Fall Cohort 2018

  • Aaron Covarrubias
    Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York (NPCC)
    Aaron Covarrubias
    Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York (NPCC)

    Aaron Covarrubias is an adult education and management professional with experience in program management, immigrant integration, training and development, e-learning, teaching, advising, curriculum & instructional design, workforce development, and leading operations for non-profit and higher education institutions. He joined the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York in May 2018 as Education and Training Manager bringing a wealth of experience in adult education and nonprofit management to this position. Before joining NPCC, Aaron worked at Upwardly Global, a nonprofit organization that helps skilled immigrants and refugees secure professional employment. He served in different positions while spearheading educational initiatives, such as revamping their client’s training experience and implementing a national ESL program. Prior to that, Aaron worked in a top private university in Mexico leading faculty and all student affairs. He holds a B.S. in Administration, an M.S. in Education, an MBA, and a Ph.D. in Education. He plays guitar in an underrated, independent, reggae-rock band and lives in Brooklyn.

  • Alyson Casey
    The New York Hall of Science
    Alyson Casey
    The New York Hall of Science

    Alyson Casey has served as the Manager of Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships at the The New York Hall of Science since 2017. She received her B.A. in Communications from Fordham University and her M.B.A. from New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business. Alyson has worked across the private sector in various industries for the past 15 years and is excited to bring her experience to the non-profit space.

  • Benjamin Levinsohn
    Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
    Benjamin Levinsohn
    Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

    Ben Levinsohn is the Manager of Volunteers at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Prior to working at Intrepid, he managed the group sales department and docent program at the New-York Historical Society. A love of history led Ben to a career in museum work where he currently leads a group of 150 volunteers whose primary role is to promote the awareness and understanding of history, science and service through the Museum’s collections and programming. Ben received his B.S. in Social Studies Education from New York University.

  • Caitlin Quigley
    Callen-Lorde Community Health Center
    Caitlin Quigley
    Callen-Lorde Community Health Center

    Caitlin Quigley is the Director of Communications at Callen-Lorde, a global leader in LGBTQ healthcare, where she has been since 2011. In this role, Caitlin leads the development of strategic communications and marketing to support agency-wide objectives, coordinates media relations, facilitates crisis management strategies, and oversees digital and print communications for the organization. Passionate about social justice, Caitlin brings her expertise and wealth of knowledge of the LGBTQ and healthcare landscapes to the front of her work. An Anthropology alumnae from Northeastern University, Caitlin previously served in Development and Communications roles at Fenway Health, an LGBTQ research and healthcare organization located in Boston, MA.

  • Cheryl Morgan
    New-York Historical Society
    Cheryl Morgan
    New-York Historical Society

    Cheryl Morgan has worked in development and resource mobilization for nonprofit cultural organizations in New York City for 15 years. She currently serves as the Director of Development for the New-York Historical Society, where she oversees operations and procedures for the 14-member development office and heads corporate, foundation, and government fundraising. She joined New-York Historical in 2012 as the Director of Institutional Giving, and in collaboration with the organization’s senior leadership has helped to grow institutional funding streams by more than 100% over five years and complete a multi-year capital campaign. She works closely with colleagues in the Museum, Library, and Education departments to develop successful federal grant proposals that have generated an additional $3.5 million to support New-York Historical’s exhibitions, education programs, scholarly initiatives, and collections projects. Prior to joining New-York Historical, Cheryl spent four years at the American Museum of Natural History securing funds for scientific research and STEM education and developing large-scale sponsorships as a member of the Corporate Relations team. Before that, she worked for four years in grant writing, individual giving, major gifts, and board relations at the New York Theatre Workshop. Cheryl has presented on fundraising and philanthropy for Humanities New York and the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, and was a board member of Riedel Dance Theater. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University’s School of Communications, and received NU’s 2002 Walton Excellence in Theater award.

