Dr. LaWanda Green Burwell holds a master of arts degree from the University of Southern California and a doctor of science degree from Harvard School of Public Health.  She has been an administrator in both health and education organizations, including Harlem Hospital in New York, Stamford Public Schools, Baltimore City Public Schools, Baltimore City Health Department, and Baltimore County Public Schools.

She moved to the Baltimore area to supervise program evaluation and grant development for the Baltimore City Public Schools.  At the Baltimore City Health Department, Dr. Burwell was principal investigator of a 5-year AIDS prevention demonstration and research project.  Her responsibilities in Baltimore County Public Schools included grant development, educational accountability, and professional development.  Dr. Burwell returned to the Baltimore City Public Schools as the Director of Strategic Planning.

Dr. Burwell became a member of the Board of Examiners of the Baldrige National Quality Program in 2001, and has continued through nine consecutive years as a national examiner, including three years as an alumni examiner. At the national level, she has served as examiner, trainer, consensus team leader, team leader coach, site visitor, and member of the case study development team.  She began her affiliation with the Maryland Performance Excellence Awards program, which replicates the Baldrige National Quality Program at the state level, in 2000, serving as examiner, team leader, lead trainer, and chair of the Executive Guidance Board.  She is currently vice president of the Maryland Performance Excellence Foundation.  Dr. Burwell provides consulting services to education, health, and social services organizations pursuing data driven management tools and process improvement to achieve performance excellence.