Anil Hurkadli

Anil Hurkadli is a nonresident senior fellow at Brookings Metro. His research focuses on the evolving role of philanthropy in shaping and implementing policy; the social, economic, and environmental implications of artificial intelligence for communities; and the persistent disconnect between national policy frameworks and local practice.  

Anil most recently served in the Biden-Harris administration as acting deputy director for the Office of Educational Technology and chief of staff for the Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development at the U.S. Department of Education. His role included shaping guidance on artificial intelligence in educational settings and advising Secretary Miguel Cardona and other senior agency officials on issues related to AI, digital equity, and digital health, safety, and citizenship.  

Prior to joining the Biden-Harris administration, Hurkadli served as the senior vice president of community impact at the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation. In that role, he managed philanthropic partnerships with city, county, and state governments to launch innovative policy solutions, including a guaranteed income pilot, a childhood savings account program, alternatives to pretextual stops by law enforcement, and long-term recovery funding for small businesses impacted by the pandemic. He previously worked with the Thrivent Foundation, where he partnered with youth leaders, service providers, elected officials, and the Aspen Institute to launch a collective impact effort in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul region that connects systems-involved young people to postsecondary and career opportunities. He also implemented Minnesota’s first alternative teacher licensure program as executive director for Teach For America’s Twin Cities region. 

Hurkadli is a graduate of Northwestern University, the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, and Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He taught courses on management and leadership at the University of Southern California, University of Minnesota, and the Kennedy School. His writing has appeared in The Boston Globe Magazine, The Minnesota Star Tribune, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, and Education Week.