Augustus Mays
Vice President, Partnerships and Engagement
Augustus serves as Ed Trust’s vice president for Partnerships and Engagement. In this role, Augustus leads the organization’s efforts to engage policymakers and diverse coalitions of advocates to enact equity-advancing policy change at the national and state levels. He does this by working collaboratively with Ed Trust’s president & CEO and the senior leadership team to coordinate the organization’s overall advocacy agenda.
Prior to joining Ed Trust, Augustus served as the director of policy and outreach at WestEd, where he led the organization’s strategic efforts to increase its visibility and impact with federal and state policymakers in the education, health, and justice prevention space. Before that, Augustus was the manager of policy & advocacy at Knowledge Alliance, the national trade association representing the education research, development, and service industry.
Augustus holds an MPA from the University of Oklahoma and a BA in political science from Virginia Commonwealth University.
What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I love to travel with my wife and three kids and explore new places and cultures.
What drew you to education?
Growing up as a young Black man, my parents instilled in me the importance of advocating for educational equity. Although my family was privileged enough to provide my sister and me with a high-quality education, we were always reminded that not everyone had the same opportunities. Therefore, I have dedicated my career to fighting for educational equity for all children.
Why are you passionate about working at Ed Trust?
Education is often the only opportunity for many young people and adults to improve their lives. However, there are several external factors that can create barriers to obtaining a high-quality education, including lack of funding, implicit bias, low expectations, political climate, and social and racial injustice. Fortunately, I work for an organization that prioritizes equity and is dedicated to finding policy solutions that benefit all students, especially those who have been historically marginalized, such as students of color, students with disabilities, and low-income students. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this work at Ed Trust.
