2023 Gala E-Journal

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THROUGH THE YEARS

Global Tassels emerged from the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals also known as Global Goals 2030. We categorize our efforts based on the charge and call to action of GOAL 4: Quality Education

12:00

Welcome&GalaKickoff MistressofCeremony

Dr ShantéBassett,2ndPresident&CEOofGT

OpeningGreetings

ChristinaCho,2023GalaChair

12:10

12:05 12:20 12:35

President'sRemarks

Dr.RichardZalman,4thPresidentandCEOofGT

OPENINGKEYNOTE

Nicole J Franklin,MPH,DirectorofMakersUnited,NEST

PresentationofGTStudentLeaders

HaronidJavier,ChiefOperatingOfficer

GracieZarate,VPofStudentSuccessandRetention

ClarissaPalomar,ChiefDevelopmentOfficer

our2023Honorees

yDr ShantéBassett

dServiceAwards

ArtistExcellenceAward munityInnovatorsAward adersKeyAwards

NOTE

Phil,PrincipalOfficer(Retired),UNSecretariat

ments &Announcementof10thANNUALGALA amos,1stPresidentandCEOogGT lobalTassels

ssett

GALACHAIR'S

MChristinaCho 2023GalaChair

Dear Friends,

We cannot express how grateful the Global Tassels' community is to receive your generous donation and your support. Your donation will make an impact to our Global Tassels' Student Leaders in supporting their education and their community projects

Revitalizing Our Future means is to allow the GT process to thrive by reflecting on our norms and by looking for opportunity to change and start a new beginning in hopes of developing a stronger organization facing our future.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our honorees Mario Wolf, Latosha Baldwin, James O'Brien, Michael Bethel, Kerri Blohm, Jonathan Santos-Ramos, Edwin Tan, Kenneth Tan, Meredith Curry Nunez, Julius B. Anthony, Crystal Smith, Xavier Hernandez, Kandice Whitaker, Robyn Ellis, Emily Affolder, Phyllis Lee, and Nicole Franklin who have made a difference in their community and for believing in the mission of Global Tassels.

I thank the Gala committee for their hard work and for guiding me as we collectively pull off our goal for this year's Gala.

We cannot do the important work we do without you! Thank you, again!

Together We Stand,

Christina Cho Gala Chair 2023 Treasurer of the Board

PRESIDENT'S

MDr.RichardG.Zalman GlobalTassels,President

Welcome to Global Tassels' 9th Annual Gala!

As the 4th President of Global Tassels, I want to thank you for your donations, and for your steadfast support for our GT student leaders around the world. You honor us with your presence as Gala Supporters Congratulations to all of our 2023 Honorees!

Since joining Global Tassels almost ten years ago, I have been privileged to witness a miracle: this organization (and its remarkable student leaders) continues to grow and to flourish, despite a global Pandemic, and despite economic, social, and political turmoil. This year, our Gala theme is "Revitalizing Our Future," - - a concept that perfectly describes our reason for being as a budding non-governmental agent of change, as well as our reason for our being together here, at this auspicious occasion.

Your support for Global Tassels revitalizes the lives of our student leaders Your donations transform their futures. You create hope for their communities, too. As a GT Honoree, you provide a role model that inspires us all! Education can eliminate poverty by conferring marketable skills and enhanced self-esteem on our student leaders As agents of change, our student leaders can, in turn, revitalize their communities. That is the vision we share with our Founder, Dr. Elvin Ramos.

Let us continue to believe in the potential of the students we support. Let us continue to revitalize their lives and the lives of their communities.

FOUNDER'S

ME

Dr.ElvinT.Ramos GlobalTassels,Founder

Dearest Friends and Family:

First, I want to take this opportunity to thank our 2023 Gala Chair, Christina Cho for volunteering her time to make this special event spectacular I also want to extend my appreciation to Dr Zalman, 4th President of GT & the rest of the Gala Committee who committed their time to piecing together our programming this year.

