Julia Lawton is ATD’s director of program administration. In this role Julia leads cross-functional efforts to align and continuously improve ATD’s portfolio of services that support colleges in their pursuit of institutional change, increased student success, and equity. Julia works across the organization to develop and scale effective processes, infrastructure, and practices that lead to high-impact learning events, thought leadership, and customized coaching and consulting. Additionally, Julia leads multiple grant-funded projects, most notably ATD’s Prioritizing Adult Community College Enrollment effort (PACCE).
Julia has served in multiple positions in her time at ATD. In a recent role, Julia developed and managed ATD’s strategic assistance services designed to help colleges develop a more holistic student supports approach, led the implementation of the Integrated Planning and Advising for Student Success (iPASS) initiative, and led the planning and execution of the annual Holistic Student Support Institute. Prior roles saw Julia managing the onboarding and first year experience for new ATD colleges, planning the annual Kickoff Institute, and coordinating the Leah Meyer Austin Award.
Before joining ATD, Julia served as an account executive in a global market research consultancy managing and supporting a broad portfolio of global and local clients.
Education
M.A. (International Affairs); B.A. (Economics) | University of Exeter in the United Kingdom
Past Experience
Director, Holistic Student Supports | Achieving the Dream, Inc.
Associate Director, Integrated Student Supports | Achieving the Dream, Inc.
Assistant Director of Data, Technology, and New College Experience | Achieving the Dream, Inc.
Account Executive | Kantar Worldpanel
How has education changed your life/your family?
Ever since I was young, I have loved learning. While my parents worked hard to encourage this and create opportunities for me they never had growing up, it became clear to me that luck played a big role in our circumstances. Fairly early in his career climbing poles to fix phone lines, my dad’s manager recognized his potential and leveraged company resources to enable my dad to complete his schooling and seek higher education. I am driven to work towards a society in which everyone has the opportunity to realize their potential as the rule, not the exception.
Email Julia