Cicely Strickland-Ruiz and Rick DeJesus-Rueff Ed.D were elected to Leadership Rochester’s Board of Directors in July. Both are Leadership Rochester alumni and committed active leaders in the Greater Rochester community. Board Chair Cynthia Gray stated, “We are delighted to add such strong, and committed community leaders to our inclusive and talented board.”
Cicely Strickland-Ruiz is Chief Operating Officer at United Way of Greater Rochester bringing more than 15 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit, education, and human service industries. Strickland-Ruiz serves on the Steering Committee of the Race, Equity, Justice (REJI) Initiative led by St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center. She serves as a member of the Irondequoit Public Library Board of Trustees, CGR Board of Directors, and participates on the RIT Saunders College of Business Management Advisory Board and Roberts Wesleyan College Multicultural Advisory Board. She recently served a five-year term on the Executive Board of RESOLVE of Greater Rochester as Vice Chair. Cicely completed her B.S. in Organizational Management and attained her M.S. in Strategic Leadership at Roberts Wesleyan College. She is also an alumna of the United Way African American Leadership Development Program and Leadership Rochester. She and her husband live in Irondequoit.
Dr. Rick DeJesus-Rueff Ed. D. has served in leadership positions at St John Fisher College since 1997 where he first joined as Dean and Associate Provost and later served as Senior Vice President of Student Affairs and Diversity Initiatives. After retiring in 2017, Dr DeJesus-Rueff now serves as the Academic Director of the First Generation Scholars Program and Coordinator for Sustained Dialogue at the college. Rick volunteers widely and serves on multiple boards including the Center for Teen Empowerment national board of directors; past president of the board at the Center for Youth of Monroe County; inaugural steering member of the Race, Equity, Justice (REJI) Initiative led by St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center. As an alum of the Leadership Rochester program, Rick serves as a facilitator for our “Building Common Ground Day” and served on our Curriculum Task Force. Rick holds degrees from Haverford College, Universidad Iberoamericana Mexico City, and Temple University. He earned his doctoral degree from Boston University. He and his wife live in Brighton.
Leadership Rochester’s Board of Directors are each alumni of the program. Members include Board Chair Cynthia Gray, Assistant Vice President, RIT & Rochester Regional Alliance (retired), Lauren Gallina, Gallina Development, Kimm Proctor, Compliance Manager, ESL Federal Credit Union; Andrew Brady CEO, The XLR8 Team; Chief LaRon Singletary, Rochester Police Department; Anne Wilder, President and CEO Coordinated Care Services Inc ; Paul Stella, Creative Services Director 13WHAM/CCW Rochester; Scott Hendler, Matt Wagstaff, Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield; Darren Miller Esq, Partner, Nixon Peabody; Herb Escher CEO, Dale Carnegie Inc, and Veronica Dasher, Regional Outreach and Community Manager, AVANGRID RGE.