Global Tassels is 9 years old We have accomplished a lot and we have a lot in store in the years ahead Our theme this year, "Revitalizing Our Future", speaks to our longevity but mostly focus on how do we should cope to the ever changing landscape of our society today. The work we do internationally will get complicated but as we stay ahead of the game, we can face it with resilience, confidence, and higher productivity than ever before We know how to stay vigilant, how to build, and how to innovate

Thank you always for supporting our Gala Your annual contributions and love for GT is truly appreciated, I am grateful as a founder of this great organization of people like you.

To our Honorees, I want to say how proud I am of your work in your own world You made an impact to your community and tonight we celebrate, we recognize, and we reflect with pride as we highlight you, your passion, your authenticity, your talent, and your scale I hope this event will forever bring your heart closer and closer to the 'heartwork' we all need to make our life in this world a much better place than we know yesterday

To our GT Student Leaders, some of you have been with us for almost a decade, some of you are new We, as an organization, will forever commit to your success, we will continue to adapt years after years. I advise you to carry to same principle as you grow individually and as you find your passion develop to pay it forward Position yourself to a positive outlook in your own compass Everything else will fall in place

Thank you all once again, and enjoy your celebration!

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Nicole Franklin is the Director of Makers United at Nest where she works closely with key stakeholders across the US to connect makerentrepreneurs to business development resources, educational programming, market access opportunities, and community to help their businesses grow and thrive Nicole has held various roles in the non-profit sector both domestically and internationally for more than ten years Prior to Nest, she spent four years at Cancer and Careers managing program initiatives to help cancer patients and survivors in the US navigate employment challenges In addition to studying abroad in Namibia, she has worked with CMMB in Zambia and Concern Worldwide in Uganda designing and implementing health, gender equality, and poverty reduction programs

Nicole received her B.A. in African American Studies from Oberlin College and her Master's degree in Public Health, with a concentration in International Health and Development from Tulane University.

Phyllis Lee is the daughter of refugees who met in a displaced persons camp run by the UN, so it is no surprise that she has devoted her professional and personal efforts towards helping others While pursuing her studies in linguistics, she began her professional career working for the New York Association for New Americans She then joined the United Nations, and focused her efforts on humanitarian relief work, advocating for the needs of the most vulnerable people in the world As a peacemaker, she engaged in negotiations to ensure humanitarian access in conflict situations, and as a communicator, she wrote speeches, articles, and press statements, and gave interviews, to raise awareness of forgotten emergencies As an advocate, she helped raise the needed funds for emergency relief from governments While working at the UN, Phyllis also was a professor at Long Island University's UN Graduate Advanced Certificate Program. She initiated a program for graduate students doing field work with NGOs in Central America. She is committed to the work of grassroots organizations, which make such a difference in the lives of so many, and she has provided advisory services to quite a number of such organizations in her community, serving on the boards of several.

NicoleFranklin Founder's Leaders Key Awardee

PhyllisLee Founder's Leaders Key Awardee

Global Community Innovator Awards

Kerri Blohm

Kerri received her bachelor's degree in Sociology, with a minor in gender studies, from Wagner College During this time, she did volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity and St Jude's Children's Hospital Upon graduation, Kerri went on to work in and ultimately manage residential programs through TSLI for adults who were diagnosed with chronic behavioral health needs. While working full-time, Kerri went on to complete her master's in social work through Adelphi University. She obtained her license in 2014 After several years working with adults, Kerri changed gears and began working with MercyFirst overseeing residential programs for youth diagnosed with serious emotional disturbances and youth in foster care for several years Currently, Kerri works with New Horizon Counseling Center (NHCC) overseeing a case management program for adults with chronic medical and behavioral health needs Kerri and her team work daily to assist these individuals with addressing the social determinants of health while working to improve their longterm health outcomes In late 2021, Kerri also founded the first emergency food pantry through NHCC The establishment of this pantry has provided food to over 2,500 individuals facing food insecurity across Long Island, NY