  • Claudia Dishon
    Queens Museum
    Claudia Dishon
    Queens Museum

    Claudia Dishon is an educator, artist and arts administrator with over ten years’ experience in art education. She is the Manager of School Programs at the Queens Museum, overseeing QM’s school tour program and in-school Queens-based public-school partnerships. As Manager of School Programs, she has cultivated the museum’s long-term relationships with Queens public schools through artist residency programs, after school classes, youth art initiatives and museum tours. Her mission is to move youth art programs beyond a practical necessity for families and make them a resource for ingenuity, pride and social action. She supports a team of Museum Educator-Teaching Artists who design culturally responsive arts curriculum for the young people of Queens.

    Dishon’s studio work features an ongoing interest in myths, covert identities and non-ordinary realities as expressed through print and drawing. Dishon holds a BFA in Printmaking from Murray State University and a MFA in Printmaking from Clemson University. She maintains a print and drawing studio practice in Brooklyn, NY.

  • Emmett Findley
    God’s Love We Deliver
    Emmett Findley
    God’s Love We Deliver

    As Manager of Communications at God’s Love We Deliver Emmett manages the God’s Love We Deliver web presence, storytelling, marketing production, and most recently helped guide the organization through a re-brand and web re-design. Emmett loves producing unique marketing materials and telling stories about God’s Love clients, volunteers, and donors. In his free time, Emmett spends time with his partner, does yoga, and sings in the Jalopy Chorus.

  • Gabe Gordon
    LEAP
    Gabe Gordon
    LEAP

    Gabe Gordon is an arts education administrator and creative community member in Brooklyn NY. Gabe is a Program Network Manager with LEAP, which provides educational arts programs to promote equity and access for NYC students. Gabe manages school partnerships in the neighborhoods of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Bedford Stuyvesant, ensuring that school communities cultivate skills in creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking through arts experiences. During his BA studies at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, Gabe merged his passions for music and education, playing piano/keyboards in a number of ensembles and coordinating programs at Green Street Arts Center. He moved to New York in the summer of 2012 and joined Manhattan School of Music as Distance Learning Program Coordinator. Gabe also has experience in private piano instruction and event planning. He believes in the power of the arts to uplift and to drive positive change.

  • Geordana Weber
    Service Program for Older People (SPOP)
    Geordana Weber
    Service Program for Older People (SPOP)

    Geordana Weber is the Senior Vice President for Community Services at Service Program for Older People (SPOP). SPOP provides comprehensive mental health treatment for people ages 55+ in their community and their homes. Geordana oversees fourteen satellite clinics throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, a clinical caregiver program, the ThriveNYC initiative, and all community partnerships. Geordana is also responsible for providing education and training to agency partners on the mental health needs of older adults, and has published on social work practice with LGBT clients. She received her Master’s in Social Work from Hunter College/Silberman School of Social Work and her Bachelor of Arts in Social Thought & Political Economy from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

  • George Barreto
    Community Health Action of Staten Island
    George Barreto
    Community Health Action of Staten Island

    George Barreto started his career at Community Health Action of Staten Island 14 years ago. He began working as a Program Assistant, where his main duties were entering data, filing and keeping client charts in order. He is now the Director of Pantry Operations and enjoys working in the community that he once lived in.

  • Jeehae Fischer
    Internationals Network for Public Schools
    Jeehae Fischer
    Internationals Network for Public Schools

    As Director of Development and Communications, Jeehae oversees the fundraising and communications efforts of Internationals Network for Public Schools, including grant management, direct appeal, donor cultivation, and fundraising events. Previously, Jeehae was the Director of Programs and Administration at the Korean American Family Service Center where she worked with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. She oversaw the daily operation and long-term growth of that organization’s multiple services. Jeehae holds a M.S. in non-profit management from the Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy, at the New School for Public Management. In addition to her work in the non-profit sector, she is a professional violinist with a B.M. in violin performance from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.

  • Jeff Wills
    Rubin Museum of Art
    Jeff Wills
    Rubin Museum of Art

    Jeff Wills is an arts administration professional with experience in museums and an extensive performing arts background. He is the assistant to the executive director of the Rubin Museum of Art, and the board liaison, functioning as the central conduit between the museum’s staff, directors, and trustees. His duties encompass all departments, and include management of the quarterly metric monitoring, analyzing, and reporting.

