and science education. Lombard, IL: The Council of State Governments.

  • Mitchell, B. (1997). Living in the shade of the poet tree: Teacher identity and the Reggio approach to education. Innovations in Early Childhood Education.

  • Mitchell, B. (1992). Public policy and at-risk students: A case of gridlock. In R. Donmoyer & R. Koss (Eds.), At Risk Students. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.

  • Mitchell, B. & Cunningham, L. L. (Eds.). (1990). Educational leadership and changing contexts of families, communities, and schools. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

Over his career, Dr. Mitchell has managed or served as PI for federal grants totaling over $50m and philanthropic grants totaling over $30m on a variety of evidence-based educational innovation and scaling initiatives including an innovative STEM high school, teacher practice networks, learner self-direction, deeper learning, rural education collaboratives, problem-based learning, and community and career connected learning partnerships.