NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, BOTTOM LINE, TAKES FIRST STEPS IN SCALING BY EXPANDING ITS EXECUTIVE TEAM

 

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, BOTTOM LINE, TAKES FIRST STEPS IN SCALING BY EXPANDING ITS EXECUTIVE TEAM

-New hires and promotions on national and regional levels-

 

Chicago, IL; March 15, 2023: Bottom Line (BL), a nonprofit organization dedicated to educational equity, announced it has expanded its executive team of C-Suite officers--a key first step in its strategic goal to serve more than 20,000 students per year by 2030. Andrea Carter has joined BL as Chief External Affairs Officer and Shannon Donnelly as Chief Operating and Financial Officer. Shauwea Hamilton was promoted to Chief Regional Officer and Sarah Place was promoted to Chief Program Officer. All four officers will serve Bottom Line on the national level. The organization is also pleased to announce Victoria Coker was promoted to Executive Director of Bottom Line New York.


Bottom Line partners with degree-aspiring students from historically excluded communities to help them get into and through college and successfully launch careers, providing them with ongoing individual support to persist and earn a degree. A relentless ally to students, the organization is also recognized for its rigorous, externally validated proof-of-impact on college enrollment, persistence, and graduation. Currently, BL is located in three regions--Boston, Chicago, and New York--and partners with nearly 7,000 students through its Access, Success, and BLUprint programs.

“Andrea Carter and Shannon Donnelly each bring notable expertise that will greatly enhance our goal to serve more students and close the college completion gap,” said Steve Colón, Bottom Line’s Chief Executive Officer. “Shauwea Hamilton, Sarah Place, and Victoria Coker are extraordinary, dedicated team members who will have an even greater impact in their expanded roles at our organization.”


BL’s new Chief of External Affairs, Andrea Carter, has nearly 20 years of experience as a communications professional. Most recently, she served as the Vice President of Communications for City Year, where her achievements include developing communications strategies to meet business goals and storytelling that resulted in increased stakeholder engagement as well as a host of owned and earned media. A Philadelphia native and resident, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication from Millersville University and a Master of Arts in Communication from Villanova University.

Shannon Donnelly, BL’s new Chief Operating and Financial Officer, was previously Chief Operating Officer of Chicago Collegiate Charter. There she was responsible for running finances, human resources, legal compliance, and school operations systems, working to expand educational opportunities for a high-needs student population. Shannon began her career at Teach for America, where she led the National Institute Operations team. She attended Princeton University, graduating with a degree in Politics and a certificate in Political Economy.

Shauwea Hamilton, promoted to a position as Bottom Line’s first Chief Regional Officer, formerly served as Executive Director of Bottom Line New York. Throughout her career, she has served as an executive director, chief of staff, fundraiser, foundation program officer, external affairs officer, and lobbyist. These roles have spanned sectors including K-12 education, higher education, nonprofit, energy, and healthcare. Shauwea earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rutgers University and a Master of Business Administration from Fordham University.

Sarah Place was promoted to BL’s Chief Program Officer after working with the organization since 2006. She began her Bottom Line career in the Advisor role, where she partnered with students in both BL’s  Access and Success programs. As Bottom Line entered a stage of rapid growth, she was able to grow with the organization by taking on management and leadership roles, joining Bottom Line’s National Team in 2012. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of New Hampshire.

Victoria Coker, promoted to Executive Director of Bottom Line New York, has been with the organization for eight years, most recently as Managing Director of Programs in the New York office. Previously, she served as a Success Advisor and Manager as well as Director of Annual Giving at Bottom Line. She also worked as the Director of College Success for Let’s Get Ready and as a teacher in the Indianapolis public school system through Teach for America. Victoria holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Colgate University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Marian University, and a Master of Public Administration from Baruch University.

Steve Colón concluded, “All of our new and promoted team members have a fierce passion for changing the trajectory of equity in degree attainment and the economic gains that follow. The combination of their shared mission and diverse set of high-level skills will help accelerate Bottom Line’s goal to directly serve more than 20,000 students per year by 2030.”

About Bottom Line
For 25 years, Bottom Line has been fighting for educational equity by ensuring that the right to a quality college education is accessible to the many, not just the few. Its vision is to create a far-reaching ripple effect, launched by the transformative power of a college degree and a mobilizing first career. For degree-aspiring students from first-generation and low-income backgrounds, Bottom Line is a relentless ally that partners with them to get into college, graduate, and go far.

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