After serving as the Director of Adult Education and Literacy in the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education for 20 years, Cheryl Keenan will be retiring on June 2, 2022.
In her 20 years of public service in OCTAE, Keenan has overseen the office which funds close to $700 million in state and local grant programs to enable adults to improve their literacy and basic skills; complete high school; transition to postsecondary education and training; and succeed as workers, parents, and citizens. She is a nationally recognized expert in the field of adult education and as an innovative thinker interested in promoting lifelong learning and improving federal support and initiatives for adult learners she has developed strategies for improving education opportunities for millions of low-level literacy adults during her time in federal service.
Prior to her in appointment in OCTAE, Cheryl served as the State Director in Pennsylvania for nine years. In Pennsylvania, she established the first state family literacy program in 1998-99, which tripled in size during a four-year period. She also established the first statewide summer reading program requiring partnerships between family literacy programs and public libraries that grew to include all counties in Pennsylvania during a two-year period.
We know the field will benefit for many years to come from Cheryl’s passion and dedication to move learning opportunities forward for all adults.
As we bid farewell to her many years of public service, we invite you to join the LINCS Community on Tuesday, May 31 at 12:00 PM ET for a coffee break with Cheryl Keenan. Cheryl will share reflections from her time as the Director of Adult Education and Literacy. Please use this link to register: https://air-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0vde-qrT0qE9xFGbyvWBnvPtFum8h8iN6m.