Meet Our Board & Staff

Board of Directors

Paul E. Moran, CPA, CGMA, ADR, PFS, Chair
Partner, Yarlas, Kaplan, Santilli & Moran, Ltd.

Dr. Todd D. Flaherty, Ed.D.
President & CEO

Dr. Warren Simmons, Vice Chair
Executive Director, Annenberg Institute for School Reform

José V. Monteiro, Jr., Treasurer
AVP-Relationship Manager, Navigant Credit Union

Sylvia Natale, Secretary
Community Volunteer

Colleen Callahan, Ph.D.
Director of Professional Issues, RI Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals

Ray M. Di Pasquale
Commissioner, RI Department of Elementary & Secondary Education; President, Community College of RI

Saikon Gbehan
Attorney, College Crusade Class of 2001

Deborah Gist
Commissioner, RI Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

Mim L. Runey
Providence Campus President & Chief Operating Officer, Johnson & Wales University

Dr. Irving Schneider
Community Volunteer

Manuel J. Vales IV
Senior Vice President, Commercial Real Estate Sovereign/Santander Bank

James Vincent
President, NAACP Providence Branch

Stuart M. Yarlas, CPA, MBA, MA
Yarlas, Kaplan, Santilli & Moran, Ltd.

Emeritus member of the board:

Hon. O. Rogeriee Thompson
Justice, U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Designee:

Deborah Grossman-Garber
Associate Commissioner, Academic Policy, RI Office of Higher Education

Senior Management

Todd D. Flaherty, Ed.D.
President & CEO
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Todd Flaherty is responsible for setting overall goals and operational priorities that advance The College Crusade’s mission. Between 1995 and 2007, Dr. Flaherty served as RI Deputy Commissioner of Education, where he played a vital role in developing and implementing the state’s systemic school reform initiatives. Previously he was president of the Rhode Island Superintendents’ Association and principal of two award-winning high schools – Governor James B. Hunt (Jr.) High School, in North Carolina, and Narragansett High School, in Rhode Island. He has been a visiting Associate Professor at Brown University, focusing on educational leadership in urban and diverse settings, and recently served as Deputy in Residence for the Council of Chief State School Officers. Dr. Flaherty currently is a Senior Policy Consultant for the National High School Center in Washington, D.C. He holds a B.A. in History & Social Science from Syracuse University, an M.S. in Social Studies Education from Alfred University, and an Ed.D. in Policy, Planning & Administration from Boston University.

William Formicola
Senior Vice President of Operations / RI GEAR UP Director
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William Formicola leads, plans, and directs internal daily operations at The College Crusade. As RI GEAR UP Director, he also oversees our GEAR UP budget, individual programs and management information systems, and a team of three program managers. He has over 30 years of experience leading major educational and workforce development initiatives, including 11 years at The College Crusade. Bill holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Roger Williams University and has completed extensive graduate coursework in public administration at the University of Rhode Island.

Irene McCormick
Chief Financial Officer
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Irene McCormick directs the financial affairs of The College Crusade. She is responsible for setting our financial plans and policies, our accounting practices, and the conduct of our relationships with lending institutions and the financial community. She also ensures the maintenance of our fiscal records. Irene has over 30 years of experience in finance and has overseen The College Crusade’s finances for 19 years. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Roger Williams University.

Robert J. Oberg
Vice President for Development & Communications
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Bob Oberg directs development activities for The College Crusade and supervises our communications and grant-writing staff. Bob oversaw communications and development for The College Crusade between 1993 and 2002, and before rejoining our management staff in 2007, he spent five years as director of operations and senior communications strategist for Im-aj Communications and Design. Bob serves as a member of the state’s College Access & Success Work Group and chairs a subcommittee on expanding support services for students. He is an alumnus of Leadership Rhode Island and past vice chairman of The Rhode Island Rivers Council. Bob holds a B.A. in English Literature from Providence College and was awarded a graduate fellowship in journalism from the Poynter Institute.

Program Staff

Maria Carvalho
Associate Director for College Readiness & Persistence
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Maria Carvalho is responsible for the management of The College Crusade’s High School programs, initiatives, and Advisory system. She also leads our college completion initiatives. Maria serves on advisory committees for the College Access Competitive Grant initiatives at the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, and the Community College of Rhode Island. She is a member of the planning committee for College Goal Rhode Island and serves on the Children Youth Cabinet College & Career Ready Workgroup. She is also a New England Regional Council Member-at-Large for the College Board. Maria has 15 years of experience in program development at The College Crusade. She holds a B.S. in Human Services from Springfield College.

Lauren Schechtman
Middle School Manager
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Lauren Schechtman coordinates and supervises The College Crusade’s programs for middle school students and oversees the work of our middle school Field Coordinator and team of middle school Advisors. Lauren is Vice President of the Board of Directors for Segue Institute for Learning. She is also a member of the Providence School Department Community Partners committee and the Central Falls Square Mile Coalition. She has extensive experience in youth program development and administration, including several years as Program Coordinator for Times2 Academy and 14 years with The College Crusade. Lauren holds a B.S. in Social Work from Florida International University.

