Dr. Nicole Brittingham Furlonge is professor of practice and executive director of the Klingenstein Center, Teachers College Columbia University. She also directs the doctoral program in executive leadership at Teachers College and is an instructor in Narrative Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. She is co-founder of LEARNS Collaborative, a catalyst for human-centered, equitable change in schools and organizations. A first generation college student, Nicole earned her Ph.D. and B.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania, and her M.A. from the University of Michigan. Prior to joining Teachers College, Nicole served as Director of Teaching and Learning at the Holderness School. She has taught English and served as English Department Chair and Director of Diversity at several independent schools, including St. Andrew’s School (Delaware), The Lawrenceville School, and Princeton Day School. Nicole is the author of Race Sounds: The Art of Listening in African American Literature, published by the University of Iowa Press. Nicole has previously served on the boards of People and Stories/Gente y Cuentos and Village Charter School in Trenton, NJ. Nicole is excited to support the important work of Reaching and Teaching the Whole Child through her membership on the Board. She also serves as a Board member for International School Services (ISS) and The School at Columbia. Her research examines the intersections between listening, systems thinking, cognitive science, social justice, and school leadership.