Dave McConnell is the Executive Director of Special Projects at Foundations, where he leads cross-departmental initiatives that advance organizational priorities and strengthen strategic impact. In this role, Dave coordinates complex projects across teams, ensuring alignment with Foundations’ goals, tracking progress, identifying risks early, and supporting solutions that keep work moving forward. He also oversees the planning and coordination of the Beyond School Hours Conference in partnership with colleagues across the organization and champions innovative approaches that help Foundations, Inc. remain responsive to the evolving education landscape.
Dave brings a diverse professional background spanning out-of-school time programming, higher education, and educational publishing. He began his career in OST as a camp counselor and instructor before moving into college student activities, where he spent several years supporting student engagement and leadership development. Prior to joining Foundations, Inc. he worked in educational publishing, further deepening his understanding of teaching and learning.
Passionate about problem-solving, Dave enjoys finding creative ways to deliver high-quality results while working within real-world constraints. He is energized by helping teams navigate challenges and successfully execute meaningful projects.
Dave holds a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Georgia Southern University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Rowan University.
Outside of work, Dave enjoys riding roller coasters and has made it a hobby with his daughter, Zoe, to visit as many amusement parks and experience as many coasters as possible.