Board of Trustees
Stewardship for today and tomorrow
To ensure all fundholders that their philanthropic legacy will be permanent, continuous, and relevant through time, our Board of Trustees has always been composed of accomplished leaders in civic circles and the business world. The stewardship of our mission and funds is currently entrusted to the following members:
Marc Adee
Chairman & CEO, Crum & Forster
Marc Adee is Chairman and CEO of Crum & Forster (C&F), a leading property and casualty insurance company with more than 2,500 employees. Founded in 1822, C&F is headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey, and has over 50 other office locations nationwide.
Rated “Excellent” by A.M. Best, C&F is a part of Fairfax Financial Holdings. Marc joined Fairfax in 2000 and has held many leadership positions throughout the organization.
Marc has an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BA from Northwestern University. He is also a member of the American Academy of Actuaries and a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society.
He serves on the boards of several organizations, including the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center, the Tri-County Scholarship Fund, and the Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science.
Gerard Brew
Partner, McCarter & English
Gerard Brew is a Partner at McCarter & English, where he represents clients in disputed matters involving estates, trusts, fiduciaries, guardianships, family issues, and closely held family businesses.
He has handled numerous litigated and non-litigated family disputes in New Jersey and New York involving estates as large as $1 billion, trusts, and guardianships. In addition, Gerard counsels charitable and nonprofit organizations (including universities, hospitals, and national organizations) in matters involving fiduciary decisions — such as mergers, affiliation, and the disposition of charitable gifts — and, when necessary, in related litigated proceedings.
He also advises on claims to enforce charitable provisions made by will, trust, or gift, and he handles regulatory matters involving such agencies as the Office of the Attorney General and state banking or insurance regulators.
Gerard devotes substantial time to advancing legal issues, legal education, and pro bono work. He is also the author of the New Jersey Probate Probate Procedures Manual — Navigating a New Jersey Estate Administration, is a contributing editor to The New Jersey Estate Litigation Manual and The New Jersey Estate Planning Manual, is an adjunct Professor of Law at New York Law School, and has won several awards.
Hans Dekker
President, Community Foundation of New Jersey
Hans Dekker has served as President of the Community Foundation of New Jersey since June 2003. During his tenure, the Community Foundation’s funds have granted more than $750 million to charitable causes across New Jersey and beyond.
A key element of the Community Foundation’s mission is to play a leadership role on the critical issues facing New Jersey and its communities. This work has recently focused on food security, maternal care, affordable housing, and health initiatives.
Hans previously served for four years as the Executive Vice President of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. He is also past Chair of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and a Trustee of the Hyde and Watson Foundation, Ohl Foundation, St. Benedict’s Preparatory School, and Miraclefeet.
Hans graduated from Bates College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and received a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley.
Paul Di Maio
President & CEO of Delta Dental of New Jersey & Delta Dental of Connecticut
Paul Di Maio is the President & CEO of Delta Dental of New Jersey and Delta Dental of Connecticut. With a distinguished career spanning more than three decades, he brings extensive leadership experience and a steadfast commitment to fostering organizational growth and innovation.
Paul joined Delta Dental in 2016, initially serving as Senior Vice President & General Counsel. He was promoted to Chief Administrative Officer in 2022 and continued to serve as Senior Vice President & General Counsel, until his promotion to President & CEO in January 2025. Paul previously held executive roles at Samsung Electronics America and Avaya, Inc., and he spent seven years in private practice.
He currently serves on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal and Northern New Jersey and as Chair of its Governance Committee. Paul also serves on the board of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, has been active on the Mendham Township School Board, serves as Vice President of the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation, and received the NJBIZ 2021 Leaders in Law Award.
Paul earned a J.D. degree from Seton Hall University School of Law, where he served as Managing Editor of The Law Review, and a B.A. in Psychology from Villanova University.
Crystal West Edwards, Esq.
Principal, Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C.
As a Principal in the Wealth Preservation Group at Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C., Crystal West Edwards counsels seniors, individuals with disabilities, and their families on issues related to complex estate and tax planning. She is highly experienced in the areas of asset preservation, fiduciary appointments, and representation.
