Drew Martin,
former Executive Director of KIPP New
Jersey, joins Thrive Scholars to focus on scaling the
organization to reach thousands of first-generation college
students across the nation
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LOS
ANGELES, Aug. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Thrive
Scholars' Board of Directors is thrilled to announce the selection
of Drew Martin as its new Chief
Executive Officer. Martin joins at a critical juncture for the
pioneering organization focused on education equity. Martin will
take the helm succeeding Steve
Stein, who successfully grew the organization from
$2M to $20M over the past eight years. Under Martin's
leadership, Thrive Scholars aims to scale the organization to
provide transformative education and career opportunities to
thousands of high-achieving and academically talented
first-generation college students from economically disadvantaged
backgrounds. Martin will assume his new role on August 19th, 2024.
Following an exhaustive national search led by Thrive's Board of
Directors, Martin was unanimously selected for his exceptional
leadership capabilities and deep commitment to educational equity.
As the former Executive Director at KIPP New Jersey, he successfully managed a
$200 million budget, provided
strategic oversight to 19 schools serving over 8,000 students,
launched a Talented & Gifted Program, and raised over
$20 million in critical funding. In
successfully merging two key districts in New Jersey, he created a highly selected
district, which sent more African American students to college than
any other school in the city.
"We are pleased to welcome Drew to Thrive Scholars during a
critical moment for our organization," said Martin Jacobs, Thrive Scholars National Board
Chair. "Drew's proven track record, deep commitment to educational
equity, and alignment with Thrive's mission made him the
ideal choice to lead the organization into its next phase of growth
and impact."
Drew's career has been marked by an unwavering commitment to
improving educational outcomes for underserved communities. He
began his career with Teach For America, where he taught 5th grade
in under-resourced schools and quickly demonstrated his capacity
for leadership and innovation in education. At KIPP New Jersey, he not only managed significant
budgets and growth, but also prioritized community engagement and
long-term student success.
"I am honored to join Thrive Scholars and excited about the
opportunity to lead an organization with such a powerful mission,"
said Drew Martin, Thrive Scholars
Chief Executive Officer. "I look forward to working with the
talented team, dedicated board, and our incredible corporate
partners and generous supporters to ensure that more
high-achieving, underserved students have the opportunity to
achieve their full potential. Together, we can seize new
opportunities to expand our impact."
Drew Martin brings a deep
commitment to educational equity and a wealth of experience in
leadership and strategic planning. Passionate about making a
difference, he has a proven track record of increasing academic
outcomes and college admissions rates for students of color. A
graduate of the University of Virginia,
Martin has also been an active participant in The Aspen Institute's
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship, collaborating with senior
leaders in the education sector.
"Drew's experience and vision are exactly what Thrive Scholars
needs to seize new opportunities and drive our mission forward,"
said Tyra Montina, President and
Chief Operating Officer of Thrive Scholars. "His proven ability to
lead large teams and manage significant budgets will be
instrumental as we continue to scale our impact through Thrive
Academies nationwide."
Martin's selection comes on the heels of Thrive Scholars' recent
launch of two regional Thrive Academies in New York and Los
Angeles. These new regional academies marked the first phase
of an ambitious strategic plan to establish 10 regional Thrive
Academies nationwide. This expansion is built on the proven
outcomes of Thrive Scholars' Summer Academy, a flagship six-week
program offering over 350 hours of college-level academic
preparation, including calculus, coding, and writing, along with
college admissions counseling and career development. Combined, the
new regional Thrive Academies in New
York and Los Angeles hosted
over 300 students with an average 3.9 GPA, 83% of whom are
first-generation college students in the Summer 2024 inaugural
cohort.
About Thrive Scholars
Thrive Scholars is a leading
national nonprofit dedicated to providing high-achieving, diverse,
and underrepresented students, including students of color from
under-resourced communities, the opportunities they need to thrive
at top colleges and in meaningful careers. Using data-driven
programming for more than 20 years, Thrive ensures Scholar
success through comprehensive academic preparation, mentorship, and
career counseling, effectively closing the opportunity gap for
underrepresented students. Visit the
website, LinkedIn, Instagram or X to learn more
about Thrive Scholars.
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SOURCE Thrive Scholars