Oliver Scholars

Celebrating 40 Years of Excellence! Join us for our next #40for40 Alumni Spotlight. This week, we proudly shine the spotlight on Valerie Grillo '92 Valerie Grillo is a global Human Resources leader with a proven track record of success in driving business transformation, leading strategic HR initiatives and creating inclusive, high-performing work environments. Currently serving as Vice President of Human Resources at Google, Valerie brings over 25 years of experience to the role, with the last three years dedicated to leading and transforming HR and business practices within Google's dynamic and innovative culture. Valerie leads the HR teams for Google products that serve billions of users around the world, including Google Search, Maps and Ads. Valerie has been instrumental in aligning Google’s people strategy to enable Google’s advancements in applying generative AI to its Consumer products. She serves as an advisor to Google leaders and mentors many across the Company. Valerie is passionate about talent development, diversity & inclusion, & employee well-being. Prior to joining Google, Valerie spent 19 years at American Express (Amex). At Amex, Valerie held a wide range of HR Leadership positions including Senior Vice President HR for both the Global Commercial Services and Global Consumer Services business, Chief Diversity Officer and Head of Global Employee & Labor Relations. At American Express, Valerie built a reputation as an inclusive leader who drove transformation and inspired teams. As Chief Diversity Officer (CDO), she established American Express as a leader in the space. Valerie spoke extensively on DEI and was featured in the media for her expertise on the topic. Valerie earned a bachelor’s degree with honors in Psychology from Brown University and an MA in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. Valerie’s accolades include being named one of the Top Executives in Corporate Diversity by Black Enterprise and a 2018 “Power Woman” by Moves Magazine. Join us in celebrating Valerie's achievements and the legacy of Oliver Scholars over the past 40 years! #OliverScholars #40thAnniversary #AlumniSpotlight #ScholarsipLeadershipService #FourDecadesStrong #oliverstrong

Celebrating 40 Years of Excellence! Join us for our next #40for40 Alumni Spotlight. This week, we proudly shine the spotlight on Johnny Araujo '09! Johnny Araujo is a software engineer with a robust background in both technology and project management, and with a passion for mentorship and lifting others as he climbs. As a Senior Lead Software Engineer at Deloitte Digital, Johnny oversees the acquisition, development, and deployment of talent which promotes the maturity of the firm by optimizing team performance and project outcomes. Prior to joining Deloitte Digital in January 2024, Johnny worked at Giant Machines, where he climbed through the ranks from Software Engineer to eventually serve as Principal Engineer. His deep technical knowledge, combined with a keen ability to understand client needs, enabled him to develop and implement innovative software solutions tailored to solving clients' complex engineering challenges. In addition to his client deliverables, Johnny played a pivotal role in the recruitment, development, and management of early career engineers. He co-led the creation of a comprehensive recruiting and training program designed to equip entry-level engineers with the essential skills and knowledge required to excel in their engineering consulting careers while shortening the time to value for new engineers. This training program contributed to an engineer attrition rate of under 5 percent, in an industry with attrition rates greater than 20 percent per year. Johnny began his career in software engineering as an App Developer at HEVO Power, a small start-up specializing in wireless charging technology for electric vehicles Prior to transitioning into software engineering, Johnny worked for the NYC Department of Design and Construction as a Construction Project Manager, where he successfully managed four capital construction projects totaling $55M. Johnny holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from The George Washington University and has completed intensive training in Web Development at Fullstack Academy.   Johnny grew up in Washington Heights and was a member of the Oliver Scholars Class of ‘09. Johnny has remained involved with Oliver since he graduated, most recently by serving on the Alumni Council Scholar Support Committee. In that role, Johnny supported yearly programming, connected alumni directly to scholar events, and helped develop the College Coach Program, designed to guide Oliver Scholars through the college experience by matching current Scholars with an alumni mentor. Join us in celebrating Johnny's achievements and the legacy of Oliver Scholars over the past 40 years! #OliverScholars #40thAnniversary #AlumniSpotlight #ScholarsipLeadershipService #FourDecadesStrong #oliverstrong

