The Nellie Mae Education Foundation Welcomes Mishone Donelson, Senior Vice President and Senior Managing Director at Horizon Technology Finance, to Board of Directors
Posted by Julita Bailey-Vasco
We are excited to announce the appointment of Mishone Donelson, Senior Vice President and Senior Managing Director at Horizon Technology Finance, to the Nellie Mae Education Foundation Board of Directors. As a board member, Mishone’s expertise and experience in equitable finance and education will guide the Foundation on our racial equity journey.
“Mishone joins us at a critical time when much of philanthropy is thinking about how to leverage assets towards purpose and mission,” said Nellie Mae interim president & CEO, Dr. Gislaine Ngounou. “We are thrilled and grateful that he has chosen to bring his experiences, knowledge, and skills to the important work of the Foundation so that we can better advance racial justice in public education.”
“Mishone combines outstanding business experience with a long track record of supporting educational opportunity and equity. He will be a tremendous partner in moving Nellie Mae’s mission forward,” said Greg Gunn, chair of the Nellie Mae Board.
Mishone has nearly 20 years of investment and business development experience, and currently serves as a Senior Vice President and Senior Managing Director at Horizon Technology Finance, a leading venture lending firm. He is responsible for sourcing investment opportunities in the life sciences and healthcare technology markets.
“I am honored and excited to join the board of the Nellie Mae Education Foundation,” said Mishone Donelson. “As a product of the public school system, I understand first-hand the value and challenges of the public educational system. I want to help ensure that young people of color in the New England area have the quality public education that they need and deserve.”
Previously, Mishone was a Principal at Fairview Capital Partners, where he led investment and business development efforts for Fairview’s venture capital, private equity, and direct co-investment portfolios. Prior to that, Mishone served at Ariel Investments as an equity research analyst and as Chief of Staff to the Chairman and CEO. He also formerly served as a consultant for Accenture. Mishone also helped launch the Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering, Tennessee’s first charter school.
Mishone currently also serves as a board member for Hartford Youth Scholars and the Connecticut Airport Authority, and as a trustee for Miss Porter’s School.
Mishone earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from MIT and a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management, where he was a Robert Toigo Fellow.