    Raised in the suburbs of DC, Jeff graduated with a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University before moving to New York City in 2000. He worked variously as a clerk, copyeditor, paralegal, and executive coach while employed as a professional actor, ultimately parlaying these experiences into dedicated non-profit administration in 2012.

    Jeff is also a married father of two, and continues to work as a coach and workshop leader in several theatrical and physical arts specialties.

  • Jon Harper
    Abrons Arts Center/Henry Street Settlement
    Jon Harper
    Abrons Arts Center/Henry Street Settlement

    Jon Harper has been with Abrons Arts Center and Henry Street for almost six years, serving first as Technical Director, then Director of Production, and now Director of Operations. Abrons (and the Neighborhood Playhouse before it) has for more than 100 years been both a home for contemporary experimental performance and simultaneously a space for our community to come, learn an artistic practice, hone their crafts, and give back to humanity. While Henry Street as a whole actively and passionately responds to the needs of our communities as they exist today, Abrons is a forward-thinking part of our institution imagining what COULD be. I am proud to be co-creating our anti-oppressive space with my colleagues. Jon holds an MFA in lighting design from the University of Tennessee, and a BA in Dramatic Art from the University of North Carolina.

  • Junior Manon
    JobsFirstNYC
    Junior Manon
    JobsFirstNYC

    Junior Manon has over fifteen years of experience in areas of management, operations and strategy. His background is in education practice and workforce development, but overall, he is interested in work that drives social impact, innovation and investment, and advance social justice issues. His most recent role was at the NYC Department of Education, leading policy implementation efforts that impacted over 700 schools. He holds a Master of Public Administration from New York University, and is an alumnus of the Asia Pacific Leadership Program at the University of Hawaii. Currently, Junior serves as JobsFirstNYC’s Director of In-school Practice, supporting the organization’s education strategy and partnership development efforts.

  • Kristine Wee
    Women for Afghan Women
    Kristine Wee
    Women for Afghan Women

    As Senior Development Associate at Women for Afghan Women (WAW), Kristine Wee leads all grant writing and report writing, donor communications, manages event logistics, and works with all WAW teams to ensure grant compliance and donor-responsive communications. Kristine started her work in international development as a student activist and organizer in the Philippines and Cambodia. Growing up in one of the conflict-affected regions of the Philippines developed her interest in issues that intersect gender, conflict, and migration. She believes in fueling social change by building strong communities and systemic reform. Her work includes contributions to the Philippines’ peace negotiating panel and fundraising for the National Domestic Workers Alliance. She joined WAW in 2016 and her education background is in Development Studies with a focus on Development Management.

  • La-Keir Morris
    Safe Horizon
    La-Keir Morris
    Safe Horizon

    La-Keir Morris is a Manager at Safe Horizon Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP). CVAP is a joint program with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and Safe Horizon that assigns advocates to every precinct and Police Service Area (PSA) citywide. She manages a team of 12 advocates located in 6 different precincts in Queens, NY. La-Keir has over 17 years of extensive experience working with the criminal justice system, victims of crime and abuse, their families and children. In her role at Safe Horizon, she provides support and guidance to help staff develop their skills and enhance their knowledge. During her time at Safe Horizon, She has helped victims of the 9/11 attacks, participated in roundtable discussions with the NYPD Commissioner and the First Lady of NYC and coordinated with the NYC Mayor’s office to Combat Domestic Violence and the Queens District Attorney Office to train NYPD Police Officers on Stalking.

  • Luciana Rubicondo
    JCCA
    Luciana Rubicondo
    JCCA

    Luciana Rubicondo graduated with her MSW from Columbia University School of Social Work in 2005. After graduation she joined the JCCA team in the Foster Home Division and worked there until 2017 when she joined the Prevention Division. She is currently the Borough Director for three Prevention Programs in the Bronx. The Prevention team services vulnerable families and children by offering in-home family therapy and case management to prevent foster care placement. The program staff work to promote safety and well-being by providing mental health treatment, advocacy, and support in areas such as housing, education and career path development.

  • Maeve Gately
    Hudson River Community Sailing
    Maeve Gately
    Hudson River Community Sailing

    Maeve Gately joined HRCS as a sailing instructor in 2014 while she was getting her Master’s in Journalism from Columbia University. She quickly fell in love with the organization, and decided to stay on as Director of Development and Communications after graduation. Maeve manages the organization’s grants, events, and communications. On occasion, she teaches college essay workshops and gets to take students sailing.

