#  LIFE Leadership 

 



#  ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE FOR FAITH & EDUCATION 

At the Leadership Initiative for Faith & Education (LIFE), we envision an education system that reduces educational disparities by embracing 1) partnerships between schools and faith organizations (while respecting the essential separation of church and state), as well as 2) the spiritual lives of students and educators.



 

 

 

       ![kids in class](/sites/g/files/omnuum12496/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2025-11/iStock-1253508097.jpg?itok=zTGj7qu_) 

 

 



 

 



 

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##  LIFE Leadership 

 



  [### April Finlayson

 ](/people/april-finlayson)Strategy & Implementation Lead

 

 

 April Elizabeth Finlayson is an “Edu-neer” dedicated to designing holistic and transformational learning experiences. She has a fervent commitment to reimagining education, promoting lifelong learning and creating uniquely curated, humanizing educational... 

 

 

      ![April Finlayson](/sites/g/files/omnuum12496/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-12/April.png?itok=coWkYYIJ) 

 

 

 

   [### Irvin Scott

 ](/people/irvin-scott)Faculty Director

 

 

 Our founder, Dr. Irvin L. Scott, has built partnerships between faith institutions and public schools as a teacher, principal, Chief Academic Officer, Deputy Director of Education at The Gates Foundation, and as a professor. His new book, Leading with... 

 

 

      ![Dr. Irvin Scott](/sites/g/files/omnuum12496/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-11/Dr.Scott_.jpg?itok=M3LmniAH) 

 

 

 

   [### Judy Touzin

 ](/people/judy-touzin)Strategy and Implementation Lead

 

 

 Judy Touzin began her career as a third-grade teacher in Harlem with the New York City Department of Education in 2003. She quickly fell in love with her students, their families, and the work. In 2009, she went on to serve as the founding principal of an... 

 

 

      ![Judy Touzin](/sites/g/files/omnuum12496/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-11/Judy-Touzin.jpg?itok=HhPGXxX0) 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

**LIFE is housed at the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University, a unique platform for convening practitioners, partnering with crossdisciplinary researchers, and training next generation education leaders.**



 

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 ](/contact)Contact Us



 

 

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