Appointment reflects USA Funds' growing investment in education-access initiatives
USA Funds names executive director of philanthropy
INDIANAPOLIS — USA Funds®, the nation's leading education-loan guarantor, has announced the appointment of Henry L. Fernandez to the newly created position of executive director, scholarships, outreach and philanthropy. Fernandez, who will begin work with USA Funds on March 15, will report to USA Funds President and CEO Carl Dalstrom.
"We're delighted to add Dr. Fernandez's nearly 25 years of experience in education to support USA Funds' growing investment in programs that help Americans prepare for, gain access to and successfully complete higher education," Dalstrom said. "The creation of this new position highlights the importance that USA Funds places on initiatives that help students reap the benefits of higher learning."
During 2003, USA Funds committed nearly $15 million to programs that support higher-education access, including its national scholarship program, support to other scholarship-providing organizations, outreach programs such as USA Funds Unlock the Future® for middle-school students and their families, and other initiatives that help families scale barriers to higher education.
Fernandez most recently served as program director for Lumina Foundation for Education. His previous experience also includes work in corporate philanthropy, service as director of the Peace Corps Fellows Program, as well as work as a grant-proposal reviewer for the U.S. Department of Education and as a program administrator for New York's Teachers College, Columbia University. Earlier in his career, he served as an elementary-school principal and teacher.
Fernandez received his doctorate in education, as well as three master's degrees, from Teachers College of Columbia University. He completed his undergraduate studies at Queens College of the City University of New York.
"I'm tremendously enthusiastic about joining USA Funds to further its support of programs that make a real difference in promoting higher-education access," Fernandez said.