Linda G. Roberts, Ed.D.
Former Director
Office of Educational Technology
U.S. Department of Education

Linda G. Roberts directed the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology from its inception in September 1993 to January 2001, and served as the Secretary of Education's Special Adviser on Technology. Roberts developed the first National Technology Plan, launched five new technology programs for the Clinton Administration, and increased the Federal technology budget from $30 million to over $900 million annually.

Smithsonian magazine called Roberts, "America's advocate for educational technology at the highest levels of government." Roberts played a key role in the development of the E-RATE, a $2.25 billion program to bring the Internet and advanced telecommunications to the Nation's schools and libraries. Along with program development, Roberts supported research and international efforts to advance the effective use of technology.

She is presently a Senior Adviser to Apple Computer and several leading technology companies. She is a Trustee of the Board of the Sesame Workshop (Sesame Street) and a Trustee of EDC (Education Development Center, Inc.). In addition she serves on the Boards of Directors of Carnegie Learning, ProQuest and Wireless Generation.

Roberts continues to advise school leaders, academic researchers and government policy makers. She is a sought after speaker and has keynoted at hundreds of state, national and international education conferences, including Russia, England, Finland, Ireland, Japan, Singapore, Brazil, Chile and Mexico. Roberts serves as a member of the National Science Foundation's National Visiting Committee that reviews the National Science Digital Libraries program.

Roberts is the recipient of many awards, including the Smithsonian Computer World Award for Leadership in Education, the ISTE NECC 2000 Pioneer Award, the Federal 100 Award, the U.S. Distance Learning Association's Eagle Award, and the COSN Community Leader Award.

Before joining the Clinton Administration, she led the research on educational technology at the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, where she directed three landmark studies: Power On! New Tools for Teaching and Learning; Linking for Learning: A New Course for Education; and Adult Literacy and Technology: Tools for a Lifetime. She is a former elementary school teacher and reading specialist, university professor and Academic Dean. She holds a B.S. from Cornell University, an Ed.M. from Harvard University, and an Ed.D. from the University of Tennessee.