Crystal Smith

Crystal Smith is originally from North Carolina She attended North Carolina Central University with a degree in Business and received a Masters in Instructional Technology from East Carolina University For the past 20 years, she has worked in education; beginning as a teacher for Durham Public Schools where she taught business and technology. Crystal has also worked for Duke University in their Talent Gifted Program In the Duke program, she worked with students across the world on various campuses teaching computer science and technology During her time in NC, she also worked in community college programs and with virtual public schools to support access to programming for high school students and professional growth for adults

Crystal went to DC Public Schools in 2014 as a teacher and became a teacher leader across the district before moving to Central Office to have a larger impact on students At Central Office, she developed programming to increase student exposure to career programming through the school year and summer enrichment programs She has created a teacher externship program for teachers to connect to industry and ensure students continue to receive meaningful and relevant instruction Crystal serves on the DC Association of Career and Technical Educators and was awarded the 2023 Teacher Educator of the Year She has recently become the Director of Career Preparedness Programs for DC Public Schools Her goal is to ensure that students have clear paths to careers that will allow them to earn livable wages and begin to close equity gaps for themselves and their families Crystal leads with empathy and compassion and with the understanding that she is in service to families that she may never physically see but for whom she can make an impact that is felt for generations

Global Community Innovator Awards

Jonathan Santos-Ramos

Jonathan Santos-Ramos (he/him/él) is the Chief Program Officer of Care

For the Homeless Prior to stepping into this role, he served as Interim Executive Director of Callen-Lorde Community Health Center for about a year, and previously, Senior Director of Planning & Sustainability at CallenLorde, focusing on long-term strategic initiatives to support the organization's growth.

His career spans several decades in public health with a focus on HIV and health equity Formerly, he was the Center Director for Community Healthcare Network, Community League Health Center, serving the underserved, uninsured and underinsured, and immigrant communities of Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx Previously, he held the position of Deputy Director of Business Systems and Strategy, Business Systems and Strategy Unit in the Bureau of HIV Prevention and Control of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH).

Jonathan holds a Master's in Public Administration from Baruch College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Women and Gender Studies from Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey Jonathan spent most of his high school years at Fajardo Academy, Fajardo, Puerto Rico

Emily Alicia Affolter

Dr Emily Alicia Affolter is the director of Prescott College's Sustainability Education PhD Program, and orients with a direct emphasis on equity pedagogy and culturally responsive and sustaining teaching, learning, leading, and research Prior to this role, she worked as a Senior Research Scientist and Equity Consultant at the University of Washington's Center for Evaluation & Research for STEM Equity (CERSE) She earned her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Multicultural Education from the UW working alongside Dr Geneva Gay, founder of culturally responsive teaching Emily's current scholarship, dissemination, and facilitation revolve around culturally responsive pedagogy for teachers and leaders in K-16 settings, non-profit organizations, and STEM higher education, and harnessing equity literacy in teaching methods, content, policy, leadership, and assessment, in addition to exploring and developing decolonizing, critical research practices

Global Community Innovator Awards

kANDICE WHITAKER

Kandice Whitaker, MBA is a career coach and CEO of Alpha and Omega Consulting Inc She is a graduate of SUNY Purchase College and received her MBA from Metropolitan College of New York Kandice has over a decade of experience in advisory consulting and corporate training spanning top four consulting firms, government, and the higher education industries.

As a coach, Kandice’s goal is to empower people to live their best lives through self-actualization, or fulfillment of one’s talent and potential Her clients are encouraged to assess their unique talents and potential Apply those findings to define success, exemplify resilience; and in turn, pioneer a future that is aligned with their definition of achievement

Kandice is also a mompreneur, history nerd, city dweller who loves to travel, and coffee snob. She is passionate about meeting new people, solving problems, and inspiring people to surpass their own expectations

edwin tan

Edwin Tan, PhD serves as the Director of Advocacy and Community Relations at San José State University. In his role, he works with neighborhoods, community-based organizations, business associations, and other non-governmental entities His goal is to promote positive relationships between SJSU and the community, and more so make SJSU a go-to resource to partner with and serve the community Additionally, he takes on strategic projects for the President He has extensive experience working in the local community, previously he served as Director of Advocacy and Development for Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI) a community health center, and as District Director and Senior Chief Advisor to Congressman Mike Honda. In those positions, he worked on issues such as healthcare access, Asian-Pacific Islander data disaggregation, educational equity, etc Prior to moving to the Bay Area he was trained as a developmental psychologist and conducted research and taught at the University of California, Irvine, and in Indonesia Edwin earned his PhD in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine He also serves on various community boards and government task forces, including the City of San José's COVID-19 Recovery Task Force, Santa Clara County's 2021 Redistricting Commission, Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits, and the Downtown San José Association

