I’m excited & honored to write this post as the new Interim President for Springboard Collaborative. I’ve been working closely with this organization for years, first as an advisor, then as a board member, and now filling the critical role held by our amazing outgoing President, Aubrey White. I’ve known and admired Aubrey for years, so this is truly bittersweet. As thrilled as I am to get to work with Springboard even more closely, it is sad to see someone as passionate, sharp, and energetic as Aubrey move on to her next adventure.
I first met Alejandro and Aubrey in 2014, and was immediately floored by their vision, passion, intellect, and ability to build such an incredible team. When the opportunity arose to work more closely with them, it was a very easy decision for me to make. As a board member for Springboard, I had always watched this team with envy — it’s truly an honor to now work with them in this capacity.
My own obsession with education comes from my family. My dad would often remind us of our family journey, starting only a few generations ago, where my great grandfather’s formal education ended by elementary school. He insisted that all of his kids receive a better education than his own. My grandfather grew up having to study in public spaces with any ambient light he could put a book under and eventually earned an engineering degree. He insisted that his six children would all reach an even higher level of education, and they all did. My dad continued the tradition, and as a college professor, he demonstrated the value and importance of a life dedicated to education and research.
I can think of no better way to continue my own family’s tradition than by working with Springboard.
I’ve been humbled by how welcoming the Springboard team has been and how eagerly they have educated me on how best to support them. I look forward to the same introductions to our partners and funders that I haven’t yet had the pleasure of meeting.
If you’re reading this post, I’m sure you’re critical to the success of our shared mission, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.
