Alison Perkins-Cohen serves as the Chief of Staff for Baltimore City Public Schools since September 2011, overseeing a significant budget and workforce while supporting a large student population. Prior experience includes roles as Executive Director for the Office of New Initiatives within Baltimore City Schools, Professional Staff Member for the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, and Executive Director for the Baltimore Curriculum Project. Alison's earlier roles included program examiner and legislative analyst at the Office of Management and Budget, and grant manager at the U.S. Department of Justice. Educational qualifications include a Master’s in Public Policy from Claremont Graduate University and a Bachelor’s in Social Thought and Political Economy from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.