The National Transit Institute, part of the Bloustein School’s Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, has appointed Geisha D. Ester as its new Executive Director.
Ester brings more than 27 years of transit industry experience and 18 years of leadership in workforce development to NTI. She most recently served as Vice President of Training and Workforce Development at the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), where she led a team of nearly 200 professionals and spearheaded impactful training strategies to support a culture of continuous learning for over 10,000 employees.
A nationally respected voice in the transit industry, Ester has held key leadership roles, including Chair of the Transportation Research Board’s TCRP Project F-34 and Chair of the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Education and Career Awareness Subcommittee. Prior to her appointment, she also served as Vice Chair of NTI’s Advisory Committee.
“We are excited to welcome Geisha Ester to lead the National Transit Institute,” said Robert Noland, Associate Dean of Faculty and Director of the Voorhees Transportation Center. “Her vision, expertise, and deep commitment to workforce development will be invaluable as NTI continues to serve the training needs of the public transportation industry nationwide.”
Throughout her career, Ester has championed equitable access to opportunity, launching training initiatives aimed at empowering underserved youth and formerly justice-involved individuals. She has served on the City of Chicago’s Youth Employment Working Group and the Mayor’s Interagency Reentry Council, reflecting her dedication to community-centered leadership and cross-sector collaboration.
“I am honored to join NTI at such a pivotal time for the transit industry,” said Ester. “Workforce development is critical to the sustainability and innovation of public transportation, and I look forward to working alongside the NTI team to support training excellence across the country.”
Ester will officially begin her role as Executive Director in early August and will lead NTI’s efforts to expand national training programs, develop new course offerings, and foster industry partnerships that strengthen the transit workforce of tomorrow.