Hanna Skandera

Hanna Skandera joined the Daniels Fund as president and CEO in December 2020. In her role, Hanna leads all programs and operations of the Daniels Fund, implementing the board’s vision, increasing impact, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Fund.

Founded by cable pioneer Bill Daniels, the Daniels Fund transforms communities through grantmaking and college scholarships in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Its mission is rooted in Bill Daniels’ own life story, vision, and values and its work centered on developing contributing citizens, enhancing quality of life, driving upward mobility, and promoting the free market.

Hanna has over two decades of executive leadership experience and a proven track record of impact in a variety of national and state-level private, public, and nonprofit organizations.

Prior to joining the Daniels Fund as president and CEO, Hanna was CEO of Mile High Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in organizational impact, change management, growth, and organizational culture. She also served as editor in chief of The Line, a publication that offers new ideas and insights and encourages civil discourse on K-12 issues. She has founded multiple education initiatives and leadership programs, and been a visiting professor of Education Policy and Impact at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy and Distinguished Teaching Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School. Hanna was also a research fellow with the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and a Pahara-Aspen Institute Fellow.

Previously, she served as secretary of education for New Mexico under Governor Susana Martinez, realizing the most significant gains for students in New Mexico’s recent history. In this role, she oversaw a budget of $2.7 billion and more than 300 employees. Her policy experience extends to serving as undersecretary for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, deputy commissioner for Governor Jeb Bush, and deputy chief of staff and senior policy advisor for U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. In addition to the Daniels Fund, Hanna currently serves on the boards of Academic Partnerships, Newsela, and Philanthropy Roundtable.

Hanna graduated cum laude with a degree in business from Sonoma State University and graduated as Valedictorian from the Pepperdine School of Public Policy. She lives in Denver with her young son, Harry.