EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Allison Strobel, Executive Director

Allison has lived in Hoboken since 2006 and has two children currently attending Hoboken Public Schools. She joined the Hoboken Public Education Foundation in 2024 as its inaugural Executive Director, bringing over 12 years of nonprofit and public sector leadership experience, to oversee the organization's operations, fundraising efforts, community impact and engagement, and strategic planning.

Previously Allison managed the development and early implementation of a pioneering $100 million grant program aimed at building broadband infrastructure in affordable housing properties across New York for the State’s broadband office. She also served as Chief of Staff and Director of Resident Empowerment and Community Engagement at the Jersey City Housing Authority (JCHA), where she coordinated strategic interdepartmental collaboration and operations, and developed and oversaw partnerships with dozens of local, state, and national organizations to offer a range of services and resources to JCHA’s nearly 15,000 residents. Her passion for educational equity and community development drives her commitment to furthering the mission of the Hoboken Public Education Foundation.

BOARD MEMBERS

Shana Wright, President

Shana is a lifelong learner and dedicated educator with over 25 years of experience, including roles as a Teach for America Corps member, English teacher, and school principal. Her work has focused on instructional innovation, professional development, and curriculum design, all aimed at supporting students and staff. As the founder of Project H.E.R.O.I.S.M., she has overseen everything from finances to community outreach. In her current role as Chief Education and Community Impact Officer with Hudson Partnership CMO, Shana builds partnerships to improve educational opportunities and student experiences across Hudson County. A committed Hoboken resident and community advocate, her love for the city and its people continues to grow.

Along with her husband, Korey, Shana is a parent to a junior son at Hoboken High School and a fifth-grade daughter at Wallace. She is dedicated to nurturing resilience, compassion, and ambition in youth. As the President of the Hoboken Public Education Foundation (HPEF), she is honored to follow in the footsteps of the inspiring community leaders who came before her while leading efforts to help Hoboken students reach their full potential.

Julie Richman, Vice-President

Julie has been a proud Hoboken resident since 2011 and is the parent of two children: a son attending Wallace Elementary and a daughter enrolled in the Mile Square Early Childhood Education program. She joined the Hoboken Public Education Foundation to connect with others who are deeply passionate about enhancing public education in Hoboken.

With a degree in Supply Chain & Information Systems from Penn State University, Julie works in Merchandise Operations at PVH Corp. She believes that strong public schools play a key role in building a thriving community and is dedicated to fostering community outreach and involvement to strengthen educational opportunities and resources for all families in Hoboken.

Susan DeRise, Secretary & Sponsorships

Susan and her family moved back to Hoboken after living overseas on an international assignment for three years. Prior to that, she and her husband met in Hoboken in 2005 after both having already lived in Hoboken for a few years.  They are the proud parents of one son who is a student in Hoboken Public Schools.  Susan has over 20 years of marketing and sales experience and a Master’s Degree in Administrative Science.  While living overseas, Susan served as a charity committee member working closely with a school for the hearing impaired, as well as a home for young adults with disabilities. Susan’s love for Hoboken and its Hoboken Public Schools drives her to dedicate her time to the foundation. She also serves as a chair member of the Wallace PTO, and is a class parent. Susan joins the Hoboken Public Education Foundation with a true desire to help continue the strong sense of community and growth of families who are committed to raising their children in Hoboken and its Public Schools. 

Stan Zlotsky, Treasurer

Stan Zlotsky has been living in Hoboken since 2012 with his wife, Tatyana, and their two sons. Stan attended public school after immigrating to the US from Ukraine. Now with both kids in Hoboken’s Public Schools, he is passionate about the HPEF mission of helping to elevate the district’s schools and the overall education system. Stan is a Chartered Financial Analyst, with over 20 years of financial experience across Wall Street equity research and the software industry.

Jackie Dowd-Prince, Immediate Past-President & Co-Founder

Jackie and her husband moved from Manhattan to Hoboken in 2006 as expectant parents looking for more space in which to raise their son. They found a welcoming, tight-knit community and soon thereafter decided to make Hoboken their long-term home. As Jackie started attending school board meetings and learning more about statewide funding cuts, she wanted to proactively help support the district schools. She collaborated with three other like-minded moms to co-found HPEF in 2015.

Jackie has served in many roles at HPEF over the years including Secretary, Co-President, and President. As Immediate Past President, Jackie continues to assist the HPEF team with business sponsorships and strategic support. Jackie and her husband Jonathan are proud parents of a son who has grown up in the Hoboken Public School District system starting with Pre-k3 all the way through his senior year at Hoboken High School (Class of 2026!). Jackie is an SVP at Alliant, a national employee benefits brokerage firm.

Lauren Ferry, Events Planning

Lauren has lived in Hoboken since 2010 and is the proud parent of three children in Hoboken Public Schools. Seeing firsthand the opportunities that strong public schools create for all children, she is a passionate advocate for public education. She has long supported and volunteered with HPEF and is honored to now serve on its board.