Laurel Shepard
Admissions & Special Projects Manager
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Laurel Shepard is responsible for building student membership in The College Crusade. She also manages our signature Saturday Cru Club program, which involves hundreds of students in academic workshops and career events during the school year. Throughout her 20-year tenure with The College Crusade, Laurel has assumed a variety of roles and responsibilities as elementary school program manager, community relations specialist, director of program services, and associate director of mentoring programs. Prior to joining The College Crusade, she managed Community School programs and served as the Education Resource Specialist for the City of Cambridge, Mass. Laurel also coordinated environmental and adventure education programs for Thompson Island Outward Bound. She is past president of the board of directors for the Northern RI Cooperative Extension and a graduate of Leadership Rhode Island. Laurel holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Suffolk University and an M.A. in Human Services Management from Lesley University.

Ranika Spiver
Middle School Field Coordinator
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Ranika Spiver coordinates the daily operations of our middle school Advisory staff. Previously she served as the College Crusade Advisor at Woonsocket Middle School and at Gilbert Stuart Middle School in Providence. She has also worked for the RI Mentoring Partnership as an AmeriCorps volunteer, for the RI Key Program, and for CVS corporate headquarters. A former Crusader, Ranika graduated from Classical High School and earned a B.A. in Communications from the University of Rhode Island.

Chanda Womack
High School Field Coordinator
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Chanda Womack coordinates the daily operations of our high school Advisory staff. Previously she served as the College Crusade Advisor at Central High School. She has also worked as a teacher for Providence Summerbridge and as a loan officer in the banking industry. Chanda is Secretary of the Cambodian Society of Rhode Island. She holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of Rhode Island and is currently completing a master’s program in Secondary Education, with a concentration in Math, at the University of Phoenix.

Meet our school-based College Crusade Advisory staff.

Meet our College Crusade Family Liaison staff.

Development Staff

Mary Alexandre
Development Officer
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Mary Alexandre helps to plan, coordinate, and implement The College Crusade’s fund development program. Her work includes grant writing, special events, donor cultivation, and other fundraising activities. Mary has an extensive background in print, broadcast and online media, along with experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, and communications. Before joining The College Crusade, she was an editor for an online news media group and director of development at the New England site of a national youth services organization. She holds a B.S. in Media Communication and Writing from Framingham (MA) State College.

Karen Donovan
Marketing & Communications Officer
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Karen Donovan communicates the mission, vision, and spirit of The College Crusade with materials designed for print and for the web. She also writes CruBlog and serves as liaison with members of the media. Karen has over 30 years of experience as a professional writer and editor, including 10 years as an account executive for a public relations agency in Providence. She holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Hobart & William Smith Colleges and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Administrative & Finance Staff

Martha Ahern
Scholarship Coordinator
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Martha Ahern serves as The College Crusade’s staff liaison with the RI Higher Education Assistance Authority in the administration of our scholarship program. Prior to joining The College Crusade, she worked in the banking industry for 15 years. Martha holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a major in Accounting from Bryant University.

Jill Carr
Executive Assistant to the President
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Jill Carr provides daily administrative support for the President and CEO of The College Crusade and functions as office manager. She has worked for The College Crusade for 19 years.

Alissa Dasta Coletta
Executive Assistant to Finance
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Alissa Dasta Coletta handles day-to-day financial operations for The College Crusade, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll. She began her 15-year career with The College Crusade as an AmeriCorps member, working directly with students and program staff. She then assumed the role of bookkeeper, with increased responsibilities in finance, budgeting, and human resources over time. Alissa holds a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Elementary Education from Rhode Island College.

Enma Velasquez
Family Engagement Assistant
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Enma Velasquez works with the Family Engagement Coordinator to deliver programs, workshops, and other events for families of Crusaders. She provides Spanish translation at family workshops and presentations, supports a staff of Family Liaisons, and communicates daily with families of Crusaders. Enma also administers The College Crusade’s Khan Academy online math tutorial program. Enma began her career with The College Crusade as a Family Liaison in 2008 and joined the full-time staff in 2011. Her son and daughter are high school Crusaders. 

Linda Viveiros
Program Operations Coordinator
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Linda Viveiros performs diverse day-to-day functions relating to program operations at The College Crusade and provides continuous vital support to the Senior Vice President for Operations. Before joining The College Crusade, she ran her own printing company. Linda graduated from the Executive Assistant program at Gibbs College.

Data Services Staff

LAN Support Specialist
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Michael Duffy oversees The College Crusade’s network and PC infrastructure, develops IT plan and strategies, and serves as webmaster. He has over 25 years of experience in database design and IT services.

Ardelyz Nunez
Data Specialist
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Ardelys Nunez provides data entry and maintenance services for The College Crusade’s extensive student tracking database. Prior to joining the Crusade, she worked for a private medical office, providing secretarial and medical assistant services. She holds an A.S. in Medical Science from New England Institute of Technology.

Yolanda Infante
Data Specialist
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Yolanda Infante provides data entry and maintenance services for The College Crusade’s extensive student tracking database. Before joining The College Crusade, she worked in case management for a job counseling service.