Global Community Innovator Awards

mICHAEL BERTHEL

Michael Berthel is the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Long Island University, responsible for student affairs, admissions, financial aid, enrollment services, academic advising, study abroad, and career success. In addition, Mr. Berthel serves as the Chief of Staff providing leadership to the President's Office.

Mr Berthel has over 15 years of experience in higher education and has been recognized for his work creating initiatives and programs that have increased student enrollment, retention, and satisfaction Prior to LIU, Mr Berthel spent five years at Adelphi University overseeing student life and residence life programs During his tenure at Long Island University, he has led the expansion of student life engagement and the LIU Promise program which have contributed to significant increases in student retention and graduation rates Under Michael's leadership, the University launched "LIU Cares" a university-wide service initiative where students complete over 150,000 service hours each year

Outside of LIU, Mr. Berthel is a member of Kiwanis International and serves as the Assistant Administrator for New York State Key Club, managing 13,000 high school students in 350 high schools He has also served as the President of LICSPA, the organization representing higher education professionals of Long Island and New York City

Mr. Berthel earned his BA in Political Science, MA in Industrial and Organization Psychology, and an Advanced Certificate in Human Resource Management from Adelphi University. Recently he completed a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University

XAVIER HERNANDEZ

Xavier Hernandez is a farm boy turned engineer He currently serves as a program manager and Information security management system manager for Medtronic. He holds two STEM degrees from the University of Southern California; a MS in Integrated Design, Business, and Technology and a BS in Industrial and Systems Engineering

Xavier has traveled the country speaking for keynotes, workshops, and panels, and has been featured on ABC News He also taught physics and astronomy on Saturdays for 3 years for the USC NAI program. Xavier has his own STEM scholarship for HS students pursuing college He loves strength training, skincare, the farm life

Global Community Innovator Awards

meredith curry Nuñez

Meredith "Mer" Curry Nuñez is a long-time social justice advocate working at the intersection of operations, college access, and workforce development.

Whether it's implementing operations, activating authentic leaders, cultivating dynamic teams, institutionalizing flexible processes and procedures, or even reconnecting the body and mind through healing dance sessions and grounding meditations, Mer's personal and professional mission is to bring out the leader in all of us and to redefine leadership to incorporate the critical element of HEALING

She has worked for local and state nonprofits since 2000, is a product of all three CA public higher education institutions, and is passionate about advancing systems change, education equity, and economic mobility

Mer joined the Northern California College Promise Coalition (NCCPC) in 2020. As the Executive Director, she works in partnership with organizations and leaders that are members of NCCPC, and those around the state, for collective impact to increase outcomes for multiply-marginalized underserved (MMU) students in college access, success, and career launch

Mer is the inaugural Board Chair of LEAD Filipino based in San Jose, a Bay Area K16 Collaborative Steering Committee member, an appointed CA Cradle to Career (C2C) Data System Community Engagement Advisory Board Member, and a 2022 National College Attainment Network (NCAN) Advisory Task Force member.

