Arana Shapiro is an educator and social entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience developing innovative approaches to learning using games and game design. As Chief Operations and Programs Officer at Games for Change, she oversees programs and partnerships for schools, organizations and families, and supports a growing global community of educators using games in the classroom. Previously, as the Executive Director of the Institute of Play, Arana was part of a team that designed and opened the first school in the world with a game-like learning model, the New York City public school, Quest to Learn. She is a co-author of Quest to Learn: Growing a School for Digital Kids, published by MIT Press. With deep expertise in education and change management as a parent, teacher, school leader, educational technologist, curriculum designer, and nonprofit leader, Arana is a leading voice on education transformation. Her work has been featured in Education Week, EdSurge, Edutopia, The New York Times, The Guardian, NPR, Wired, and Fast Company, and she has spoken about games and learning at SXSW EDU, FETC, ISTE, WISE, and many other events around the globe. Arana received an M.A. in Education from Pepperdine University and a Masters of Education in Leadership for Educational Change from Bank Street College of Education.

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