Russell L. Carson
Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe

Kevin J. Conway
Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC

Brady W. Dougan

James P. Healy
Capra Ibex Advisors, LLC

Colm Kelleher
Morgan Stanley

Robert H. Niehaus
Greenhill Capital Partners LLC

Adebayo Ogunlesi
Global Infrastructure Partners

Allison Lucchese
Co-Chair
Morgan Stanley

Ricardo A. Watson
Co-Chair
Credit Suisse

Jared Ailstock
Goldman Sachs

John Anselmi
Sullivan and Cromwell

Jason Aronson
Columbia University

Nicole Beserra
Saks Fifth Avenue

Jack Conway
Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Sam Cooley
Macquarie Capital

Chris Day
Credit Suisse

Tim Deygoo
Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Chidi Erike

Henry Flores
Brick City Development Corporation

Andy Flynn
Goldman Sachs

Amy Greenstein
Empire State Development

Laura Hunt
Graham Capital

Mike Kaicher
Morgan Stanley

Robert Kirk
Castleton Commodities

Caitlin Marcoux
Pricewaterhouse Coopers

Amir Mohammed
Thomson Reuters

Chris Neamonitis
Goldman Sachs

Danya Perry
MacAndrews & Forbes

Chris Peyser
Kelso and Company

Kevin Song
Soros Fund

Nick Sophinos
Goldman Sachs

Denise Durham Williams
Executive Director, Ext. 122 (Assistant)

Ms. Denise Durham Williams became the Executive Director of Student Sponsor Partners in May 2014. She joined the not for profit sector in 2009 after spending thirty accomplished years on Wall Street at JP Morgan Chase and CitiGroup. In 2009, Ms. Durham Williams was chosen to lead One Family, a not for profit whose mission is to end family homelessness in Massachusetts. As the Executive Director, she expanded One Family’s Scholarship program statewide and successfully advocated for improved community and housing resources to low income, at-risk homeless families in Massachusetts. In 2013, Ms. Durham Williams moved back to New York and became the President of Kids in Distressed Situations, a national not for profit providing over $100MM in clothing, books, toys and other kids essential products to children in need.

Ms. Durham Williams is a graduate of Tufts University with a BA in Economics. She also successfully completed graduate level management training in corporate finance, risk management and real estate finance throughout her career in the financial services industry.

Kristine Acosta
Executive Assistant, Office Manager, & Finance Liaison, Ext. 122

Kristine joined SSP in 2012, after graduating from Barnard College-Columbia University with a BA in Urban Studies, concentrating in sociology. Prior to joining SSP as a School Relations Associate, Kristine completed a thesis on Human Trafficking in the Dominican Republic.

Jasmine Alfonseca
Manager of SSP’s Career and College Program, Ext. 118

Before joining SSP in 2014, Jasmine worked in college student support at the City University of New York first as a College Coordinator and most recently as an Academic Advisor. While at CUNY, Jasmine worked with graduates from urban communities aspiring to academic success. As a College Coordinator she assisted in college readiness programming for incoming students. Later, as an Academic Advisor, she guided these students as they achieved their academic goals using targeted orientations as well as innovations in collegiate accessibility. Jasmine received her Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Barnard College.

Dafina Davis
SSP Relationship Manager, Ext. 111

Dafina became part of SSP in 2012 after working with a non-profit organization as a case manager. She graduated with a Bachelors Degree in History from SUNY Stony Brook University in 2007. She is also an alumna of the SSP program, and attended SSP partner school Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn.

Dafina Davis is the primary contact for the following schools: Academy of Mount St. Ursula, Aquinas, Bishop Kearney, Bishop Loughlin, Cathedral, Preston, St. Catharine Academy, St. Jean Baptiste, St. Joseph, St. Raymond Academy, and The Mary Louis Academy.

Katie Dearing
Director of Major Gifts and Volunteerism, Ext. 121

As Director of Major Gifts and Volunteerism, Katie oversees the recruitment and relationship management of Financial Sponsors and Mentor Volunteers.  Prior to her work at SSP, Katie spent almost 4 years at St. Mary’s High School in inner-city Lynn, MA, most recently as Director of Institutional Advancement.  While at St. Mary’s, Katie oversaw all annual fundraising, alumni events, scholarship cultivation, and external relations.   A highlight of her tenure was creating several new systems, pipelines, and partnerships around the school’s scholarship and financial aid program.  Katie began her career as a Fellow with the Partnership for Inner-City Education, working for two years as Sacred Heart School’s Director of Development and Marketing in the Highbridge area of the South Bronx.

Katie received her Masters of Nonprofit Administration (MNA) from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business and is a proud graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, where she serves as Class Fundraising Chair.  She brings her passion for nonprofit fundraising and commitment to educational equity to the SSP team.