  • Margaret Flanagan
    The Waterfront Alliance
    Margaret Flanagan
    The Waterfront Alliance

    Captain Margaret Flanagan is the Director of Education and Outreach at Waterfront Alliance. She’s a native New Yorker, who after years of serving as a classroom teacher, brought her marine education expertise out to the waterfront full time. While sailing professionally in our harbor, down the coast, and on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, she continued inspiring students and community members to better understand and appreciate our valuable natural resources and vibrant maritime heritage. Now Waterfront Alliance’s marine programs technician, she continues to create innovative opportunities for learning on the water, while advocating for ecological restoration and public access on our waterways. Though she’s sailed far and wide, Margaret considers herself lucky to go to work on New York Harbor.

  • Maribel Martinez-Gunter
    Manhattan Legal Services
    Maribel Martinez-Gunter
    Manhattan Legal Services

    Maribel Martinez-Gunter serves as the Director of the Family Law & Immigration Unit at Manhattan Legal Services, working with a dynamic interdisciplinary team of 9 attorneys and a social worker to advocate for vulnerable clients and build partnerships with low income communities. With over twenty years of experience as an attorney and long-standing member of the organization’s citywide Diversity, Equity and Implementation (DEI) committee, she is entrenched in the struggle to demand justice on behalf of low-income victims and survivors and challenge structures of oppression and bias. She hosts the Upper Manhattan Domestic Violence Services Collaborative, a cadre of service providers aligned together to maximize their limited resources by providing a streamlined referral process and creating a think tank for solutions. For the past five years, the Collaborative has hosted Shine the Light in Harlem, a community forum to raise awareness of the proliferation of domestic violence and the resources available right in the community. She also co-facilitates the Latino/Latina/LatinX affinity group at her organization and is part of the POC Organizing Committee at Legal Services NYC. She has recently begun a Leaders of Color Accountability Hub to provide a brave space for mid-level managers of color to create a platform for discussions on how our identities impact our work. Maribel received the In the Trenches award from the Lawyers Committee Against Domestic Violence, the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Black Law Student Association at CUNY Law and this year, her staff was recognized at the organization’s annual event for its work with low income immigrants. Maribel is a proud graduate of CUNY School of Law and NYU. She continues to live in the Bronx, rearing her daughter in the same community that she grew up in because she staunchly believes that low income communities become stronger when the leaders that it produces stay connected to the community, to the people, and to the struggle.

  • Meredith Levine
    JASA
    Meredith Levine
    JASA

    Meredith Levine is a skilled social service leader who is dedicated to helping families access programs and services that will enrich their potential for success and independence. Currently the director of community information and referral at JASA, Meredith oversees a $1.3 million portfolio that touches the lives of 10,000 older adults and their loved ones each year. With experience in child welfare, developmental disabilities services, faith-based community resources and services for older adults, Meredith has a keen understanding of the systems impacting the non-profit sector and governmental social services available to New Yorkers in need. Meredith has focused her leadership on developing information and referral programs at large social services agencies in New York City.

    Meredith started her career writing grants for a grassroots hunger-fighting agency in rural Florida, and has since helped stabilize at-risk families in the South Bronx, trained community members to help their neighbors access social services, empowered parents to advocate for their special needs children, and taught the siblings of special needs children coping skills so they could embrace their unique family dynamic. In addition to direct service, Meredith has raised over $500,000 writing grants for programs benefiting children and families across New York City. Meredith holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s degree from Columbia University School of Social Work.

  • Michael Perez
    The Fortune Society
    Michael Perez
    The Fortune Society

    Michael A. Perez is the Alternative to Incarceration Program Manager at The Fortune Society, where for more than 50 years now people have continued to work on building communities and not prisons. His passion and desire to help those in need is the driving force in the work he does daily. Working at Fortune has afforded him the opportunity to work side by side with people committed to the fight for criminal justice reform, a fight which Michael has been committed to since overcoming his own struggles in life.