✨ A HUGE thank you to everyone who made the Oliver Scholars 40th Anniversary Gala an incredible success!✨ Because of your amazing generosity, we raised $1 million in support of our scholars! 🎉 Your presence and contributions will have a lasting impact on the next generation of Black and Latinx leaders. 🙌🏽 Special shoutout to all of our sponsors, our Champions of Excellence honorees, Kwanza Jones and Jose E. Feliciano, as well as our Alumni Awardees for inspiring us all. We were also treated to incredible performances by Doug E. Fresh, Jeff Redd, and DJ Wiz that kept the night going strong! 🎶💃🏽🕺🏽 And how could we forget our fabulous mistress of ceremony, Shirley Rumierk '95? 👏🏽 It was amazing to see so many of our scholars, scholar parents, and alumni, especially those featured in our 40 for 40 spotlight series—you all truly represent the heart and future of Oliver Scholars. 🖤 Missed the event? No worries check out our highlight reel below! Didn't get a chance to get involved? There’s still time to make an impact! Click here to donate and help us continue transforming lives. 👉🏽 https://lnkd.in/eeusHPjS Wondering who else was there? Check out these pics! Oliver celebrations are ones you won't want to miss! https://lnkd.in/e3NRAj5d #OliverScholars40th #1MillionRaised #EmpowerLeaders #ThankYou #SupportExcellence #DonateNow Dr. Danielle Cox Adrian Millan Alex Doñé Kwanza Jones ♛ Latoya Massey Corrine Irish Yenny Salcedo Dorothea Schlosser Raina Oberoi Keith Canton Terry-Ann Burrell Nick Doering-Dorival Victor Nuñez Divakar Gupta Michael Kessler Louisa Troubh

Celebrating 40 Years of Excellence! Join us for our next #40for40 Alumni Spotlight. This week, we proudly shine the spotlight on Asha Muldro '97!!! Asha Muldro is a senior managing director at Guidepost Solutions in Los Angeles, overseeing a wide range of investigative, compliance, and monitoring matters for corporations and individuals. She conducts proactive investigations, including covert techniques, and provides law enforcement referrals. As deputy general counsel, she also assists with legal matters for the firm globally. Ms. Muldro leads the Guidepost team supporting the University of Michigan in implementing remediation efforts following sexual misconduct findings. She is also leading a compliance assessment for the federal monitorship of the New York City Housing Authority and recently led the compliance program assessment for General Motors. Ms. Muldro oversees compliance and investigative work across sectors and lectures on topics like sexual harassment, data privacy, cybersecurity, and investigative techniques. She serves on the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and as vice president on Columbia Law School Association’s Board of Directors. Previously, Ms. Muldro was a partner at Willenken Wilson Loh & Delgado LLP, where she handled white-collar investigations and civil litigation for major clients such as Microsoft, GoPro, and KeyBank. Before that, she spent seven years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California, directing over 100 criminal investigations and leading multiple trials. She also worked at Latham & Watkins LLP, representing Fortune 500 companies and corporate officers in complex litigation and investigations. Earlier in her career, she worked for the U.S. House of Representatives and J.P. Morgan Chase and clerked for U.S. District Judge Robert P. Patterson, Jr. in the Southern District of New York. Ms. Muldro holds a J.D. from Columbia Law School and a B.A. from Yale University. Join us in celebrating Asha's achievements and the legacy of Oliver Scholars over the past 40 years! #OliverScholars #40thAnniversary #AlumniSpotlight #ScholarsipLeadershipService #FourDecadesStrong #oliverstrong

A huge shoutout and heartfelt thanks to our incredible Board of Trustees Chair, Dorothea B. Schlosser, and Thomas Kopczynski for their extraordinary generosity in becoming Master Level sponsors for our 40th Anniversary Gala! Your support is truly invaluable, and we couldn’t be more grateful. That said, The countdown is on Oliver Community! Join us on October 15th at Cipriani 42nd Street for an unforgettable evening celebrating 40 years of scholarship, leadership, and service. Tickets are still available, and there are still sponsorship opportunities for those who want to make a greater impact or simply sponsor students to attend! Don’t miss your chance to be part of this special milestone celebration. https://lnkd.in/gDuk2cEi #OliverScholars40th #GalaCelebration #Scholarship #Leadership #Service #Cipriani42nd #GetYourTicketsNow Dorothea Schlosser

A big shoutout and heartfelt thanks to MSCI Inc., for generously becoming Baccalaureate Level sponsors for our 40th Anniversary Gala! Join us on October 15th at Cipriani 42nd Street for an unforgettable evening celebrating 40 years of scholarship, leadership, and service. Tickets are available now, and there are still sponsorship opportunities for those who want to make a greater impact or simply sponsor students to attend! Don’t miss your chance to be part of this special milestone celebration. https://lnkd.in/gDuk2cEi #OliverScholars40th #GalaCelebration #Scholarship #Leadership #Service #Cipriani42nd #GetYourTickets #blacktieevent #GalaNYC Raina Oberoi

