William Collins

2024-2025 Obama Foundation USA Leader

Headshot of William Collins, 2024-2025 Obama Foundation USA Leader

Chief External Affairs Officer, Surge Institute

Matteson, Illinois

William “Will” Collins is the chief external affairs officer at the Surge Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to educating and developing leaders of color for positive community change. Will has secured more than $30 million for the institute since 2018 and played a key role in growing the Surge Fellowship, a one-year program for emerging leaders of color in education that has trained 400 leaders and impacted more than 3.4 million students across the United States. He brings a background in nonprofit crisis management and experience as a Chicago Public School teacher, where he integrated curriculum on race, culture, and diversity.

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Leaders

For emerging leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the common good.

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  • The Center
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  • Defending Democracy
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Copenhagen Democracy Summit
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  • Barack Obama
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