Meet the Team

Dr. Naydeen González-De Jesús is a distinguished higher education leader, organizational psychologist, author, speaker, and consultant with more than two decades of experience advancing student success, equity, and institutional transformation. Her career spans senior academic administration, international public diplomacy, strategic organizational change, and community partnership development. Currently, she serves as Vice President of the Lawrence Campus and Community Relations at Northern Essex Community College (NECC) in Massachusetts, where she champions student achievement and fosters strategic partnerships that strengthen educational pathways and economic opportunity within the campus and the broader Merrimack Valley community. She also serves as interim Executive Director of the Lawrence Partnership, a public-private collaborative to strengthen the city's economy and improve quality of life for its residents. Previously, Dr. González-De Jesús was the 13th President of San Antonio College, one of the largest community colleges in Texas and among the nation’s most impactful community colleges. At San Antonio College, she became only the second woman to lead the institution, where she advanced student success initiatives, community engagement, and institutional equity. Her leadership roles also include serving as Executive Vice President of Student Success at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), where she implemented integrated strategies to improve retention, completion, and guided pathways frameworks, and earlier roles as Vice President of Student Affairs at Bergen Community College, Associate Dean at Rowan College at Burlington County, and Assistant Dean of Student Services at Salem Community College. Beyond academia, Dr. González-De Jesús served as a Public Diplomacy Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Argentina, where she played a key role in advancing educational exchange agreements between the United States and Argentina during the 2018 G20 Summit and supported Fulbright program partnerships. She is the founder and CEO of Empowered Group Strategies LLC, a consultancy focused on leadership development, organizational change, and sustainable strategic planning. Dr. González-De Jesús is also an Aspen Presidential Fellowand has received numerous honors, including recognition by the Texas Diversity Council as San Antonio Woman of the Year and awards for her work in higher education leadership and public engagement. Dr. González-De Jesús holds a Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Northcentral University, an M.A. in Student Personnel Services from Rowan University, a B.A. in Journalism from The Pennsylvania State University, and a certificate in Ministerial Studies and Theology. Her professional training and personal commitment reflect her belief in education as a driver of economic mobility, equity, and community empowerment.

Giselle Peguero Grullon is a community-centered leader specializing in workforce development, higher education partnerships, and inclusive economic growth. With a strong foundation in psychology and community engagement, she has dedicated her career to expanding access to education and career pathways for immigrants, refugees, and underserved populations. Prior to this transition, Giselle served as Associate Director of Lawrence Campus & Community Relations at Northern Essex Community College, where she led strategic initiatives that connected students and community members to educational and professional opportunities. Her work included supporting internationally trained professionals in navigating credential evaluation and workforce integration, as well as developing experiential learning opportunities such as international immersion programs and resource-driven initiatives that increased student access to academic and career advancement. Giselle brings expertise in program development, partnership building, and community advocacy, with a track record of designing initiatives that bridge gaps between education and employment. She has successfully collaborated with cross-sector partners to expand access to funding, support services, and career pathways for diverse populations. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in psychology with a focus on clinical practice and is committed to advancing culturally responsive approaches that support both economic mobility and mental health within underserved communities.