DENVER—The National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®) announces that Beth Bean, Ph.D., will join its team as senior vice president, research and impact. Bean will oversee the expansion and application of NEFE’s research, insights and engagement, including increasing the portfolio of work focused on thought leadership via evidence, dissemination, evaluation and advocacy. Bean also will focus on developing strategies for furthering evidence-based best practices and convening stakeholders who support, implement and evaluate these systems.
“I am thrilled to join the incredible team at NEFE and to contribute to moving financial well-being forward. Personal financial health has never been more critical as the country recovers from the pandemic,” says Bean. “As NEFE continues its evolution, I look forward to establishing bold priorities, bolstering actionable research to support our community, and building upon NEFE’s legacy and expansive body of work.”
In her most recent role, Bean was the director of policy and research for Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, overseeing the policy and research team, while serving as a member of the governor’s senior staff. In this capacity she was responsible for a team of research and policy analysts using data-driven best practices to drive Colorado policy.
Previously, Bean was vice president of national engagement, research, policy and philanthropy with the Strada Educational Network, a national social impact organization. She also served as director of the Strada Institute for Future of Work, an institute dedicated to advancing the learning ecosystem. Prior to her work with Strada, Bean served as chief research and strategy officer for the Colorado Department of Higher Education, where she oversaw a team of research and policy analysts and was involved in promoting Colorado’s postsecondary and workforce aligned initiatives.
Bean has served in several roles in higher education administration at public and private institutions. She is a proud first-generation student who received her Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Denver, her master’s degree from Saint Louis University and her bachelor’s degree from DePauw University in Indiana.
“It’s gratifying to have Dr. Bean join our already exceptional team. This is a pivotal moment for financial education and her strategic expertise and vision for the future needs of research is so essential as we look to broaden our efforts to improve financial well-being,” says Billy Hensley, Ph.D., NEFE president and CEO. “Dr. Bean’s experience and passion for mission-driven work will serve us well as we continue to champion effective financial education and work toward a nation in which everyone has the knowledge, confidence and opportunity to live their best financial life.”
Read more information about the NEFE team.