Board of Directors

Mariela Regalado , Board Member

Mariela Regalado LLC Consultant

LinkedIn

Mariela Regalado is a Dominican immigrant, educator, and cultural strategist from Brooklyn whose work sits at the intersection of education, storytelling, and community empowerment. With over a decade of experience in college and career access, she has supported thousands of students and families across New York City and nationally, designing bilingual programs that guide first and second-generation students toward higher education. Mariela holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts from St. John’s University and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration at Baruch College. As an educational consultant, she partners with schools, nonprofits, and national organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC, Alia Education, NYC Public Schools, and Student Leadership Network, to build programming that equips families with the tools to navigate college access, financial aid, and career pathways. Her work is rooted in the belief that education is a form of social justice and a pathway to generational change.

She is also the creator of El Retorno, a cultural and writing retreat in the Dominican Republic that brings members of the diaspora back to the island to reconnect with identity, history, and creative practice. In addition, she is the creator of the Los Sures Community Scholarship in partnership with NYC Kids RISE, a neighborhood-based initiative that mobilizes local support to build early college savings and long-term financial pathways for public school students. Mariela’s work has been recognized by the New York Daily News as a Hometown Hero in Education, and she has served as a speaker at citywide and national conferences advocating for equitable access to education.