Crystal also advises financial institutions and corporate fiduciaries on judicial and administrative accountings; provides counsel on initial or continued means-tested government benefits eligibility for its trust beneficiaries; and has expertise in elder law, special needs planning and advocacy, and estate administration.
In addition to being a well-known speaker who has authored many publications, Crystal is co-chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and a Fellow to the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Garden State Bar Foundation and is a member of the National Bar Association, Real Property Trust and Estate Section.
Crystal earned a B.A. in Political Science and Criminal Justice from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a J.D. from Penn State Dickinson Law.
Aiysha Johnson
CEO & Executive Director, New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants
Aiysha “AJ” Johnson, MA, IOM, is CEO and Executive Director of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants. She has more than 20 years of wide-ranging global experience working for nonprofits and professional and trade associations. AJ also has proven success in building and supporting high-trust organizational cultures, growing revenue and programs, and building strategic partnerships.
She previously served as Executive Director of BKR International’s Americas Region, where she was responsible for overseeing the implementation of all strategic efforts for BKR accounting and business advisory member firms in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. AJ has also worked for a range of associations including Vizient, the nation’s largest healthcare performance improvement company.
She is the creator of the “Let’s Talk DEI” podcast series, was named a Robert J. Myers Carnegie Fellow in 2022, and was elected to the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors in 2023.
AJ was named No. 1 on NJBIZ’s Accounting Power 50 list in 2023 and one of its 2023 People to Watch in Finance. She was also named one of ROI-NJ’s ROI Influencers: People of Color 2023.
Christine LaCroix
Energy & Resources Partner, Audit & Assurance, Deloitte & Touche
Christine LaCroix is a Partner at Deloitte & Touche, with more than 30 years of experience in public accounting. She leads the audits of large, complex energy and resources companies and has specialized experience serving companies in sectors including regulated electric, gas and water utilities, upstream and downstream oil and gas, renewables, and alternative energy.
As Deloitte’s National Energy, Resources, and Industrials Audit and Assurance leader, Christine is responsible for coordinating services for industry clients; executing strategy for the industry; optimizing its multidisciplinary business model; strengthening operational performance; and leading on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
In addition to serving on the Board of the Junior Achievement of New Jersey, Christine commits her personal time to family and is active in the community.
Dawn M. Lauer
Senior Vice President & Chief Communications Officer, Everest
Dawn Lauer is Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at Everest. She previously served as Executive Vice President and Managing Director at MWWPR, one of the world’s leading independent PR and marketing agencies.
In this role, she oversaw all integrated programming and was called upon by CEOs and marketers for deep specialization in positioning and reputation management, executive eminence building, thought leadership, and internal communications. Dawn built the agency’s multiple seven-figure division Business-to-Business practice from the ground up, and she developed the agency’s proprietary brand positioning methodology, StoryCore™.
Dawn’s work is recognized as “the corporate voice” behind many of the world’s most-recognized brands in aviation, healthcare, professional and financial services, and technology. These brands include JetBlue, Pfizer, Deloitte, Hughes Network Systems, America Abroad Media, and many others. She also serves as strategist to a range of public, private, and not-for-profit clients across all aspects of reputation.
Dawn’s professional development includes immersive leadership and business skills training at Harvard Law School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and communications from Villanova University and is a member of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She commits her personal time to family and community with Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church on New York City’s Upper West Side.
Kimberly Banks MacKay
Senior Vice President, General Counsel, & Corporate Secretary, West Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Kimberly Banks MacKay serves as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary for West Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Previously, she worked as Senior Vice President and Counsel of the Segal Group and served in roles of increasing responsibility at Novartis, including U.S. Head, Legal and Compliance for Novartis Business Services, Deputy Compliance Officer for Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and Lead Legal Counsel for one of its business units.
Kimberly has also practiced securities law at MetLife, Lucent Technologies, and Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy; held a federal clerkship; and spent several years in commercial banking.
She was selected as NJBIZ’s 2017 General Counsel of the Year – Public Company, honored by Blackdoctor.org as one of the “Top Blacks in Healthcare,” and received the YWCA Tribute to Women and Industry Award and the Trailblazer Award from the Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey.
