Janet Whitla, President and CEO of Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC), has announced her plans to retire within the year. During Whitla’s 24 years as President, EDC has seen unprecedented growth, becoming one of the world’s leading health and education research organizations. The EDC Board has begun a nationwide search for her replacement.

“It is truly impossible to overstate Janet’s contribution to EDC,” said Deborah Wadsworth, Senior Advisor for Public Agenda, an opinion research organization, and newly-elected chair of EDC’s Board. “Her vision and extraordinary leadership skills have guided EDC through unprecedented growth, including the dramatic expansion in our international work,” Wadsworth said. “Janet is leaving a strong and vibrant organization for the next president.”

Whitla joined the organization in 1966 as a research assistant and over the years held positions in research, development and administration. Since she became President in 1981, EDC’s revenues have increased from $4.5 million in 1981 to more than $100 million in 2005. Founded in 1958 by faculty from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, EDC now has 650 employees and manages 335 projects in 50 countries and throughout the U.S. EDC’s work strengthens nearly every facet of society, including early child development, K-12 education, health promotion, workforce preparation, community development, learning technologies, basic and adult education, institutional reform, and social justice.