    He is currently working to towards his bachelor’s in human services with the long-term goal of pursuing a PhD. Michael is a CASAC Level II and already holds an associate degree in science. He is also certified in the Crossover Youth Practice Model – CYPM and an active Fellow through the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University.

    During his career, Michael has had the opportunity to manage many programs working with youth. The Justice Plus program, a work readiness curriculum designed to foster basic computer skills and re-engage youth to return to school within Queens, NY was a memorable experience. He has also collaborated with the 114th Precinct’s Juvenile Robbery Intervention Program – JRIP collaborating with youth program referrals prior to seeing a judge. This can prove pivotal for those going through the criminal justice system for the first time. Michael recalls the highlight when walking through the process of teaching young people how to set up job ready email accounts, working on draft resumes and sitting for mock interviews. He has worked alongside the Rikers Debate Project bringing healthy communication skills to youth and adults at the Fortune Society while at the same time allowing for a safe space to learn the importance of “every voice does matter.” He continues to engage youth in the importance and benefits of psychotherapy through the Court Involved Youth program with the Department of Health and Mental Health Services. Through this program services are provided through the Better Living Center at the Fortune Society.

    To date, Michael is honored to continue in the fight to bring about healthy change and advocate for more Alternatives to Incarceration. “The client is not the problem in your day, they are the purpose of your day” is Michael’s daily mantra. It was selflessly gifted to him while in CASAC training school from a man named Dr. Rashid. These are words that Michael never forgot!

  • Nadya Encarnacion
    Exalt Youth
    Nadya Encarnacion
    Exalt Youth

    Nadya Encarnacion hails from New York City and is passionate about NYC young people maximizing their purpose and potential. She began her journey in youth development in 2005 serving at-risk youth in Washington Heights and has since transitioned into juvenile justice when she joined the exalt team in 2011. She is proud to serve as exalt’s Program Manager, overseeing and supporting their referral process in addition to leading, serving and guiding Program Coordinators that play pivotal roles in the development of exalt’s young leaders. Nadya is also an actress, with roles in television, film and voiceover. Nadya obtained her B.A. from Fairfield University, M.A. from Manhattan College and is a graduate of The American Musical & Dramatic Academy.

  • Natalie Colon
    ExpandED Schools
    Natalie Colon
    ExpandED Schools

    As Senior Program Manager, Natalie supports a portfolio of 10-15 schools and community partners implementing expanded learning programs in high-need NYC public schools with coaching on a range of topics including improving quality of enrichment, supporting literacy development, and budgeting resources. She also oversees the fiscal management of programs, coach school-CBO teams to devise systems for supervising and supporting tutors to use an evidence-based guided reading curriculum and engaging in strategic planning and implementation with the Vice President of ExpandED Learning Schools.

    Prior to working at ExpandED Schools, Natalie worked at New Visions for Public Schools supporting the work on college access/ readiness and community engagement and with Lucy Calkins at the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project.

    As a Bronx native and product of the New York City Public Schools system, Natalie sees the work with education more than just a job but a passion in the continued need to advocate and work for the continuous support of students and educational equity and access.

    Natalie has her M.A. in Sociology and Education from Teachers College and her B.A. in Sociology from Ithaca College

  • Rachel Boeglin
    Randall’s Island Park Alliance
    Rachel Boeglin
    Randall’s Island Park Alliance

    Rachel Boeglin currently works as a Senior Program Associate for the Randall’s Island Park Alliance programming office. She assists in planning and facilitating free public programs related to health, nature, and recreation. Additionally, she conducts community outreach in the neighboring communities of East Harlem and the South Bronx, tracks participant engagement, and reports program metrics.

    Prior to her work in parks, Rachel served as the Tenant Services Coordinator for a Breaking Ground supportive housing facility. In this role, she oversaw programming for over 400 building tenants and ran a Community Supported Agriculture (or CSA) program.

    Rachel has worked in the non-profit programming realm for seven years, and approaches her work through the lenses of social equity, community access and engagement, and sustainability. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Saint Louis University.

    In her free time, she enjoys photography and singing with the choral group Khorikos.

