Dr. Gisele C. Shorter Joins Transcend’s Board of Directors

Transcend is excited to share that Dr. Gisele C. Shorter has joined our Board of Directors. Dr. Shorter is the President and CEO of the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, which funds community-rooted educational transformation that challenges racial inequities and advances excellent, student-centered public education for all New England youth. Her deep expertise in the science of learning and development and commitment to ending education inequality make her an invaluable partner in Transcend’s mission of creating and spreading extraordinary, equitable learning environments through community-based design.

“Dr. Shorter’s work is grounded in the belief that an equitable society starts with an equitable education system,” says Aylon Samouha, Co-CEO of Transcend. “Her work leading community-based programmatic, research, and policy initiatives to advance justice and equity for young people—especially BIPOC youth—is deeply aligned with Transcend’s vision. We are thrilled to welcome Gisele to Transcend’s Board of Directors and are excited to see her impact working with our community partners.”

“As a former colleague in a grantee community of practice, then funder, I am excited to partner in this new way in support of Aylon and Jeff’s leadership,” shares Dr. Shorter.

Dr. Shorter previously served as the Director of National Education Strategy at the Raikes Foundation, where she was responsible for impact and strategy coherence across the K-12, post-secondary, education field building, and policy portfolios. She is a Distinguished Senior Fellow in the Office of Leadership and Innovation at NYU Steinhardt Department of Administration, Leadership, and Technology. Dr. Shorter both facilitates and is a strategic designer of Leadership Summits across NYU’s international campuses.

Dr. Shorter received her BA from Amherst College in Political Science, her MPA from LIU Brooklyn, and her Doctor of Education from Columbia University.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Shorter to Transcend!