Dr. Diane Robinson is a filmmaker and the founder of Yard Girl Productions, developing and producing stories that create meaningful societal impact. Her first film, “The Young Vote,” follows young adults through the 2020 election, capturing what motivates them to participate in democracy. It’s available to schools and colleges and can be seen on PBS. She is currently developing her next two film projects. Diane is also a leadership consultant, drawing on her storytelling expertise and years on the front lines of education to provide strategic and philanthropic support to nonprofit executives.
With more than two decades of experience as an education leader, Diane began her career as an elementary school bilingual teacher. Later, she held leadership roles with Teach for America in California and Hawaii, where she oversaw site development, helped lead fundraising, and served as executive director and a senior team member. Diane also worked at the KIPP Foundation, where she led national recruitment for school leaders and helped to scale that organization. She later expanded her focus globally, joining the nonprofit Teach For All. There, she worked to secure the resources to grow the organization’s presence and impact in Africa.
Diane earned a Doctor of Education Leadership (Ed.L.D.) from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, a master’s degree in education from California State University-Dominguez Hills, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Vassar College. Diane is a 2025 Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Resident, a 2021 Pahara Fellow, and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