Angel Francis
Director of Philanthropy, Ext. 116

Angel Francis joined the SSP team in January 2013. Before coming to SSP, Angel spent more than 6 years with consulting firm DCM designing and executing individual giving, membership, and subscription campaigns for national arts & cultural organizations. Previously, Angel worked at the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA), where she implemented marketing and promotional efforts for multiple venues. Angel holds a Master’s degree in vocal performance & pedagogy from Ohio University and a Bachelor’s degree from Otterbein University.

Eunice Hong
Director of Student and School Relations, ext. 114

Eunice E. Hong joined the SSP team in April 2015. Eunice started her career in the private sector and bridged to the nonprofit arena in the aftermath of 9/11. In addition to her private sector experience, she has worked with two global nonprofit organizations including the American Red Cross & the Salvation Army in fundraising and business development.

She is passionate about and committed to working with students and families of underserved communities and believes that education is still the best avenue to closing the social economic gap . Currently, Eunice oversees the Student & School Relations department which oversees all 23 partner school relationships, current and new student relationships (1,200), as well as programs under college prep, readiness and success.

She sits on a board of several nonprofit organizations here in NYC and also serves as a Class Fund Chair for her Alma Mater, Barnard College of Columbia University. She is actively involved with the college’s mentorship program working closely with its graduating seniors toward career development. She attended graduate school at New York University with a Master of Public Administration & Policy.

Jennifer Solar
Director of Marketing & Communications, Ext. 120

Jennifer Solar joined SSP in August of 2015 and is the Director of Marketing and Communications. Prior to joining SSP, she served as the Director of Communications and Media Relations for Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), where she was responsible for developing and implementing an integrated communications and public relations program that supported the leadership and mission of the organization. Jennifer also worked at Edelman Worldwide as a Public Relations Multicultural expert. Jennifer’s experience includes working with such well-known brands as Amazon, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Burger King, The Apollo Theater, Novartis, Pepsi, and Abyssinian Baptist Church.

Jennifer started her PR career at The Terrie Williams Agency. While there, she contributed to the branding, launch, and positioning of numerous high-profile clients, including the late Johnnie Cochran, Sean (P.Diddy) Combs, former NY Knick, Charlie Ward.

Jennifer holds a B.A. in English Literature from Long Island University and a M.A. in Education from Hunter College.

Julia Spector
Development Assistant, Ext. 112

Julia joined SSP as the Development Assistant in August of 2015 after graduating from Syracuse University with a B.A. in Political Science and Music, with a concentration in environmental advocacy. Julia was the President of Amnesty International at Syracuse University and also worked at the New York Public Interest Research Group. In addition, Julia interned at Media 4 Humanity, a New York City based organization aimed at eradicating child trafficking in the United States.

Orlando Torres
SSP Relationship Manager, Ext. 119

Orlando Torres joined SSP in August of 2014 as a Relationship Manager after spending the past eight years at the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition as an institutional organizer and grant writer who worked with youth extensively. Orlando has a passion for working with young people and is looking forward to advancing the mission of Student Sponsor Partners. Orlando is currently studying for his Master’s in Public Administration at the Baruch School of Public Affairs.

Orlando is the primary contact for the following schools: All Hallows, Cardinal Hayes, Christ the King, Cristo Rey, Holy Cross, La Salle Academy, Martin Luther, Monsignor McClancy, Mount St. Michael, and St. Raymond High School for Boys.

Ebony Wiggins
Program Associate, Ext. 117

Originally from Greensboro, NC, Ebony relocated to New York City in 2013 to obtain her Master’s in Nonprofit Management at The New School. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Child Development & Family Relations from North Carolina Central University. While at NC Central,  Ebony sat on the executive board as the Community Chair and also managed the community operations for a local apparel & lifestyle company. Prior to joining SSP, Ebony was an intern at Fashion Delivers | K.I.D.S.

Contact Ebony for questions regarding mentor events and mentor training.

The Flanigan Society, named for Student Sponsor Partners’ late founder Peter Flanigan, honors organizations and individuals who have donated more than $1 million over the course of Student Sponsor Partners’ history. We are incredibly thankful for your generosity.

Diocese of Brooklyn
Carson Family Charitable Trust
The Clark Foundation
Lisa and Richard Cashin
Dee and Kevin Conway
Credit Suisse Americas Foundation
Credit Suisse Fixed Income Division
David J. and Marilyn B. Dunn
Peter M. Flanigan
Amy and Jim Healy
Katherine and Peter Lyon
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
The Heckscher Foundation for Children
The Kovner Foundation
Morgan Stanley
Kate and Robert Niehaus
The Partnership for Inner-City Education
Valerie and Jack Rowe
Peter Jay Sharp Foundation
William E. Simon Foundation
Tiger Foundation