Paula L. Gavin has served as President of National Urban Fellows, Inc. since June 1, 2007, and is responsible for the overall vision, leadership and management of the organization. With a career that spans years of leadership and executive management, Gavin possesses a unique combination of business, education, and nonprofit experience, focused on youth and community development. In September 2004, Paula was appointed CEO for the New York City Center for Charter School Excellence, a nonprofit organization that promotes the development of charter schools. She was responsible for the successful launch of the organization, supporting 58 existing schools, directing the design and implementation of programs to support 27 new charter schools, and planning 50 additional charter schools, making certain that at-risk youth received quality educational opportunities. As President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York from 1990-2004, she directed the city's largest youth-serving nonprofit agency and the nation's largest YMCA, raising more than $150 million in revenues. Prior to her position with the YMCA, Gavin served in various executive positions with AT&T before being named Vice President of Network Operations, where she supervised business planning, finance, and personnel and training for AT&T's operational unit of 60,000.

Erica Acevedo's professional career began in 2005 in the non-profit sector with Progreso Latino, Inc. in Providence, Rhode Island. The organization is the largest, most established community social service center in the state. While at Progreso Latino, she held the position of Academic Case Manager for its Adult Education Department. Within a year, she advanced to Director for the Carrusel Preschool and Afterschool Program of the Early Childhood Education Department.

During her tenure, Erica was successful in accomplishing the preschool’s License from Probationary to Regular status. She supervised a staff of five teachers, and implemented a new bilingual curriculum, The Creative Curriculum. As a strong advocate for English Language Learners, she was recommended to serve as alternate representative of Community on the Executive Committee of the Rhode Island Advisory Council for English Language Learners.

Erica graduated from Brown University in 2004 with a double major in Latin American Studies and Portuguese &Brazilian Studies. She also obtained her Master of Arts in Teaching, focusing on History/Social Studies in Secondary Education. Erica was born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley, California. Erica visits California frequently to see her parents and four younger sisters. She currently resides in Brooklyn and during her free time enjoys film, salsa dancing, and reading.

Luisiana Baez has been directly involved in the public sector throughout her career, specifically with a focus towards non-profit management and youth development. As a Group Participant and Assistant Supervisor at Grand Street Settlement, she contributed to program development and design, and building a comprehensive and integrated array of culturally relevant programs and services for the Lower East Side Community. She continues her work in leadership and youth services as a Peer Mentor in Hunter College’s Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK) Program. In 2005, she was chosen to be a Fellow in the prestigious Public Service Scholar Program at Hunter College. She worked directly on public policy initiatives as a Public Policy Intern at Urban Agenda (a non-profit organization that advocates policies and programs towards green technologies and equitable economic development).

Her interest in non-profit management led her to join Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) (a national non-profit organization that works towards developing talented African American, Hispanic and Native Americans for leadership positions in major corporations, non-profit organizations and entrepreneurial ventures). Most recently, she managed the Career Preparation Program, working with a team of career coaches and hundreds of Fellows (college juniors and seniors), an array of corporate partners, and program alumni.

Luisiana graduated with distinction from Hunter College, and is currently pursuing a Masters of Public Administration degree from Baruch College's School of Public Affairs in New York City. In her free time, Luisiana enjoys participating in cultural events, particularly art shows and theater. She currently lives in the Bronx. Luisiana was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and has a sister and two brothers.

Njemile Davis is a proven advocate for youth, post-secondary and under-represented communities with more than 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Most recently, she served as the Foundation, Corporate Relations and Special Projects Officer at the Astraea Foundation—an international LGBT rights organization with particular focus on lesbians of color. Prior to that she was Director of College Planning, Guidance and Placement for a conglomerate of theme-based schools called the Urban Assembly, and before that, recruited and supported students of color through the Higher Education Opportunity Program at New School University. Njemile has consulted for large and small non-profit organizations in the areas of staff development, program development, strategic planning, incorporation, resource accumulation and management, event planning, marketing and public relations. Njemile earned her MPA as a 2005 National Urban Fellow and completed her undergraduate studies at Cornell University. She currently lives in Manhattan with her daughter Surayya.