Kimberly serves on the Board of Directors of the NJ Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel and is an active member of the National Bar Association and the Links, Inc. She received an A.B. in Economics from Princeton University and a J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law.
Gail Mandel
Managing Director, Focused Point Ventures
Gail Mandel has more than 20 years of financial and business experience in customer service. She currently serves as Managing Director of Focused Point Ventures, which provides business advisory and consulting services. Previously, she was President and CEO of Wyndham Destination Network, which was part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies prior to its 2018 spin-off transaction.
In that role, Gail oversaw overall strategy and operations for the Wyndham Destination Network business and was responsible for managing over 10,000 employees conducting business in more than 30 languages in over 20 currencies. She also held senior finance positions at Cendant Corporation and HFS, Inc., and began her career as a senior auditor at Deloitte & Touche.
Gail serves on the Pace University-Lubin School of Business Advisory Board, has been a volunteer for Morris Arts for over 20 years, and is a former Trustee for the Westmont Montessori School.
She also received the the Highest Leaf Award in 2016 by the Women’s Venture Fund and was recognized as one of the 30 Influential Women in Hospitality by Hotel Management magazine in 2017. Gail received her bachelor’s degree from Pace University and her CPA from the State of New York.
Michael Murphy
Co-Founder, Impact NJ, LLC
Michael Murphy is a former Morris County Prosecutor and candidate for Governor of New Jersey who has been practicing law for 35 years. He has served as a public defender, municipal attorney, and municipal and county prosecutor. He also had a private practice, where he specialized in land use planning, products liability, and civil and corporate litigation. He is a registered lobbyist and co-Founder of Impact NJ, LLC, and has been involved in politics since the first gubernatorial campaign of his stepfather, two-term New Jersey Governor and Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard J. Hughes.
Politicker has repeatedly identified Michael on its annual Power List as one of the state’s “100 most politically influential personalities,” and New Jersey Monthly has listed him in its “Power Issue” of the Garden State’s most influential people.
As Morris County’s top law enforcement official, Michael began the Morris County Bias Crimes Unit and structured the county’s first Human Relations Commission. For his leadership on these issues, he received a “Good Guy Award” from the Women’s Political Caucus of New Jersey and the Hannah G. Solomon award from the National Council of Jewish Women.
Michael earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and his law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law. He is currently a Visiting Associate at the Eagleton Institute of Politics.
Harry O’Mealia
Chief Executive Officer & President, 1919 Investment Counsel
Harry O’Mealia currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President of 1919 Investment Counsel and is Chair of the Community Foundation of New Jersey’s Board of Trustees. He entered the financial services industry in 1985 and has held senior positions at JP Morgan, U.S. Trust Company, and Tiedemann Trust Company.
He has also served as President of O’Mealia Outdoor Advertising Company, a family business; President of Black River Media, a publishing venture; and an associate in the Corporate Department of Lowenstein Sandler.
Harry is a member of the bar of the State of New Jersey and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is also a past Board member of the Baltimore Urban Debate League, the Maryland Science Center, NJN, New Jersey’s public television and radio network, the New Jersey Trust for Public Land, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and Morristown Memorial Hospital.
Harry received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in English and History, his J.D. from Boston College Law School, and his MBA in Finance from Columbia University.
Elena Richards
Principal & Chief Culture & Inclusion Officer, KPMG LLP
Elena Richards is a Principal and Chief Culture & Inclusion Officer at KPMG LLP. She is also an accomplished HR and talent management professional with deep knowledge of the professional services industry. In her role, she leads the firm’s national Culture & Inclusion team, works closely with the KPMG U.S. Management Committee and the Board of Directors to advance the firm’s strategy to attract and retain high-performing talent, and fosters an inclusive work environment.
With over 20 years of experience, Elena’s North Star is to create psychologically safe workplaces and consistent experiences for everyone at KPMG. In 2021, she received the NJCPA Ovation award, which recognized her for her passion and contributions toward promoting inclusion across the finance and accounting profession.
