Children’s Institute names Mikelle Willis chief people and strategy officer

Children’s Institute has appointed nonprofit executive Mikelle Willis to lead people, culture and strategic planning as the Los Angeles organization prepares to launch a new three-year plan. The hire comes as CII marks its 120th anniversary and continues managing a roughly $100 million budget and nearly 900 employees.

Why it matters: - Children’s Institute is pairing a leadership change with a new strategic plan as it enters its next phase of growth. - The appointment puts people, culture and organizational execution under one executive role at a nonprofit with a large workforce and a $100 million annual operating budget. - The move matters for CII’s teachers, care coordinators and mental health professionals, whose work underpins the organization’s services in Los Angeles.

What happened: - Children’s Institute appointed Mikelle Willis as chief people and strategy officer. - Willis will lead enterprise-wide people and culture strategy and work with executive leadership on implementation of the organization’s upcoming three-year strategic plan. - The announcement comes as Children’s Institute marks its 120th anniversary. - Children’s Institute is based in Los Angeles and serves communities across the city.

The details: - Children’s Institute has an annual operating budget of about $100 million and nearly 900 employees. - Willis most recently served as chief people officer at Leading Educators. - At Leading Educators, Willis led talent vision and strategy. - Willis previously served as chief strategy and operating officer at the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools. - In that role, Willis oversaw strategic initiatives and organizational operations. - Willis founded KIPP Academy of Opportunity, a college-preparatory middle school in South Los Angeles. - Willis will oversee human resources and strategic planning efforts at Children’s Institute. - Children’s Institute said those efforts are meant to support its team of teachers, care coordinators and mental health professionals. - Willis is a Los Angeles native. - Willis earned an MBA from Pepperdine University, an M.A. in Education from National Louis University in Chicago and a B.S. in Business Administration from California State University, Long Beach. - More information is available in the organization’s announcement. - Children’s Institute also shared updates on LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

Between the lines: - The hire signals that Children’s Institute is treating talent, culture and planning as core growth levers rather than back-office functions. - Combining people leadership and strategy in one role suggests the organization wants tighter alignment between staff support and program execution. - Willis’ background in both school-based leadership and nonprofit operations fits the organization’s focus on children and families.

What's next: - Willis will help drive the rollout of Children’s Institute’s new three-year strategic plan. - The organization is also expected to continue investing in its workforce and operational capacity as it builds on its 120-year history. - Children’s Institute said the leadership change will support its broader goal of strengthening impact and “One CII.”