As an educator, leader and coach, Hilary Simon loves empowering others to cultivate their strengths, build confidence, and find joy as they work towards meaningful goals.
Before joining Holdsworth, Simon spearheaded the systemic implementation of social emotional learning at Western Governors University, one of the nation’s largest non-profit online universities. She launched and led a wide range of development programs and initiatives for leaders, faculty and staff that were designed to foster a culture of safety, belonging, and well-being. Her efforts also helped align remote teams for maximum engagement, strengthen faculty effectiveness, and improve equitable outcomes for students. Her partnership with the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center resulted in one of the largest implementations of the Resilience and Wellbeing Program, benefiting 4,500 leaders and employees within the initial three years.
Prior to WGU, Hilary’s career in pK-12 education ranged from designing and delivering individualized interventions for neurodiverse students to guiding large-scale implementations of culturally responsive social and emotional learning initiatives in urban school districts. She served as a social and emotional learning specialist, a mindfulness instructor for teens, an Autism specialist and behavior analyst, and taught in elementary grades.
Simon holds two master’s degrees in education. She lives with her family in Austin, Texas, where they hunt for the best swimming holes and barbeque, and dote endlessly on their beloved rescue dog, Ralphie.