Our work: Equity in Learning

Distinguished Practitioners in Residence

Reflecting the integral role of community in equity work at Stanford and in the world, the Distinguished Practitioner in Residence program brings local Bay Area education leaders to campus for a year, fostering intergenerational dialogue centered around an annual theme.

Bob Hoover, an older Black man wearing a Korea Veteran cap, stands with four other adults in a classroom.
Bob Hoover, the inaugural DPIR, meets with Stanford teacher candidates. Photo: Arrow Digital

Overview

Community, and the integral role it plays in equity work at Stanford and beyond, is at the foundation of the Accelerator’s Equity in Learning Initiative.

To bring the community and Stanford closer together, the initiative established the Distinguished Practitioner in Residence (DPIR) program in 2024. The purpose of this program is to cultivate intergenerational dialogue between community educators and Stanford students, staff, faculty, and alumni. DPIRs include community scholars who have been engaged in equity work in education on the peninsula and/or throughout the greater Bay Area.

The founding DPIR was Robert Hoover, Inaugural President of the Nairobi College in East Palo Alto (1969), whose role centered on the theme of grounding equity work in historical context. The 2025-2026 DPIR theme is Tequity (Tech x Equity in Education).

Faculty lead

Headshot of Maisha T. Winn

Maisha T. Winn

Faculty Director, Equity in Learning Initiative

Current practitioners in residence

  • Aditi Goel

    Aditi Goel brings over 20 years of nonprofit and education expertise to the work of solving critical problems around equity and opportunity. The unique multi-sector experience Aditi has from her leadership at Google where she designed and launched CodeNext, leading the education policy and program portfolio at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, supporting large-scale research at WestEd and as a Teach for America teacher enables her to now provide strategic advisory services through P16 Partners for clients across school systems and the philanthropic, education, nonprofit and ed tech sectors. Aditi serves as a Board Member for Teach for America – Bay Area, and advisory board member for Challenge Success and Education Reimagined. She is a 2022 National Voices Fellow, has been named as a 2021 Woman of Influence, was recognized as a 2020 Top Executive in Nonprofit & Education and received the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 2019 Silicon Valley Community Impact Award. Aditi holds a B.A. in Philosophy with a Minor in South Asian Studies from UC Berkeley and an Ed.M. in Education Policy & Management from Harvard University.

  • Olatunde Sobomehin

    Olatunde Sobomehin has a lifelong commitment to youth and community development. A native of Portland, Oregon, Olatunde grew up in a family dedicated public service and eventually carried that lens to Stanford University, where he he majored in Urban Studies, led a public speaking class in the Engineering department, and played on the top 25 Men’s Basketball Team, where he was also voted Most Inspirational Player (2003). In 2014, Olatunde co-founded StreetCode Academy, and has remained CEO since. He is responsible for crafting and carrying the vision alongside board, staff, and key partners. Most recently, his work in tech education and community building has earned him recognition as a 2018 Aspen Institute Scholar, a 2019 Praxis Fellow, and a 2020 Social Entrepreneurship Fellow at Stanford University.

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