Since 2015 Colleen Bailey has served as the Executive Director of the Monterey Jazz Festival (MJF), the longest, continuously-running jazz festival in the world, and a leader in jazz music education. Prior to her leadership at MJF, Colleen served as the Executive Director of the National Steinbeck Center (NSC) in Salinas.

She is a founding Board member and a former Executive Director of El Sistema USA/Salinas. Colleen is a graduate of USC, holds a Masters Degree from Northwestern University and a Certificate from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business’ Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders at the Center for Social Innovation.