WELCOME TO THE COGNITIVE CHANGE INSTITUTE
EDUCATION THAT CHANGES THINKING
meet the leaders of cci
Kayla Cunningham Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Kayla Cunningham is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Cognitive Change Institute, where she leads the organization's mission to transform correctional education through innovative, evidence-informed programs that strengthen critical thinking, decision-making, communication, leadership, and personal growth.
An award-winning correctional educator and nationally recognized advocate for educational innovation, Kayla has dedicated her career to helping individuals discover that lasting change begins with the way they think. Her work combines decades of experience in education, curriculum development, counseling, leadership, and correctional programming to create practical learning experiences that inspire transformation both inside correctional facilities and beyond.
Currently serving as a Unit Manager within the New Mexico Corrections Department, Kayla oversees housing unit operations, multidisciplinary teams, educational initiatives, workforce development, and rehabilitative programming while collaborating closely with custody staff, case management, and facility leadership.
Throughout her career, Kayla has built programs from the ground up. She founded and implemented an inmate newspaper and numerous educational and leadership initiatives focused on literacy, creative arts, wellness, communication, career readiness, and reentry preparation. Her experience spans correctional education, higher education administration, curriculum development, guidance counseling, youth development, and international education, giving her a unique perspective on how learning can transform lives across diverse populations.
Kayla holds a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction and a Bachelor of Science in History and Secondary Education. She has spent more than fifteen years designing educational programs, leading multidisciplinary teams, supervising faculty and staff, developing curriculum, and creating innovative learning experiences that improve both educational outcomes and organizational performance.
In addition to her work in education and corrections, Kayla is a traditionally published author of contemporary romance and young adult fantasy novels. As both an educator and storyteller, she believes that stories have the power to expand perspective, build empathy, and encourage personal reflection—the same principles that guide the Cognitive Change Institute's educational philosophy. Her passion for writing reinforces her commitment to helping individuals imagine new possibilities for their futures and recognize that every person has the capacity for growth and change.
Kayla's leadership has been recognized through numerous honors, including the New Mexico Corrections Department Non-Custodial Employee of the Year, the Las Cruces Mayor's Award for Educational Service, and multiple awards for excellence in education, coaching, and community service. She is also a trained member of the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) and holds certifications in crisis intervention, diversity and inclusion, curriculum development, and educational leadership.
As Founder and CEO, Kayla established the Cognitive Change Institute with a singular vision: To redefine correctional education by creating programs that teach people not simply what to learn—but how to think.
Craig Cunningham Chief Executive Officer & Chief Financial Officer
Craig M. Cunningham serves as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Cognitive Change Institute, bringing more than 35 years of executive leadership experience in technology innovation, strategic planning, artificial intelligence, data analytics, financial management, business operations, and organizational leadership.
As a member of the Institute's executive leadership team, Craig provides strategic direction for the organization's financial planning, operational excellence, organizational development, and long-term sustainability. His leadership helps ensure the Cognitive Change Institute continues to expand its mission of transforming lives through evidence-informed education, innovative programming, and meaningful partnerships.
Throughout his distinguished career, Craig has successfully led both startup and established organizations, serving in executive roles including Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and technology executive. He has overseen multimillion-dollar budgets, directed high-performing technical and operational teams, developed innovative software solutions, and guided organizations through significant periods of growth, transformation, and strategic expansion.
In 2006, Craig founded OntoReason, a software development and management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, artificial intelligence, dynamic information modeling, healthcare informatics, business intelligence, project and portfolio management, and strategy execution. Under his leadership, OntoReason developed intelligent systems designed to help organizations improve strategic planning, operational performance, risk management, and decision-making through advanced technology and data-driven solutions.
Craig's professional experience spans government, healthcare, national security, and commercial technology sectors. He has partnered with organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), federal and state government agencies, healthcare systems, large integration contractors, and private organizations to develop advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and strategic management solutions. His work has consistently focused on helping organizations solve complex challenges through innovation, operational excellence, and intelligent decision support.
His expertise includes financial strategy, organizational leadership, strategic planning, business development, operations management, healthcare informatics, artificial intelligence, business intelligence, systems integration, project and portfolio management, continuous improvement, and organizational performance. This unique combination of executive leadership and technology innovation enables the Cognitive Change Institute to build sustainable systems that support measurable impact and long-term growth.
As Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Craig oversees the Institute's financial strategy, budgeting, grant planning, fiscal stewardship, operational systems, and organizational infrastructure. He works closely with executive leadership to develop strategic partnerships, strengthen organizational capacity, and ensure resources are effectively aligned with the Institute's vision of becoming a national leader in correctional education and cognitive development.
Craig believes that meaningful change is driven by visionary leadership, responsible stewardship, innovation, and a commitment to continuous improvement. His leadership helps position the Cognitive Change Institute as a forward-thinking organization dedicated to transforming correctional education by developing evidence-informed programs that strengthen decision-making, leadership, communication, and personal growth for individuals and communities nationwide.