Professionally, Lauren brings more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. She earned her BBA from The College of William & Mary and her MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business. She currently leads U.S. Product Strategy at Goldman Sachs.

In addition to her commitment to HPEF, Lauren is an active supporter and fundraiser for CASA of Hudson County, reflecting her deep belief in strengthening communities through education and advocacy.

Erica Gavin, Strategy & Co-Founder

Erica Gavin has lived in Hoboken since 2005, and has two sons who attend Hoboken Public Schools. She has nearly 20 years of experience in communications and event planning, which serves her well in her event-planning activities for HPEF. In 2004, Erica established Erica Berg & Associates LLC, consulting for agencies, corporations, and not-for-profits focused on arts and education. Erica currently serves as Regional Director for DukeNY, working for the Duke Alumni Association.

Hannah Gordon, Events Planning & Sponsorships

Hannah Gordon has called Hoboken home since 2004, and has two boys in Hoboken Public Schools. Hannah joined the Hoboken PEF team to contribute to the ongoing improvement of the Hoboken public school system. She particularly enjoys helping manage the foundation's events and fundraising. Hannah earned her doctorate in organizational psychology from Rutgers, and has nearly 10 years of experience in the area of talent management, a specialty human resources function.

Nicole Jala, Copywriting & Communications

Nicole has lived in Hoboken since 2007, and enjoys spending time in our mile square city with her husband and 2 children. Nicole's children attend T.G. Connors Elementary School, where Nicole serves as a member of the PTO. Nicole is a passionate supporter of the Hoboken Public School District and initially became involved with HPEF as a member of the fundraising team. Nicole is a Senior Contracts Manager at Google LLC.

Darrin Lee, Finances & Events Planning

Darrin has lived in and around Hoboken with his family since moving from California in 2007 and is deeply committed to strengthening Hoboken’s public schools. As a parent of two teenage daughters, he is passionate about ensuring that all children in Hoboken have access to excellent education, extracurricular opportunities, and a supportive environment to thrive. Driven by a strong belief in the mission of the HPEF, Darrin first became involved by lending his skills in bookeeping and helping organize Dad’s Night Out. His volunteer spirit extends beyond HPEF—he has long been active in the community as a volunteer at schools and local youth programs and continues to volunteer as a softball coach for Hoboken RBI.

A graduate of Arizona State University, he serves as Vice President of Operations at RWS, a global leader in translation and localization services. His dedication to the community reflects his passion for helping Hoboken students succeed.

Nicole Pearlman, Information & Technology Systems

Alongside her husband and daughter, Nicole relocated to Hoboken in February 2020, just before the onset of the pandemic, with the goal of enrolling her daughter in the Hoboken Public Schools for kindergarten. Having previously worked in the nonprofit and healthcare sectors, Nicole brings a wealth of professional experience to her role. With a strong belief in the power of public education, fueled by her own positive experiences in public schools, Nicole is passionate about enhancing the educational journey for students with diverse learning needs. Nicole's expertise in information and computer technologies in the nonprofit sector will be instrumental in enhancing the management, implementation, and usability of key systems to further advance the foundation's mission.

Maria Pisano, Grants Chair

Maria and her husband Mike moved to Hoboken in 2004 as an alternative to NYC or the suburbs. After having children, they made a commitment to stay in Hoboken as long as their children were succeeding, both educationally and socially. Their oldest daughter started in the Hoboken School District at Wallace, and they started to see a tremendous difference in the commitment to education by the time she was in the 3rd grade. She is now in her junior year at Hoboken High School, and their other daughter is a 7th grader and has also always had strong support within the district.

Maria is very passionate and supportive of the educational and social drive of the parents within the Hoboken School District, and she is excited to utilize her background in journalism to contribute to Hoboken PEF as the district and the Hoboken community continue to grow.

Cindy Smith, Visual Communications

Cindy Smith moved to Hoboken in 2006 to begin her career in NYC. In the years since, she has worked in apparel design and is currently Design Director of DKNY Underwear. She and her husband, Tim, have two students thriving in the Hoboken Public School District. Cindy became involved with HPEF because she is passionate about supporting public schools and believes community involvement is essential to student success. She is devoted to creating opportunities for HPS students to apply and practice their knowledge using hands-on experiences.

Courtney Stout, Gala Director

Courtney Stout is a Hoboken resident since 2016, a mom of three girls in the district, and a passionate advocate for public education. She and her husband, Brian, are dedicated to the continued growth and success of Hoboken's students. With nearly 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Courtney offers strong operational and community engagement expertise. She is a proud Rutgers University alumna.

KEY TEAM MEMBERS

Mallory Comunale, Match Program
Lindsay Cuomo, Moms’ Night Out Co-Director
Kate DeCock, Strategy and Events
Gina Dobson, Website Development
Bethlehem Gregory, Moms’ Night Out Co-Director; Community Outreach
Mark Stehli, Dads’ Night Out Co-Director

EXTENDED TEAM MEMBERS