About Us
Wayfinder Core Team

Erin Willis

Partner Success Manager
Erin Willis

Erin began her journey in education as a City Year Los Angeles AmeriCorps Member, where she supported 9th and 10th graders with core curriculum and socio-emotional interventions. This role deepened her understanding of the transformative impact that educators can have when students feel truly seen, heard, and valued. 

After supporting students in the classroom for two years, Erin continued her work as a Program Manager, where she mentored a team of 12 AmeriCorps Members, providing one-on-one coaching to develop them as advocates for students and emerging professionals. Erin’s tenure with City Year Los Angeles culminated in her role as Program Director, where she focused on fostering meaningful partnerships with K-12 schools throughout South Los Angeles.

After that, Erin transitioned into a development role at a small, LA-based non-profit dedicated to expanding equitable access to STEM learning opportunities in Title I elementary schools. In this position, she spearheaded fundraising initiatives, cultivating and managing relationships with corporate, foundation, and individual donors. Prior to joining Wayfinder, she transitioned into the role of Director of Partnerships, where she oversaw the organization’s collaborations with 35 Title I elementary schools across Los Angeles County and further developed the donor base to support in-school programs.

Erin holds a BS in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Public Administration and Policy from American University. Outside of work, Erin enjoys finding pockets of peace by digging into a good book, spending time at the beach with her dog, and escaping the city for weekend getaways to the California desert.

"My purpose is to build educational spaces that encourage youth to find their authentic voice and empower them to use it."

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