DeAngela Burns-Wallace

About

Deangela Burns-Wallace, EdD is a transformative executive leader, former U.S. diplomat, and the author of Made for This. Her dynamic career spans global diplomacy, higher education, state government, and national philanthropy. Across every sector she’s served, she has led large-scale, values-driven change and is widely recognized for her ability to align strategy with mission for lasting impact.

She currently serves as president and CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where she leads efforts to expand equitable economic mobility for all. Before entering philanthropy, she held cabinet-level appointments as secretary of administration and chief information technology officer for the State of Kansas—roles in which she modernized systems, shaped policy, and steered organizations through crisis and transformation.

A first-generation college graduate, Burns-Wallace began her career as a U.S. diplomat with postings in China and South Africa. She later held executive leadership roles at the University of Kansas and the University of Missouri, where she championed access, belonging, and student success. Throughout her journey, she has remained a mentor, strategist, and passionate advocate for those ready to lead boldly and live intentionally.

Made for This is her invitation to anyone who wants to lead a life of purpose—not perfection. It is a call to rise, reflect, and own the path you were born to walk.

Burns-Wallace holds degrees from Stanford University (BA), Princeton University (MPA), and the University of Pennsylvania (EdD). She lives in Kansas with her son and retired parents and continues to speak and write on leadership, impact, and systems change.