Richard Feistman, Ph.D. has recently joined AFFOA as its Director of Education and Workforce Development (EWD). An educational leader, mixed-method researcher, and founder of workforce programs for the state of the New Hampshire, Richard has supported the creation, implementation, and expansion of dozens of education programs across the nation. Starting his career in the New York City Public schools as an intermediate school social studies teacher, Richard has gone on to work in nearly every facet of education from early childhood education to post-graduate programs. 

Dr. Feistman joins AFFOA from Teach Plus, where he served as the National Director of Evaluation and led the organization’s process and impact evaluation for programs focused on utilizing teacher leadership to support a wide range of policy initiatives and educational systems improvement. He brings deep expertise in supporting school improvement and is a national expert in education reform, family science, and equity in education. 

At AFFOA, Richard will grow the EWD business and portfolio, engaging across industry, academia, and government in the development and execution of AFFOA’s Education & Workforce Development strategy. He will build, support, and test innovative and collaborative Education and Workforce Development programs that will inspire, prepare, and grow the future advanced textile workforce pipeline in the United States. This work builds upon his efforts to bring living wage employment to teen parents in New Hampshire, as well as his ongoing research to promote competency-based education nationwide.  

He earned a B.A. in Psychology from Columbia University, an M.A. in Social Studies Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Missouri.