Riverside, CA – Michelle Decker, CEO of Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF), has appointed Torie Weiston-Serdan, PhD as its new Education Equity Program Officer.
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Weiston-Serdan joining us at IECF. She brings a wealth of experience to advancing educational opportunities for all students in our region,” Decker. “At a time when the need for equity in education has never been more urgent, Dr. Weiston-Serdan’s expertise and passion will be invaluable in driving our mission forward. We truly look forward to the ideas and leadership she will bring to our foundation and to the broader community.”
In her new role, Dr. Weiston-Serdan will help shape and guide IECF’s education funding programs and regional engagement to ensure all Inland Empire students have fair and just opportunities to maximize their educational success. Among her key duties will be leading the Foundation’s education equity grantmaking, partnering with regional and statewide education stakeholders, designing targeted grant programs to expand opportunities for students of color and low-income students, and evaluating the impact of foundation investments in closing achievement gaps.
“I am thrilled to join IECF as the Education Equity Program Officer. This role presents an incredible opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students across our region. I firmly believe that every child deserves access to a high-quality education that enables them to reach their full potential regardless of their background or circumstances,” said Dr. Weiston-Serdan. “I also believe that education is a critical tool for liberation and that it must be fully utilized to create meaningful change.”
Dr. Weiston-Serdan is a scholar and practitioner with over 20 years of teaching and youth programming experience. An award-winning leader in the youth mentoring field, she wrote Critical Mentoring: A Practical Guide, which has become the handbook for equity-focused youth work.
Outside of teaching and research, Dr. Weiston-Serdan serves as Chief Visionary Officer of the Youth Mentoring Action Network, a non-profit dedicated to building youth power globally through mentoring, education, and wellness. She also founded the Center for Critical Mentoring and Youth Work which works extensively with other community-based organizations in support of their youth advocacy efforts, specializing in training mentors to work with diverse youth populations: i.e. Black, Latinx, LGBTQQ, etc.
Her work has been featured in Blavity, Forbes, Inside Philanthropy, and Philanthropy Women. Dr. Weiston-Serdan is one of the founding board Members for MENTOR CA and currently serves on the boards of Give Build Share, Big Brothers Big Sisters LGBTQ National Advisory Council, the Research Board of the National Mentoring Resource Center, and the California Endowment.
Added, Dr. Weiston-Serdan, “My vision is for the Inland Empire to be a place where every student has the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive academically and personally. I am excited to contribute to the critical work of ensuring that all students in our region have the chance to succeed and build bright futures for themselves and their communities.”
About the Inland Empire Community Foundation
Founded in 1941, the Inland Empire Community Foundation is the oldest and largest community foundation in Inland Southern California. We partner with individuals, families and corporations to build a culture of philanthropy. Since inception, we have given out over $127 million in grants and scholarships. For more information visit the IECF’s website at www.iegives.org. Be a part of our conversation on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
