Dr. Terri Ferinde is a nationally recognized connector and catalyst who has spent her career helping young people—and the systems that serve them—unlock their full potential. A trusted strategist and compelling storyteller, Terri brings more than 30 years of cross-sector leadership to advancing equity in education and youth development. As a founding partner at Collaborative Communications, she leads initiatives that strengthen networks, elevate unheard voices, and move bold ideas into lasting action.
Terri’s work spans philanthropy, government, nonprofits, and education, where she designs large-scale solutions that drive social impact. Known for her ability to translate vision into results, she has managed hundreds of convenings, produced award-winning media, and led national campaigns that build capacity, shape narratives, and shift policy. Her expertise lies in strategic communications, project management, network development, facilitation, and public engagement.
A leading voice in afterschool and out-of-school time learning, Terri has helped shape the field through her long-standing leadership of the 50 State Afterschool Network, funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. She also serves as a strategic consultant to the National Summer Learning Association, where she curates content for national conferences and supports systems-level strategy. In 2014, she was named one of the 25 Most Influential People in Afterschool by the National AfterSchool Association and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Camp Fire National, a national youth development organization.
Terri is the publisher of landmark field resources, including Expanding Minds and Opportunities and STEM Ready America, and a contributing author to Built for More: The Role of Out-of-School Time in Preparing Youth for the Future of Work (2024). Her thought leadership is grounded in real-world practice and informed by research.
She earned her doctorate in leadership and learning from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College, where her research focused on how change management and sensemaking accelerate AI adoption in global organizations. She also holds a master’s degree in public administration from George Mason University and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from American University.