  • Rachel Bogin
    DreamYard Project
    Rachel Bogin
    DreamYard Project

    Rachel is the Director of Individual and Corporate Relations at the DreamYard Project, an arts and social justice organization based in the South Bronx. After working in the private sector for eight years, she was eager to leverage her experiential marketing & traditional advertising experience to fulfill her life-long passion for catalyzing positive change. Since joining DreamYard in 2014 as a Development Associate, in her current role Rachel is now responsible for creating and managing opportunities for supporters, volunteers, and corporate partners to engage with and invest in DreamYard’s transformative work, including service day projects, special events, sponsorships & the Annual Benefit. She received a B.A. in Psychology from Boston University, an M.A. in Criminal Justice from John Jay College & a Certificate in Fundraising from NYU’s School for Professional Studies.

  • Rachel Braunstein
    Her Justice
    Rachel Braunstein
    Her Justice

    Rachel L. Braunstein is the Managing Policy Attorney at Her Justice, a not-for-profit organization that provides free legal services to women living in poverty in New York City. In that capacity, Rachel leads policy initiatives that address economic justice for low-income women and families, the rights of domestic violence survivors, and access to justice and court reform. In addition, she trains and mentors pro bono attorneys and provides legal assistance to Her Justice clients in the areas of family and matrimonial law. Upon graduation from Brooklyn Law School in 2003, Rachel joined the litigation department of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP. From 2004 to 2005, Rachel served as a law clerk for the Honorable Leo I. Glasser of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Following her clerkship, Rachel spent two years as a Fried Frank Fellow with Her Justice (then inMotion), litigating family law and matrimonial cases. Rachel has been a member of the Sex and Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association since 2004. She was the Secretary/Treasurer of the Committee from 2005 to 2008, and the Chair from 2008 to 2011. As a member of the Committee, Rachel has contributed to advocacy efforts around various issues, including domestic violence, human trafficking, paid family leave, and the rights of nursing mothers in the workplace. Rachel is also Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the YWCA Brooklyn. In addition to performing regular Board duties, she provides guidance to the organization on policy efforts that advance its mission to ensure women’s equality and combat racism.

  • Randa Dean
    Planned Parenthood of New York City
    Randa Dean
    Planned Parenthood of New York City

    Randa Dean has over fifteen years of experience in the field of public health as a leader, educator, program developer and manager. Since 2006, she has worked at Planned Parenthood of New York City, first as the Associate Director of Adult Education, and currently as Associate Vice President of Education and Training, which includes overseeing nearly forty team members and eight program areas. Previous work includes consulting with both International Planned Parenthood Federation, and Partners in Health to support public health programs in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake; acting as the health educator at the Fashion Institute of Technology creating health education programming and protocols for their college health center; training all levels of staff at the United Nations on HIV/AIDS; and serving as an outreach and education specialist for an HIV/AIDS program in California. Throughout her career, Randa has demonstrated her dedication to community and sexual and reproductive health rights and justice. Randa received her Master in Public Health from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health with a specialty in Sexuality and Health and a Bachelor’s degree in anthropology and sociology from Fordham University.

  • Rebecca Stump
    PEN America
    Rebecca Stump
    PEN America

    Rebecca Stump is the Director of Membership at PEN America, where she oversees all membership related administration and acts as the primary liaison between PEN America members and the organization at large. Rebecca manages PEN America’s Membership Committee, and works closely with the Children and YA Books Committee, Translation Committee, Writers in the Schools Committee, the PEN America Women’s Literary Workshop, and organizes regional membership and Chapter growth.

    Before joining PEN America, she was the Director of Member Services at the Dramatists Guild of America, the national association of playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists. In addition to her primary responsibilities at the Dramatists Guild relating to membership management, she also managed the Guild’s Opera Committee, Membership Committee, and Intern Program, served on the Publications Committee, and was the Editor of the annual DG Resource Directory. During her tenure, Rebecca also led a joint project with the Lilly Awards Foundation, “The Count,” a study of gender parity in regional theatre. The Count was featured in The Dramatist, American Theatre, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and IndieWire.

