Founder | Board Chair | CEO | Director of Education Research
TAFT Foundation
Dr. Yajuan Ding, Founder|Board Chair| CEO|Director Of Education Research
Visionary Leader Driving Educational Equity and Teacher Diversity
As the founder and driving force behind the TAFT Foundation, Dr. Ding provides strategic leadership as both Board Chair and CEO. With nearly 30 years of multifaceted experience in the education sector – from middle school English teacher and university librarian to adjunct lecturer and gifted education advocate – she possesses a profound, ground-level understanding of education systems and students’ needs.
Professional Highlights & Expertise
- Strategic Foundation Leadership & Governance: Full responsibility for establishing the TAFT Foundation’s mission, vision, strategic planning, financial oversight, and governance compliance since its inception.
- Gifted Education Specialist: Six years of direct teaching experience with gifted and talented students, complemented by advanced credentials from Johns Hopkins University and Drake University, and a lifetime membership in the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children (WCGTC).
- Exceptional Academic Proficiency: Demonstrated subject-matter expertise by achieving a perfect score (200/200) and a #1 national ranking on the Praxis Core Mathematics exam, and a #1 national ranking on the Praxis Middle School Mathematics (185/200) assessment.
Selected Experience & Leadership
TAFT Foundation Corp. | Founder, Board Chair, CEO, Director of Education Research | 2025 – Present
Beijing Odyssey International Education Co. Limited / Odyssey Center for Talented Youth | Founder & CEO | 2012 – 2025
Education & Executive Training
- Harvard Graduate School of Education | Certificate in Advanced Education Leadership (CAEL) | 2025 –
- Harvard University | Certificate in School Management and Leadership (CSML) | 2025
- Johns Hopkins University School of Education | Graduate Certificate in Gifted Education | 2022 – 2024
- University of Louisville | Ph.D. in Humanities (Joint Program with Beijing Foreign Studies University) | 2006 – 2009
- University of Science and Technology Beijing | M.A. in Educational Economy and Management | 1999 – 2002
A Personal Commitment to our Mission
“The establishment of the TAFT Foundation is the culmination of my life’s work in education. As a teacher, a parent of a gifted child, and a gifted education and education equity advocate, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of support and opportunity. My perfect Praxis scores are not just a personal achievement; they are a testament to the high standard of excellence I am committed to bringing to every aspect of our work. It is my personal commitment and investment that led to the design of the TAFT Program and then launched the TAFT Foundation, and my comprehensive expertise will guide our mission to create a more equitable and diverse educational future and promote future teacher diversity in the United States.”
Email: dingyajuan@gmail.com | dingyajuan@taftfdn.org
