Biography

Albert Chen is an experienced operations and strategy officer with a 30-year track record of driving revenue growth, fundraising, and organizational transformation across the education sector. Currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer and former Acting CEO of PDK International, Albert leads the strategic and operational functions for one of the nation’s most established professional organizations for educators.

Since joining PDK in 2016, Albert has been a key architect in the organization’s evolution, overseeing the expansion of Educators Rising. While he has become a recognized leader in addressing the national teacher shortage through “Grow Your Own” pipeline models, his expertise extends across the full spectrum of educational business planning and non-profit management.

Albert’s career reflects a unique blend of for-profit agility and non-profit mission. He spent 12 years at Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, rising from a part-time teacher to Executive Director of the graduate division. He later transitioned into the non-profit space, spending seven years as COO and CSO for an alternative teacher certification organization, followed by a tenure as COO for Youth for Understanding, USA, where he led a comprehensive organizational turnaround and relocation.

An engineer by training, Albert brings a data-driven, systems-thinking approach to leadership. He holds a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University and a Master of Engineering in Biomechanics from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Albert lives in Virginia with his wife, who works in non-profit conservation development, and their two young daughters. His work is guided by a commitment to building sustainable systems that support both the educators of today and the students of tomorrow.