She currently serves as a board member for the KPMG U.S. Foundation, Inc., and the Community Foundation of New Jersey; is on the Board of Advisors for Catalyst; is a member of the Boston College Center for Work & Family Advisory Board; and is a member of Seramount’s Diversity Best Practices Collective. She is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ National Diversity & Inclusion Commission.
Elena earned her B.A. in Criminal Justice at the University at Albany, State University of New York, and is a certified executive coach.
Louis Vetere
President & CEO, Garden Savings Federal Credit Union (Retired)
Louis Vetere served as the President and CEO of Garden Savings Federal Credit Union and is a current member of its Board. He previously served as Vice President of Finance for Marotta Controls, Inc.
He also serves on the Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal and Northern NJ and was instrumental in the organization’s merger of separate institutions. He was also heavily involved with the Morris County Chamber of Commerce and New Jersey Credit Union League.
Louis received a degree from Rider University.
Kim Wentworth
Co-Founder, Friends of Jockey Hollow, Trustee, Wentworth Family Charitable Funds
Kim Wentworth has led many important grassroots efforts serving our state and related causes throughout the United States. Her community-driven pursuits are focused on four areas of concern: the natural environment, early childhood education, humanitarian work, and primary care medical initiatives. Kim also serves as the Trustee of Wentworth Family Charitable Funds.
Together with a group of concerned citizens, she co-founded the Friends of Jockey Hollow, supporting the first National Historical Park. She has served as a Commissioner of the Morris County Parks and on the Open Space Trust Fund and the Board of the Trust for Public Land. Kim is also a benefactor to Friends of Acadia National Park, GSWA, and the NRDC.
Her dedication to primary medical care has been evidenced by over 30 years supporting Morristown Medical Center’s community and the Woman’s Association, as well as the Women’s Philanthropic Council. She has also been recognized for her work by Pre-School Advantage, was a founding member of the Friends of the P.G. Chambers School, served as a Trustee for the Delbarton Mother’s Guild, and was a bereavement facilitator during the aftermath of 9/11 at the St. James Church in Basking Ridge.
Kim has a B.A. in Art History from the College of New Jersey and studied at Brighton Polytechnic in the United Kingdom.
Dennis Wilson
President & CEO, Delta Dental of New Jersey (Retired)
Dennis Wilson joined Delta Dental in September 2013 as President and CEO. He previously served as President of Coventry Health Care, where he managed five states that represented the highest total contribution to earnings among all Coventry regions nationwide.
He also served as national lead for High Performance Network/ACO Business Development for Coventry Health Care. His other past positions include President and CEO of Lovelace Health Plan, Market Segment President for CIGNA Healthcare, and President of Partners in Care Corp.
Wilson currently serves on several boards, including for the Delta Dental Plans Association, DeltaUSA, Encara, Inc., and Healthentic, Inc. He also is a Vice President and Trustee of the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation and Trustee of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.
In addition, Dennis has received many awards. His honors include receiving recognition from the JFK Medical Center, an Exemplary Private Sector Leader Award from the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, and a Business Advocate of the Year Award from the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. He received a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Massachusetts.
CFNJ TEAM
Hans Dekker
President
As President, Hans has collaborated with individuals, families, and businesses to design philanthropic solutions that incorporate their values and vision for more than 20 years. His expertise includes charitable giving and legacy planning, as well as developing strategies for philanthropic plans, charitable priorities, and investment management.
Previously, Hans served as the Executive Vice President of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. He is also a past Chair of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and currently serves as a Trustee of the Hyde and Watson Foundation and the Ohl Foundation.
Hans graduated from Bates College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and received a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley.
Donor Engagement & Grantmaking
Aaron Y. Turner
Chief Philanthropic Officer
Aaron is an advocate and advisor for individuals and families who wish to achieve impact or take a leadership role on critical social issues. As our Chief Philanthropic Officer, she assists individuals and families in setting philanthropic priorities; identifying or creating effective interventions; and planning, implementing, and measuring giving plans.
Her previous roles include working as Senior Program Officer for the MCJ Amelior Foundation, as Education Program Officer at the Foundation for Newark’s Future, and in several positions for the New York City Department of Education.