    Rebecca honed her fundraising and development skills within the Development Department at the Metropolitan Opera and served as Executive Director of New York Opera Exchange through four successful seasons of well-reviewed, often sold-out operatic productions. She has presented and/or served as a panelist at conferences and universities across the United States on topics such as the importance of a free press, self-production for dramatists, audition techniques, and gender parity in American theatre. Rebecca holds a BA in Political Science and Theatre Arts from Marymount Manhattan College.

  • Rosanna Montilla-Payano
    Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC)
    Rosanna Montilla-Payano
    Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC)

    Rosanna Montilla-Payano is a fundraising executive currently serving as Director of Development at NMIC (Northern Manhattan Improvement Corp.) an organization that integrates numerous crisis intervention services under one roof. Focused on resolving immediate crises, clients move seamlessly to capacity building services through our holistic programs designed to support individuals and families as they develop the tools to transition from crisis to self-sufficiency. Rosanna enjoys spearheading organizational changes within the philanthropic frame and has served numerous nonprofits throughout NYC such as the Reproductive Health Access Project, Care for the Homeless, and the Queens College Foundation. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in NYC; Rosanna grounds her philanthropic work in development and resource redistribution to support the empowerment of marginalized communities. Rosanna is an aspiring novice hiker who enjoys watching her toddler question the world.

  • Sunetra Rangraj
    The Door
    Sunetra Rangraj
    The Door

    Sunetra, or Sunny, is currently the Assistant Director of Food and Wellness Program at The Door, an invaluable resource for NYC youth. The Door provides comprehensive services, including medical, legal, career and education, arts, and food, to at-risk young people from all 5 boroughs in a caring and diverse environment. The Food and Wellness program at The Door is one of the cornerstone programs and the heart of the organization. The Door’s mission remains to empower young people to reach their potential by providing comprehensive youth services in a diverse and caring environment.

    In this role, Sunny is responsible for integrating nutrition and wellness programs and policies throughout the Door and its partner organization, Broome Street Academy (BSA), a charter school serving at-risk students. She directly supervises the food service team that provides over 300 meals/day as well as culinary instruction to the young people of The Door as well as BSA students, many of which are runaway homeless or identify as part of the LGBTQ community. In her 6 1/2 years at The Door, Sunny has counseled thousands of young people on nutrition and wellness, created a robust nutrition education program, increased total meals served and the scope of reach, and created a Culinary Arts Training Program for The Door community. The Culinary Arts Training Program provides 100 hours of hand-on culinary training where young people alongside a Chef Instructor prepare nightly Door dinners and serve their peers and community. These students graduate with a ServeSafe Certification and work closely with job placement specialists to find careers in the food industry after completion of the program. Most recently, Sunny took the lead at securing a School Food Authority for BSA. This allows The Door to have full control of the kitchen instead of turning it over to the NYC Department of Education during the morning and lunch periods. Sunny alongside Broome Street Academy leadership will pursue replicating a culinary training program for its students and more.

    Sunny received her BS in Business Administration from Carnegie Mellon and completed her Nutrition degree at Hunter College. She then became a licensed Registered Dietitian, RD, through her internship at Sodexo.

  • Victoria Jimpson-Fludd
    Fine Arts Orchestral Society/Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra
    Victoria Jimpson-Fludd
    Fine Arts Orchestral Society/Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra

    Vicki is President and Grant Officer of the 56-year old Fine Arts Orchestral Society (FAOS) which produces concerts for the 65-member Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra (YPO). Each year, FAOS provides 4 concerts free-of-charge for underserved Yonkers’ populations. (Audiences average 700 attendees per concert). FAOS is 100% volunteer led and run. All tasks are completed by its’ 16-member volunteer Board of Directors. As President, Vicki is responsible not only for setting and achieving FAOS’ strategic direction, but also for ensuring that all operational tasks (i.e. marketing, promotion, venue acquisition, legal, financial, membership, etc.) are successfully executed by board members in a timely manner. As Grant Officer, Vicki is responsible for Development and Grant-writing – including creating and executing of funding strategies, audience and board development. Vicki has an MBA-background (Harvard Business School, Wharton School of Finance) and was previously employed, in the private sector, as a management consultant with KPMG and other consulting firms – in the USA and Germany.