Eleanor (Ellie) Drago-Severson is Professor of Education Leadership and Adult Learning and Leadership, and director of the PhD Program in Educational Leadership, at Teachers College, Columbia University. 

A developmental psychologist, Drago-Severson teaches, conducts research, and consults to school and district leaders, teacher leaders, and organizations on professional and personal growth and learning; leadership that supports principal, teacher, school, and leadership development; and coaching and developmental mentoring in K–12 schools, university settings, and other for-profit and nonprofit organizations. She is also an internationally certified Immunity to Change Coach who works with leaders to build internal capacity, improve performance, and help them achieve their goals. Her work is inspired by the idea that schools, districts, and organizations must be places where adults and those entrusted to them can grow. 

Jessica Blum-DeStefano is an adjunct instructor at Bank Street College of Education, where she teaches adult development and qualitative research methods. 

For the past nine years, she has also cotaught adult development with Eleanor Drago-Severson in the Summer Principals Academy at Teachers College. 

Blum-DeStefano earned her PhD in Education Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, after nine rewarding years as a teacher and school leader in alternative education settings. She holds additional degrees from Emory University (BA), Hofstra University (MA), and Teachers College (M.Phil.). 

She is a coauthor of Learning for Leadership: Developmental Strategies for Building Capacity in Our Schools and Tell Me So I Can Hear You: A Developmental Approach to Feedback for Educators.