Aaron currently serves on the boards of BRICK Education Network, Mentor Newark, and the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers as well as the advisory board of Gateway U in Newark.
Madeline Rivera
Program Officer
As a Program Officer, Madeline is responsible for several grantmaking initiatives and manages a community-based giving portfolio, which includes special projects and business advised funds.
She also serves as a philanthropic liaison between grantmakers and program providers — ensuring the timely deployment of resources and that reports are created and obtained. In addition, Madeline collaborates with CFNJ’s Monmouth and Mercer County committees to make grants with our placed-based and discretionary funding.
She began her career at CFNJ as a Grants Administrator and has become well-versed in our mission and the breadth of our operations in her nearly 20 years with us. Madeline is a graduate of Centenary College, where she earned a BA in Business with a concentration in Computer Science.
Nalune Francois
Program Officer
As a Program Officer, Nalune manages a portfolio of community-based giving, including special project funds, and serves as a philanthropic liaison who connects grantmakers with program providers — ensuring the timely deployment of resources and information sharing. She also collaborates closely with local leadership committees, funders, and CFNJ board members to manage the distribution of placed-based and discretionary funding.
Over the years, Nalune has worked and consulted with a variety of nonprofits focused on underserved and disenfranchised communities across New Jersey and abroad. She aspires to create a more trust-based, community-led approach to philanthropy in her current role.
Nalune graduated from Seton Hall University’s Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations and earned a master’s degree in Public Affairs and Administration from Rutgers University.
Viridiana "Vi" Solis
Senior Grants Administrator
Vi is passionate about women’s rights, animal welfare, and education, and she is proud to play a role in supporting these important issues.
She has served as a Senior Grants Administrator for over eight years, managing and overseeing more than 8,000 grants worth tens of millions of dollars that flow from CFNJ to nonprofits on an annual basis.
Throughout Vi’s career, she has cultivated strong relationships with fundholders and organizations and helped connect people with causes they care about.
She enjoys being a part of a team that’s dedicated to making a difference.
Marilyn Monasterio
Grants Administrator
Marilyn has spent her career working in the financial services, insurance, medical, and philanthropic fields. As a Grants Administrator, she is responsible for receiving, processing, and executing the timely distribution of grants; responding to questions and needs about grants; overseeing the transmittal of grant awards correspondence; and updating donor and grantee information in the grants management system.
Previously, Marilyn worked as a Product Analyst and Senior QA Analyst for FinThrive, a Senior Test Specialist for Chubb Insurance, and a Business Analyst for Potter’s House Association Guatemala.
She earned a BA in Philosophy from the College of the Holy Cross and has a certification in QA Testing. Marilyn also serves as a Database Specialist for the Armenian Missionary Association of America.
Lydia Gracey
Philanthropic Services Program Coordinator
Lydia is a social worker who is passionate about making the Garden State an equitable, healthy, and welcoming place for all.
As our Philanthropic Services Program Coordinator, she provides direct fundholder and program-related support, manages the CFNJ fundholder database, and assists with grantmaking.
Lydia responds to general inquiries and is often the first person you speak to on the phone when calling CFNJ. So, if you give us a call, you’ll probably get a chance to say “hello” to her!
Finance
Amanda Kwai Pun, CPA, CA
Chief Financial Officer
Amanda is highly experienced at successfully managing diverse multi-million portfolios and thriving in environments where organizations are called to grow and innovate.
Over nearly two decades, she has served in various accounting roles at global organizations, including IKEA US and KPMG. Prior to joining CFNJ, Amanda was Assistant Controller for Mars Wrigley North America.
As our Chief Financial Officer, her responsibilities include asset and donor development, risk management, strategic leadership, and human resources management. She earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance and Accounting from McGill University and is a licensed CPA.
Theresa Ross, CPA
Controller
Theresa is a seasoned finance professional who has extensive experience leading finance and operational activities within start-ups and mid-size, privately held companies. For over two decades, she has served in various accounting roles within global organizations focused on financial best practice, process improvements, and organization excellence.
Prior to joining CFNJ, Theresa held various roles at UMS Group, Inc., and successfully led the company through an acquisition. As our Controller, her responsibilities include oversight of all accounting activities, maintaining strong internal controls, and partnering with our CFO.
