“Erin’s deep knowledge of McKnight, her strategic mindset, and her proven ability to lead ambitious initiatives make her uniquely positioned to excel as our new Chief of Staff.”
–TONYA ALLEN, PRESIDENTE
With great enthusiasm, we share the news that Erin Imon Gavin is McKnight’s new Chief of Staff. Erin assumed the role on October 6 after successfully transitioning leadership of the GroundBreak Coalition to CEO Adair Mosley.
For more than 12 years, Erin has played a pivotal role at McKnight, holding leadership positions across enterprise and program teams, including most recently as director of strategic initiatives for the Office of the President and acting project director for Coalición GroundBreak. In every capacity, Erin has brought sharp strategic thinking, the ability to move complex initiatives forward with discernment and care, and a collaborative style that builds trust and momentum among our staff and partners.
“Erin’s deep knowledge of McKnight, her strategic mindset, and her proven ability to lead ambitious initiatives make her uniquely positioned to excel as our new Chief of Staff,” said Tonya Allen, McKnight’s president. “I am deeply grateful and thrilled to have her assume this critical leadership role working alongside me, her McKnight colleagues, and our partners as we work to get big things done together on behalf of the communities we serve.”
As Chief of Staff and a member of the Executive Leadership Team, Erin will advance the opportunities of our organization and our mission in a rapidly shifting world. In the near term, she will focus on partnering with the president’s office to advance enterprise-wise priorities and align teams around clear and cohesive initiatives.
“Advancing positive change through complexity demands urgency, clarity, and high collaboration,” said Tonya Allen. “Erin will play a key role in helping the sum be greater than its parts as we pursue a more just, creative, and abundant future for people and planet.”
A Career Grounded in Education and Impact
Erin began her McKnight journey in 2013 as a program officer, where she led our Pathway Schools Initiative, a multi-partner effort focused on literacy, leadership, and teaching in Twin Cities schools. Outside of this initiative, she shaped key strategies to recruit and support Minnesota’s early childhood educator workforce and elevate the voices of families and communities in education policy.
In recent years, she has helped align program strategies across the Foundation and led high-impact initiatives like the GroundBreak Coalition, a cross-sector group of more than 40 philanthropic, private, and public institutions mobilizing billions to expand wealth building opportunities for Twin Cities residents, starting with Black homeowners, entrepreneurs, and commercial developers.
Before joining the Foundation, Erin worked in Brooklyn Center Public Schools as a classroom teacher and literacy interventionist. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College, a master’s in education policy and management from Harvard University, and a doctorate in K–12 educational leadership and policy from Vanderbilt University.
Erin’s career has centered on learning, equity, and systems change, and she brings those same commitments as a chief of staff.
We celebrate Erin for her outstanding contributions and for stepping into a role that will strengthen McKnight’s leadership and shape the path ahead.