Celebrating 40 Years of Excellence! Join us for our next #40for40 Alumni Spotlight. This week, we proudly shine the spotlight on Jeffrey Garcia, Ed.M., M.S., CNAP '09!!!! Jeff Garcia is the newly appointed Director of Strategic Finance (Assistant Controller) for Directions for Our Youth (DFOY), a K-12 youth development organization serving the Bronx and Upper Manhattan. DFOY provides after-school services, summer programs, high school counseling, and job readiness services. He formerly served on DFOY’s Board of Directors. Jeff was recently the Director of Finance, Operations & Special Projects at Documented, a nonprofit newsroom devoted to covering immigrants and the policies that impact them. At Documented, he led the development of Finance and Operations while entrusted to build relationships within the social sector to expand their reach. Jeff has previously worked at notable nonprofits GiveDirectly, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, and Goodwill. Serving the social impact world for over a decade, he began his career in public accounting and has also been a Financial Consultant for various Schools in NYC. A first-gen Dominican and native New Yorker raised by a single mom in Washington Heights, Jeff is passionate about using his skills and network to support the vibrant communities and education spaces that nurtured his entrepreneurial spirit. He credits a lot of his fervor for service to Oliver’s impact and his experience at the Westtown School. He believes the Quaker philosophies and values at Westtown of service, community, and introspection helped center and guide his career perspective. His younger sister, Judhanny, is also an Oliver Alum who also graduated from Westtown. Jeff is grateful to Oliver Scholars as the catalyst for this opportunity and for the many positive ripples stemming since. As a proud Oliver Scholar Alum, he serves on Oliver's Development Committee and as an Oliver Scholar College Coach. He is also an Associate Board member of Nido De Esperanza, a poverty alleviation nonprofit based out of Washington Heights, that provides holistic early childhood development and family programming. A lifelong learner, Jeff has completed numerous Fellowships including being an Equity Inclusion Fellow at Harvard, an Education Pioneers Summer Fellow (2022), Inicio Ventures Fellows (Fall 2022), and is currently participating in the Coro NY Immigration Civic Leadership Program. Jeff earned his B.S.B.A in Accounting from the University of Richmond, his M.S. in Nonprofit Leadership from Fordham University, and his Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) where he immersed himself in the Education Entrepreneurship program and his the Identity, Power Justice in Education concentration. Join us in celebrating Jeff's achievements and the legacy of Oliver Scholars over the past 40 years! #OliverScholars #40thAnniversary #AlumniSpotlight #ScholarsipLeadershipService #FourDecadesStrong #oliverstrong

 Have you purchased your tickets yet for the Oliver Scholars 40th Anniversary Gala? Join us on October 15th at the iconic Cipriani 42nd Street at 6 PM for an unforgettable night! We'll be honoring our 2024 Champions of Excellence, Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano! In addition to honoring our 2024 Champions of Excellence, we’ll be recognizing Alumni Awardees who have excelled in Scholarship, Leadership, and Service:  Scholarship Award: Corrine Irish  Leadership Award: Elizabeth A. Angeles ’09  Service Award: Latoya Massey ’98 Come celebrate with us, make an impact for our youth then get ready for epic entertainment featuring the legendary Doug E. Fresh, Grammy Award winner Jeff Redd & Band, and DJ Wiz of Kid 'n Play all hosted by actress and alumna Shirley Rumierk '95.  Tickets and sponsorship packages are available now! Don’t miss it!  https://lnkd.in/gDuk2cEi #OliverScholarsGala   #40YearsOfExcellence   #DougEFresh #JeffRedd #CiprianiNYC #CelebrationAndImpact #DoGoodFeelGreat #Scholarship #Leadership #Service #Philanthropy #AcademicExcellence

Celebrating 40 Years of Excellence! Join us for our next #40for40 Alumni Spotlight. This week, we proudly shine the spotlight on George Suttles '99!!! George Suttles leads Commonfund’s educational, thought partnership, and professional development activities as Executive Director of Commonfund Institute. He serves on multiple advisory boards and steering committees, including Intentional Endowments Network’s (IEN) steering committee which provides strategic guidance to the network, and chairs the steering committee for the Impact Finance Center’s Diverse Manager Initiative. Prior to joining Commonfund, George was a Program Officer at the John A. Hartford Foundation, an independent, national private foundation focused on improving care for older adults. Before joining the foundation, he was a Vice President and Senior Philanthropic Relationship Manager at U.S. Trust/Bank of America. In this role, he worked with private and institutional clients on issues related to best practices in governance and strategic grantmaking. He is a member of numerous nonprofit boards and investment committees including Mertz Gilmore Foundation, Auburn Seminary, and the New York Foundation, where he serves as Chair of the board. George is frequently asked to speak on topics concerning fiduciary duty and stewardship, philanthropy, investment governance, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, and values aligned investing, among other topics. Currently, he is on the Adjunct Faculty at the New York University (NYU) School of Professional Studies, teaching classes on private and corporate philanthropy. George received a B.A. from Wesleyan University, an M.A. in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy (IUPUI), and an M.P.A. from Baruch CUNY Marxe School of Public and International Affairs.   George is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D) at New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development with a focus on leadership and innovation. Join us in celebrating George's achievements and the legacy of Oliver Scholars over the past 40 years! #OliverScholars #40thAnniversary #AlumniSpotlight #ScholarsipLeadershipService #FourDecadesStrong #oliverstrong