From his days as a National Urban Fellow, Miguel Garcia's professional journey has come full circle, leading him back to the institution that provided him with an edge. For the past 35 years, Garcia has held a variety of leadership and staff roles in the corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors. His focus in the diverse areas of public policy, grantmaking, school-to-work transition, youth leadership and development, and education has enabled him to develop as an effective problem-solver with keen analytical skills. Garcia has served on several Boards of Directors in New York City and New York State and was elected to serve as a Community School Board member in the Bronx. In addition to receiving a National Urban Fellowship, Garcia was honored with an Institute for Educational Leadership Fellowship. Garcia held the position of Program Officer at the Primerica Foundation, where he had a glimpse into the socio-economic demands and diversity of America. He founded Health Opportunities High School in the Bronx, where his responsibilities included managing the curriculum and instruction, supervising faculty and support services, and fostering educational and community relationships. Garcia was the Dean of Crisis Intervention for Special Education Students at DeWitt Clinton High School and an Academic Coordinator for an Entrepreneurship Honors program.

Renee D. Griffin's ability to multi-task ensures that the National Urban Fellows office always runs efficiently. Ms. Griffin oversees the offices of the President and the Director of Finance and Administration, providing administrative support to both and coordinating appointments and travel schedules. Renee's superior attention to detail also enables her to oversee financial transactions and management of the database. In addition, she is a professional presence on the phone, handling numerous inquiries and providing a warm, confident greeting to all who visit the National Urban Fellows office. Prior to joining the staff, Renee was employed by the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.

Bobbi Hahn has a BA in International Studies from Marlboro College and The School for International Training in Vermont and a Masters of Public Administration from City University of New York, Baruch College School of Public Affairs. Bobbi’s career began internationally, as an English teacher in the Czech Republic and Japan. In 1994, she returned to the US with a passion for cross-cultural awareness and decided to start a small café with the mission to “connect cultures through coffee.” After three years she sold her business and began work as a manager for a non profit serving adults with disabilities. In 2006, she was accepted as a National Urban Fellow. Within the program she worked at United Way of New York City and completed her MPA. She returned to United Way after graduation as a consultant within their Strengthening Nonprofit’s division. She now joins National Urban Fellows as Director of Operations.

Angela Perry is a communications professional with a track record of producing highly successful marketing and public relations programs. For over ten years she leveraged her expertise in media relations, marketing, communications, and event management for companies, agencies and nonprofit organizations. As Manager of Publicity & Promotions for Black Enterprise Magazine, she developed and managed the national marketing communications program for the Professional Exchange Networking Forums, the magazine's ground-breaking networking conferences, geared toward Black entrepreneurs and corporate career professionals. Later, she became the Manager of Corporate Public Relations for Essence Magazine, where she positioned the magazine as an industry leader to consumer, advertising trade and business media, acquiring placements in top-tier publications. She also oversaw the public relations efforts for the annual Essence Awards, which were televised nationally by CBS. In her capacity as the Director of Public Affairs and Marketing for Aaron Davis Hall, Harlem's premier nonprofit performing arts center, Perry was responsible for the establishment of the organization's marketing and public affairs division. During her five-year tenure she succeeded in the development of strategic marketing and communications planning, including an organizational re-branding, that resulted in a five-year foundation grant, 98% audience growth, and greatly enhanced visibility and awareness. Perry served as Chairman of the Board of the New York Friends of Alvin Ailey for two years, and under her leadership the Alvin Ailey American Dance Foundation received multi-year sponsorship support from Panasonic Company, which underwrote the costs of the annual Friends Gala. As Chair, Perry increased both audiences and revenues for one of the world's most celebrated dance companies.

Mohamed Soliman’s career began as a Charity Analyst Intern for the New York Philanthropic Advisory Service (NYPAS) in 2005. During his tenure with NYPAS, he reviewed financial and fundraising materials for charities, managed a database containing over 2000 charities and he created charity reports. In 2007, he worked with Continuum Health Partners as a Project Coordinator. He was responsible for reviewing and preparing physician contracts and the maintenance of a physician database. The experience he gained with these organizations further enhanced his passion for a career in the non-profit sector. In 2008, Mohamed created a policy brief for NYPAS which identified a problem and solution to an organizational challenge. As a result, NYPAS has a better means of acquiring a greater number of charitable organizations. As the new program coordinator, Mohamed brings outstanding management and organizational expertise, as well as creativity and energy to National Urban Fellows programs. Mohamed has a BA in Government and Politics from St. John’s University and is pursuing a Master’s of Public Administration from City University of New York, Baruch College School of Public Affairs.