Aruna Patel

Senior Director of Civic Education, Center for Civic Education

Rahway, New Jersey

Aruna Patel is the senior director of civic education at the Center for Civic Education, an organization that empowers students to engage meaningfully in civic life, equipped with the literacy and analytical skills necessary to make informed decisions and actively participate in society. At the Center, she oversees We the People and Project Citizen – national programs that equip students to understand, participate in, and shape democracy. Prior to working at the Center, she led the Seal of Civic Readiness initiative at the New York State Education Department, bringing quality civic education to schools in the South Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn. Through collaboration with leaders and educators, Aruna helped improve graduation rates, improve New York State Social Studies exam scores, and achieve a 50% Seal of Civic Readiness attainment among graduates.