Child Trends President Natalia Pane brings more than 25 years of knowledge and expertise in the child and youth field, coupled with a deep commitment to data-driven decision making and centering communities in Child Trends’ research. As president, Natalia aims to build upon Child Trends' strong foundation as a trusted resource for research and insights on children's well-being and to advance the organization’s ability to drive change and ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

In her previous role as Child Trends’ chief operations officer, Natalia oversaw the organization’s entire research portfolio; led business development and strategy; and developed initiatives to enhance organizational culture that resulted in a more than quintupling of Child Trends’ size and revenue and consistent, nationwide recognition of Child Trends as a great place to work. Before serving as COO, Natalia served as Child Trends’ senior vice president for research and operations and as vice president for research operations. 

Prior to Child Trends, Natalia held several leadership roles in independent research institutions. She was the executive director of the National Assessment of Educational Progress Education Statistics Services Institute, working closely with the National Center for Education Statistics; a visiting scholar at the National Research Council of the National Academies of Sciences; a managing director at the American Institutes for Research; a co-director of a federally funded center to support the education of youth who are neglected or delinquent; and a contractor lead of the U.S. Department of Education’s strategic planning and data quality initiatives. 

Natalia also serves on the board of DC Action and the Children’s National Hospital Community Health Advisory Board. She has an undergraduate degree from Miami University, a Master's degree in social psychology from the University of Delaware, and a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Maryland.  

Natalia Pane was appointed president of Child Trends in June 2023.