Mer is also the Owner & Principal Consultant of AdvancED Consulting, LLC, a small consultancy firm with a California-focus serving BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and WOC (Womxn of Color) leaders and communities in reaching their highest potential Past clients include the UC Office of the President, De Anza College, The Association of Catholic Student Councils, and the National Civic Leadership Forum

Before her work at NCCPC, Mer was the Director of Education Partnerships for Moneythink which manages DecidED, a free tool for students and advisors to compare college costs, financial aid benefits, and other fit factors. Mer was the founding Director of Operations of the California College Guidance Initiative (CCGI) which manages CaliforniaCollegesedu, the State's official college and career planning platform and an integral part of the C2C As the Executive Director of the South Central Scholars Foundation in Los Angeles which is now Thrive Scholars, she ran a scholarship program that provided high-achieving students of color from low-income communities the scholarships, advising, social-emotional support, and career development needed to thrive

A first-generation college graduate, Mer earned a B.A. from UC Los Angeles and an M.B.A. from Cal State Long Beach. She was a Commissioner on the Santa Clara County Commission on the Status of Women from 20192022 and served as Chair from September 2020-December 2021

Mer was a 2021 Silicon Valley Business Journal 40 Under 40 Honoree and was recognized by the UCLA Healthy Campus Initiative Eudaimonia Society as a 2020 honoree

Global Community Innovator Awards

JULIUS B. ANTHONY

Julius B Anthony is President and Founder of St Louis Black Authors of Children’s Literature and The Believe Projects® Julius inspires kids to become readers by giving them innovative literacy experiences in culturally representative homestyle settings His signature initiative, The Believe Projects® literacy labs have gained local and national attention and received serval awards including the first recipient of the Children’s Education Alliance of Missouri’s IDEA Award (2019); Enduring Ideas 2020 Award sponsored by The Reinvention Lab at Teach for America, and a feature on National Public Radio (NPR) highlighting The Believe Projects’ digital episodic children’s show; the Nike, Inc 2022 Black Community Commitment Award in Education Innovation; International Literacy Association Honor Award 2022; the International Literacy Association Celebrate Literacy Award 2023; and the FOCUS St Louis What’s Right With the Region 2023 Emerging Initiative Honoree. In 2023 The Believe Projects® celebrated the opening of its tenth literacy lab. The labs are located throughout metropolitan St. Louis in community centers, private schools, and traditional public and charter schools

“My goal is simple,” says Julius B Anthony, “We are encouraging children to fall in love with literacy through experiences they feel a connection with, that builds confidence, and gives them joy! We are ensuring all children become successful readers by the end of third grade.” Mr. Anthony serves on several boards, including President of the St. Louis Regional Literacy Association, Vice President of Missouri Literacy Association, Metro Theater Company, Books for Newborns, Turn the Page STL, and United Way of Greater St Louis’ K-12 and Out of School Time Allocations Panel The Honorable Mayor Tishaura O Jones by proclamation of the City of St Louis declared October 23, 2022, Julius B Anthony Day in honor of his civic commitment to early childhood education Julius is a 2022 Camelback Ventures Fellow and a graduate of Howard University (BA) and Clark Atlanta University (M.Ed.).

ROBYN ATTEBURY

Robyn Attebury Ellis is a Program Officer at the Crimsonbridge Foundation where she leads grantmaking and engagement in the areas of college success and women and girls' leadership and civic engagement and co-leads a local nonprofit leadership development initiative. She contributes over 17 years of experience in education teaching high school, advising community college students, developing programs (dual enrollment, student success, and career and technical education), and building partnerships with school districts, local and national nonprofits, and state education agencies She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and the University of London

Distinguished Service Awards

JAMES O'BRIEN

James O’Brien is a Brooklyn-born New Yorker involved in various institutions from the UFT to JPM Morgan Chase and Co He is currently a software engineer for JP Morgan Chase working on various financial programs that are currently being used by consumers, government entities, and JP Morgan Chase employees

Throughout his career, he has been involved with various projects that have lasting effects His involvement in the 55/25 retirement legislation for New York City teachers has a lasting impact and various retirement benefits enacted by the New York State legislature, exposure and involvement with multiple campaigns, and the electoral process He was also involved with the distribution and reporting of the political fund of the UFT. Keeping track of expenditures and political contributions for each quarter and election cycle

His journey has led him next to St John’s University, where in the institutional Advancement Division, he was responsible for daily donations and stock/wire transfers/donations to the university from various companies and donors and balancing the budget for the same accounts and the monthly credit card donation account.