Theresa earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Finance from Shippensburg University and is a licensed CPA.
Stella B. Ruiz
Senior Staff Accountant
Stella has broad experience in general ledger, finance, and fund accounting — with a focus on period close and financial reporting.
As a Senior Staff Accountant, she oversees daily banking and accounting activities for the restricted and operating accounts. Stella also performs daily check deposits of donations, ensures the timely recording of donor contributions and a steady cash flow, and creates the NACHA file for electronic fund transfers and the bank draft file for check payments.
Previously, she worked as an accountant for a not-for-profit organization and an investment and conglomerate company. Stella was a grant scholar at Adamson University in Manila, Philippines, where she majored in Accounting and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce.
Marianna Bulva
Accounting Specialist
Marianna is an Accounting Specialist who manages and organizes financial accounts, which include both the accounts payable and receivable side of accounting.
She also ensures that invoices are paid, manages vendor payments, handles general financial reports and projects, and identifies and corrects any data entry errors. In addition, Marianna processes most of CFNJ’s donations, including wire transfers, checks, or cash donations.
She previously worked as an Accountant/Bookkeeper at Magyar Bank and earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Kean University.
Stephen Furai
Staff Accountant
Stephen is a Staff Accountant who is responsible for performing monthly investment account reconciliations, booking appropriate entries, and assisting with the month-end closing process.
In his previous roles, he served as an Accounts Receivable Specialist and Computer Technician for SHI, a Digital Analyst for OMD Worldwide, and a Connections Associate for Spark Foundry.
Stephen earned two Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration for Accounting and Finance from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.
Operations & Scholarships
Faith A. Krueger
Chief Operating Officer
As Chief Operating Officer, Faith works closely with CFNJ’s partners and clients to craft customized scholarship offerings for their funds and oversees its scholarship program.
Her responsibilities include preparing new scholarship agreements; maintaining and monitoring existing scholarship arrangements; and ensuring regular contact with donors, students, selection committees, nonprofit educational partners, and educational institutions.
Faith also coordinates the technical aspects of the entire scholarship program process; oversees facility management; and manages issues related to IT network enhancement, cyber security, and staff training.
She is a member of the National Scholarship Providers Association and has served at CFNJ since 1995.
Colleen Smith
Scholarship Program Officer
As our Scholarship Program Officer, Colleen Smith is passionate about empowering future young leaders through educational opportunities.
She is responsible for administering over 140 scholarship funds, which provide $1.5 million to 283 New Jersey students yearly. Colleen also identifies deserving students, guides them through the application and renewal process, and keeps scholarship donors informed about how their funds are making a positive impact.
Collaborating with donors, community partners, guidance counselors, and our scholarship review committees to ensure diverse representation among scholarship recipients is especially fulfilling for Colleen. It’s also a top priority for her to continue to be a resource for students throughout their college experience as they seek advice on successfully navigating higher education and become well-rounded young adults.
Desiree McConnell
Scholarship Services Intern
Desiree is a Business Administration major with an interest in understanding business operations and decision-making. In her role as a Scholarship Services intern, she is growing the Scholarship Department’s Instagram presence by creating engaging content and interacting with followers.
She is also expanding her knowledge of social media marketing and its potential to help organizations connect with their audiences.
“Through this internship, I aim to gain hands-on experience in marketing while deepening my understanding of nonprofit work and its impact,” Desiree said.
Communications
Shanay T. Bell
Director of Communications
Shanay is a content creator and strategist whose broad writing background spans journalism, policy writing, corporate communications, and marketing. As Director of Communications, she develops and implements a comprehensive communications strategy that builds and sustains awareness of CFNJ’s services and benefits, partners with staff to achieve programmatic and development goals, and ensures the organization has an influential philanthropic voice.
Shanay previously served as the Director of Publications for The Moriah Group, a senior writer and editor at ETS, and a newspaper reporter for several publications, including The Princeton Packet and The Macon Telegraph.
Over the years, she has won many national and state marketing honors, including several Graphic Design USA Inhouse and NJ CAMA Astra awards.