Jessica Vega Senior Policy Analyst, Rhode KIDS COUNT Jessica Vega is a Senior Policy Analyst at Rhode KIDS COUNT. In her role, she leads statewide policy analysis, advocacy, research, and project management in education and economic well-being. Jessica holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Rhode Island College, where she was awarded the 2022 Faculty…
Maria Davies Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator, Lamoille North Supervisory District in Hyde Park, VT Maria Davies lives in South Burlington, Vermont. She is the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator at the Lamoille North Supervisory District in Hyde Park, Vermont. Raised in New York City, but born in Central America, she got a Bachelor’s Degree…
Dr. Gisele C. Shorter is the third President and CEO of the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, which funds community-rooted educational transformation that challenges racial inequities and advances excellent, student-centered public education for all New England youth.
Dr. Debra Humphreys serves on the executive team of Lumina Foundation and oversees the foundation’s strategic communications work as well as its efforts to increase the number of individuals attaining high-quality Bachelor’s degrees.
Dr. Warren Simmons BOARD CHAIR, SENIOR FELLOW & FORMER E.D., ANNENBERG INSTITUTE FOR SCHOOL REFORM Dr. Warren Simmons is Chair of the Board of Directors at the Foundation. In his former role as Executive Director for the Annenberg Institute for School Reform (AISR), Warren worked to improve outcomes and practices in urban schools, especially for…
Dr. Prudence CarterSARAH AND JOSEPH JR. DOWLING PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY, BROWN UNIVERSITY Dr. Prudence Carter is the Sarah and Joseph Jr. Dowling Professor of Sociology at Brown University. Prior to joining Brown, she served as the E.H. and Mary E. Pardee Professor and Dean of the Graduate School of Education at UC Berkeley from 2016-2021.…
Ann Smith EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AFRICAN CARIBBEAN AMERICAN PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, INC., HARTFORD, CT Ann R. Smith, JD, MBA is Executive Director of African Caribbean American Parents of Children with Disabilities, Inc. (AFCAMP) commonly known as AFCAMP Advocacy for Children, a parent-led nonprofit organization headquartered in Hartford, CT. Providing resources, training and advocacy, AFCAMP…
Tracy Kelley INTERIM DIRECTOR, WÔPANÂAK LANGUAGE RECLAMATION PROJECT, MASHPEE, MA Tracy Kelley “Wunushq” is a proud member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. She was born and raised on the unceded territory of the Mashpee Wampanoag where she lives her purpose through youth work and language reclamation. She has been growing with Wôpanâôt8âôk (Wampanoag language) since…
Jennifer Weston CO-DIRECTOR, LAKOTA WELL-BEING PROJECT, STANDING ROCK SIOUX RESERVATION, NORTH & SOUTH DAKOTA Jennifer Weston (Hunkpapa Lakota, Standing Rock) is a writer, producer, nonprofit leader, and fundraiser who has worked for the past 25 years with Tribal community programs focused on environmental justice, Indigenous education, and language revitalization. Recently, she directed the Wôpanâak Language…
Gladys Vega EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LA COLABORATIVA, CHELSEA, MA Gladys Vega has dedicated more than 30 years of service to the city of Chelsea and The Chelsea Collaborative/La Colaborativa, which she joined in 1990 – just two years after its founding. She took on increasing responsibility with each passing year, moving from receptionist to community organizer…