Volunteering for GT as the Chief Financial Officer has been a rewarding experience for him In addition to volunteering, James likes to travel, build, and repair things of various kinds from furniture to electronics He hopes to further GT’s goals and endeavors

Distinguished Service Awards

LATOSHA BALDWIN

Latosha Baldwin holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Jacksonville State University and a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Alabama A&M University She has over 20 years of experience working in higher education and social services, holding the following roles of Advisor, Recruiter, Assistant Director of Advising, Adjunct Professor, Director of Student Success, and Acting Assistant Vice President of Student Success at Calhoun Community College and the University of the District of Columbia

She was honored to speak at the annual EAB National Conference Connected 2023 titled “Bringing Compassion to a Chaotic World” She currently serves as a board member for the non-profit organization Global Tassels. She is a member of NACADA and NASPA. She graduated from the following leadership programs, Leadership Huntsville Connect, Alabama Community College Leadership program, and Higher Education Leadership Foundation. She has served as co-chair for Achieving the Dream and Middle States Steering Committee working towards accreditation

She has served in several capacities in the higher education world Her scope of work and management includes advising, recruitment, freshmen seminar, placement testing, data analysis, project manager for data platforms and training, career services, scholars and probation programs, new student orientation, academic support/supplemental instruction, accreditation, strategic planning, and development education; She has also worked in social services providing case management working with high risk/crisis families providing in-home and substance abuse counseling. She has a history of working in residence life, Upward Bound, and Educational Talent Search, the federal TRIO programs. She serves as an adjunct professor at DeAnza College for undergraduate courses. Ms. Baldwin thoroughly enjoys data, assessment, and solving problems.

Latosha Baldwin is a powerful force in the workplace and uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed Latosha is inspired daily by her toddler son Ireoluwa Latosha likes to travel internationally, attend live music concerts, and spend time with her family and friends in her free time

Her primary purpose is to help people change their lives and become better for themselves and others She leads with empathy, compassion, and a heart to do what it takes to help them be successful.

Distinguished Service Awards

MARIO WOLF

Mario Wolf is an experienced project manager, digital solutions architect, and web developer with over 25 years of success in transforming visions into tangible products His diverse interests include travel, exploration, languages, and cultures, which fuel his creativity and global perspective. With a passion for coffee and good food, he appreciates the finer details that enhance his designs and user experiences. Mario brings a unique blend of professional expertise and personal interests, resulting in captivating and culturally inclusive creations

Mario has been actively involved in the conceptualization and presentation of Global Tassels since its inception A pivotal moment in this journey took place in 2014 when Mario and the founder, Dr Elvin T Ramos, sat down in a cozy New York coffee place to bring the project to life through a website they created together

Over steaming cups of coffee, Mario and Dr. Ramos brainstormed and sketched out ideas, discussing how to showcase Global Tassels' mission and impact effectively. With their combined expertise, they poured their passion into crafting a website that would resonate with visitors and convey the organization's commitment to education and empowerment. The website became a powerful tool for promoting the NGO's mission, attracting supporters, and connecting with individuals eager to make a positive impact on education globally

Since that fateful meeting in the New York coffee place, Mario has continued to contribute his expertise to Global Tassels, further developing the organization's digital presence and ensuring its message reaches a wider audience His involvement from the early stages demonstrates his commitment to creating meaningful projects and his ability to leverage their skills for social impact

Mario's personal story with Global Tassels exemplifies his passion for using his technical and creative talents to make a difference in shaping Global Tassels' presentation and helping it gain recognition as a force for positive change in education

Global Tassels Student Leaders

India Lavanya Iyengar

"If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else."

BRIXTER ASI REBULLAR

Philippines

"If you don't have your own story, you become part of someone else's."

Colombia

"Suena como si fueras a vivir para siempre, vive como si fueras a morir hoy."

Karen Gutierrez

"It doesn't get easier, you get stronger."

"The 3 A's of life: Ability, Attitude, and Acknowledge. Ability decides where you should be, Attitude determines how long it will take you to overcome obstacles and Acknowledge yourself as a leader of your own life"

Malain Chep

Philippines

JAZMIN FERNANDEZ

"It's going to get worse before it gets any better."

