Troy is the Chief Financial and Operations Officer for Georgia Health Initiative. He is responsible for the sound execution of all financial and operational aspects of the Initiative’s work. He ensures that the finance, information infrastructure, data management, office administration, and human resources functions are operating in full support of the Initiative’s mission and vision. … Continued
Frank London Gettridge is an educator who has dedicated his career working to improve the lives of the most vulnerable children and families. A New Orleans native, Frank possesses over 30 years of experience in education, logging in impressive time and variety as an early childhood, elementary and high school teacher and administrator. Before joining … Continued
Sonia Chang-Díaz is the first Latina and first Asian-American elected to the Massachusetts State Senate and the first woman of color to ever make the ballot for Governor in state history. As a leading progressive thinker and advocate for racial and economic justice, she’s spent her career crafting and winning transformational policy across education, economic … Continued
Vice Chair Marc Philpart is the Executive Director of the California Black Freedom Fund, bringing more than a decade of leadership in grassroots organizations to build power for racial justice. In a prior role, he led the Alliance for Boys and Men of Color where he successfully advanced many state policies and partnerships with the … Continued
Kenneth Jones is the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the MacArthur Foundation and is responsible for all aspects of the finance, accounting, tax, audit, information technology, administrative services, core services and facilities functions for the Foundation. Ken also serves as the Chief Equity Officer for the foundation. Prior to joining the MacArthur … Continued
Tomeka Hart Wigginton has worked to improve education outcomes and increase social and economic mobility at the local, state, and national levels for more than 30 years. Specializing in building and managing strategic partnerships and coalitions, she founded The HarWigg Group in 2023. Tomeka has served in multiple roles including managing director and special advisor … Continued
Julian Vasquez Heilig leads nearly 3,000 students, staff and faculty as the Dean of the University of Kentucky College of Education. While at UK, the College of Education achieved its highest ever U.S. News national ranking, implemented successful enrollment and diversity initiatives and co-created strategic planning for COVID-19. His research and practice has been primarily … Continued
Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari is advocacy director of the New York State Alliance for Quality Education (AQE), the leading statewide organization that has been fighting for educational justice in New York State. She has 20 years of experience in organizing and advocacy for education justice as both a leader and staff member. She is well known and … Continued
Mark Paley joined the Hyams Foundation in 2001. Before coming to Hyams, he was the CFO at YouthBuild USA where he helped to build the national youth servicing non-profit to a nationally recognized network of groups working with out of school youth. His first position in Boston was with Boston Neighborhood Housing, which financed affordable … Continued
Valeria do Vale is the co-director of Stories Inspiring Movements (SIM). She is a proud Boston Public Schools alumni and a first-generation graduate of Northeastern University with a bachelor’s in Sociology and Political Science Northeastern University. A native of northern Brazil, Valeria is a passionate advocate of economic and immigrant rights.
