Clara Baron-Hyppolite is a mission-driven education leader with deep experience advancing equity, student persistence, and systems-level change. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Neural Computation from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine from the Boston University School of Medicine. Over the past decade, Clara has focused her work on addressing educational access and inequities facing students in New Orleans public schools, with particular attention to the transition from college enrollment to completion.

Clara brings a strong background in mental health and community-based support to her leadership, shaping how she builds teams, designs student-centered strategies, and approaches organizational change. Her leadership and impact have been recognized regionally, including being named a 2025 YLC Role Model, honoring leaders who advance equity and opportunity in their communities.

Clara currently serves as Executive Director of College Beyond, a New Orleans-based college success organization partnering with public universities and high schools across Louisiana. In this role, she leads work at the intersection of direct service and systems coordination, focused on improving postsecondary persistence and strengthening the conditions that allow underresourced students to thrive.