Colombia

"Una de las sorpresas mas agradables que podemos encontrar al comprometernos totalmente con algún proyecto específico es que surgen fuerzas y oportunidades que no hubiéramos imaginado hasta entonces."

Andres Rodriguez

Cambodia

Thean Pheng

"Believe you can and you are halfway there."

K e n y a

Winnie Mora

is light at the end of the tunnel."

"There

Kenneth Tan

Kenneth Tan is a Filipino American living in his hometown of San Jose, CA. He has shared stories about his grandmother, Crescenciana Tan, on NPR and StoryCorps.

Kenneth and his grandmother, or “lola” in Tagalog, started an art project called The Lola and Kenneth Collaboration. When Kenneth moved home to help care for Lola, she made watercolor paintings, and then Kenneth drew her memories on top of them. When Lola passed, she left her paintings with Kenneth, and he decided to finish everything she started. He promised.

KennethTan

KennethTan

C A R A B A O

KennethTan

KennethTan

V A C A T I O N

KennethTan

B L U E B E A C H L I N G A Y E N KennethTan

KennethTan

GT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

BOARD LEADERSHIP

Dr. Elvin T. Ramos, Board Chairperson | Founder of Global Tassels

Ms. Robin Cook, Board Vice Chair | University of District of Columbia

Ms. Christina Cho, Board Treasurer | De Anza College

Dr. Brian Rothschild, Board Secretary | Stevens Institute of Technology

BOARD MEMBERS

Mr. Kyle Alvarez, PwC - Pricewaterhouse Cooper

Ms. Latosha Baldwin, Fort Valley State University

Dr. Shanté Bassett, 2nd President and CEO of Global Tassels; CUNY LaGuardia

Ms. Kerri Blohm, New Horizon Counseling Center

Ms. Holly Bruno, J.D., Author and International Keynoter

Mr. Ferhat Dastan, Eagle Group NYC, Inc.

Ms. Dominique Footes, Southeastern Universities Research Association

Ms. Stephanie Gilmore, Washington College

Ms Gary Greaves, City University of New York, Guttman Community College

Mr. James Justinvil, Altice USA

Ms. Nadia Mundle, Mundle’s Income Tax & Accounting Services Corp.

Ms. Hilda Risi, Mainstream/Special Needs Educator, Pre-K to College

Mr. Don Swain, Drake State Community and Technical College

Ms. Lianne Wheeler, J.D., TIAA CREF

Ms. Kandice Whitaker, Alpha & Omega Consulting Inc

Dr. Richard Zalman, 4th President and CEO of Global Tassels

GT EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Dr. Richard Zalman, 4th President and Chief Executive Officer

Ms. Afia Agyeman-Andoh, Vice President of Community Engagement

Mr. Olivier Diogo, Vice President of Research and Outreach

Ms. Timisha Dixon, Chief Communications Officer and Senior Vice President

Ms. Denica Kelly, Chief of Staff and Senior Vice President

Mr Haronid Javier, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President

Ms. Marvellyn Nguyen, Vice President of Donor Relations

Ms. Clarissa Palomar, Chief Development Officer and Senior Vice President

Mr. James O'Brien, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President

Ms. Hafsa Rehan, Vice President of Global Recruitment

Ms. Gracie Zarate, Vice President of Student Success and Retention

Thankyou.

We would like to acknowledge the following individuals for making our 9th Annual Gala possible!

Our Lovely 2023 Honorees!

DJ Eclectic1uan

Phyllis Lee

Nicole Franklin

Dr. Shanté Bassett

Christina Cho

Robin Cook

Timisha Dixon

Haronid Javier

Javette Johnson

James O'Brien

Clarissa Palomar

Dr. Elvin T. Ramos

Dr. Brian Rothschild

Hilda Risi

GT Executive Leadership Team

GT Board Members

GT Student Leaders

Sapphire Global Associates, LLC.

Website Services, Wolf Digital Solutions LLC

Dr. Richard Zalman