COLLESTON MORGAN JR.,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Born and raised in Milwaukee’s Sherman Park
neighborhood, Colleston Morgan Jr was appointed
Executive Director of City Forward Collective in 2023.
Previously, he served as the organization’s Vice
President, Strategy & Policy.
He began his career as a social studies teacher at G.W.
Carver High School, where he was recognized as the school’s Teacher of the Year.
Colleston then spent time working at the Louisiana Department of Education, and at
New Orleans Public Schools, culminating in a Cabinet-level role as the district’s
Chief Strategy Officer. While at the district, Colleston was a key leader in the
development and implementation of the district’s plan to return to local governance
of New Orleans’ system of public charter schools, after more than a decade of state
control. Colleston has been recognized as a national leader in charter school
authorizing practices and school accountability.
Colleston earned an A.B. in Government from Harvard University, a Masters in
Public Policy from the University of Chicago, and is an alum of the Pahara Institute,
Cambiar Catalyst Fellowship, and the New Leaders Council.
In 2025, Colleston was named to the Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and
BizTimes Milwaukee’s 30 People Shaping Milwaukee’s Future, honoring his
leadership and impact in education and the broader community.
Outside of work, Colleston is the proud father of two school-aged daughters.