Past Service and New Members: Aspire’s Board of Directors
With the conclusion of Aspire’s 2022-2025 three-year strategic plan, we are grateful for the contributions of the three board members who have recently fulfilled their terms of service (Caitlin Albright, Michelle Cohen, and Rupal Lamorena). We are also thrilled to welcome three new board members who will help guide us as we look to the future of our organization (Dr. Carolyn Jackson, Megan Krug, and Tien Phan).
At a critical time in our organization’s history, we are in the process of finding ways to adapt and adjust our work in the face of federal funding cuts, which put us at risk of losing the ability to serve one in three of our students. We are looking forward to partnering with our new board members, who have already contributed to a collective $100,000 Board and Board Emeritus match donation for our Rising Together campaign, to mitigate the impact of funding cuts and build upon the progress that we have made over the past three years.
As part of our mission to provide Arlington students with high-quality afterschool and summer programs, Aspire will be transitioning into a new five-year strategic plan, lasting from 2025-2030. Along with our new board, we are especially excited to focus on expanding and enhancing our programming with the launch of our next strategic plan.
Outgoing Board
Our board members who have fulfilled their terms of service have played a vital role in helping Aspire double the number of students served in just the past three years, expand into school-based program sites, and expand our funding partnerships. Their help has been instrumental in achieving all of our strategic plan goals, including launching our new STEM Makerspace. Two of these former board members will also be joining Aspire’s Board Emeritus group to stay more closely connected with Aspire and continue offering their insights.
We are deeply grateful to these outgoing members for dedicating so much of their time to Aspire.
Caitlin Albright, Director at North Rock Consulting, served two terms on Aspire’s board of directors, supporting our Resource Generation and Performance Committee. She shared that “Serving on Aspire’s board for the last six years has been a deeply rewarding experience. Over the years, I’ve seen the organization grow both in the number of students and sites served and in new programming offerings and community partnerships while remaining deeply committed to its mission. One of the most inspiring parts has been watching Aspire adapt to changing needs while staying true to its core values of growth, connection, equity, and access for the students it serves. It’s been an honor to contribute to Aspire continuing to evolve and reach more students over the years.”
Michelle Cohen, Partner and Chair at Ifrah Law, served two terms on Aspire’s board of directors, serving as the Governance Committee Chair. In reflecting on her time at Aspire, she said, “Serving on the Aspire Board for six years has been one of my most meaningful volunteer opportunities. Reading with Aspire’s students, fundraising to maintain our critical programs (especially during sudden funding cuts) and helping Aspire with pro bono legal services have truly connected me to our community. I look forward to continuing to contribute to this amazing nonprofit as a Board Emeritus member. Supporting underserved children so they can reach their potential is something we can all ‘aspire’ to achieve.”
Rupal Lamorena, Managing Director at Accenture, served two terms on Aspire’s board of directors, during which she served on our Performance and Resource Generation Committee. Looking back on the past six years, she said that “Being a part of Aspire’s Board of Directors has provided me with valuable experience supporting education here in Arlington. The opportunity to bring my personal and professional networks together to support Aspire—whether through our annual celebration and fundraiser or volunteer nights with colleagues to help students with reading and homework—has showcased the positive impact our community can make when we come together for a common cause: Aspire’s loving support of these incredible students.”
Incoming Board
As we look to Aspire’s future and our continued commitment to holistically serving students, we are thrilled to welcome three new board members who bring diverse skill sets, backgrounds, and insights to Aspire. Looking ahead to the next school year, our new strategic plan, and the uncertain landscape of federal funding cuts, we are grateful for the unique perspective and support these members bring. Even before their official start as board members, these individuals have helped generate support for Aspire, and we are excited to have them as part of our organization!
Dr. Carolyn Jackson, Principal at Gunston Middle School, a lifelong Arlington resident and Arlington Public Schools graduate, brings over a decade of experience in local schools. She shared that she was drawn to Aspire because “Education should never be a privilege—it is a fundamental right. Every student deserves access to excellence, opportunity, and the resources necessary to achieve academic success. Equity means meeting students where they are and lifting them to where they deserve to be.”
Megan Krug, Managing Director at Accenture, has strong skills in strategic planning, management, and analytics. She said that she is looking forward to joining the board because “My parents were public school educators who worked tirelessly to provide learning opportunities in the diverse community where I was raised. With this background, I was drawn to Aspire’s goal of helping to close the early learning gap, with a particular focus on students coming from underserved backgrounds.”
Tien Phan, Preconstruction Manager at Fairfield Residential, not only has a deep knowledge of the Arlington community, he also brings his own prior experience with Aspire. He shared, “What drew me to Aspire Afterschool Learning was a reconnection with an old mentor that reached out to me to inform me that Aspire was looking for a former student of the program who might be interested in joining the board. I was immediately interested and as a former student of Greenbrier Learning Center (what Aspire evolved from), I credit the program to have allowed me to become who I am today. I look forward to contributing in any way I can to the board towards the success of the program and to ensure all students have the opportunities to continue to strive for their goals.”