MC: Jennifer Davis Carey
Jennifer is the founding Executive Director of the Worcester Education Collaborative. Jennifer received her Master’s and Doctoral degrees from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and her Bachelor’s degree from Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges. In 1998 she served as Special Assistant to Governor Paul Cellucci of Massachusetts, and a year later she became Director of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations under Governor Jane Swift. Dr. Carey served in Governor Mitt Romney’s and briefly in Governor Deval Patrick’s administrations as Secretary of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs.
From 2007 until 2009, she oversaw the development of education and training solutions at Commonwealth Medicine, a division of University of Massachusetts Medical School. Before joining Massachusetts state government, Dr. Carey worked at Ohio University, Harvard University and at Bancroft School, a independent K-12 school in Worcester. Dr. Carey is also the founding director of the Initiative for Engaged Citizenship, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that provides educational workshops about effective, meaningful participation in the public policy processes of the local, state and federal governments.
Fireside Chat Facilitator: Juana Matias, MassINC
Juana Matias joined MassINC as Chief Operating Officer in 2019. In her capacity, Juana oversees the organization’s internal operations, performance, growth, development and marketing efforts.
Prior to joining MassINC, Juana served as the State Representative for the 16th Essex District, becoming one of the first Latina immigrant women elected to the Massachusetts State House. During her time at the State House, Juana sponsored key legislation to make college affordable, protect immigrant rights, promote access to minority owned and women owned businesses, address inequities in our public-school systems and expand opportunities for working class Americans. During her time as a State Representative, Juana launched a congressional race and became the first Latina to run for Congress in Massachusetts.
Juana graduated from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2009 with bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Criminal Justice. In 2014, she received a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School. After graduating from law school, Juana dedicated years of her career to public service by enlisting in AmeriCorps as a Justice AmeriCorps Legal Advocate. There she fought for humanitarian based immigration relief for unaccompanied children in removal proceedings. Juana is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association.
Prior to her service with AmeriCorps, Juana served the Merrimack Valley region as a social worker, where she assisted families and children suffering from abuse and neglect. The experience further instilled in her that through service to others, she could have a positive impact in the lives of ordinary people, especially those in need.
Juana currently serves as a Corporator of Eastern Bank Corporation, Lawrence General Hospital’s Board of Trustees and is a member of the UTEC, Amplify Latinx, and The Community Group Board of Directors.
Juana believes we need to continue to elect servant leaders who represent people over politics, and country over party. Her commitment and passion lies in working to eradicate racial, social, and economic inequities and ensure that every person has an opportunity to achieve the American dream.
Juana resides in Lawrence with her partner Pavel and their beautiful dog, Teja.
Fireside Chat Guest Speaker: Commissioner Riley
Jeffrey C. Riley is currently serving as Massachusetts' Commissioner and is supported by the Department's chief of staff, deputy commissioner, and an executive team responsible for seven key strategic areas: administration and finance, district support, educational options, instructional support, legal, planning and research, and student assessment.
Jeffrey C. Riley was appointed Massachusetts' 24th commissioner of elementary and secondary education in early 2018 and began serving as commissioner on April 5, 2018. A Massachusetts native, Mr. Riley's experience spans urban and suburban districts and includes teaching in Baltimore, Md., being principal of Tyngsboro Middle School, and being principal of Boston's Edwards Middle School. In January 2012, Commissioner Riley was appointed superintendent/receiver of the Lawrence Public Schools. During his more than six years there, he led a team that brought major improvements by shifting more resources and autonomy to the school level, expanding the school day, increasing enrichment opportunities, and ensuring all schools had great leaders and teachers.
Commissioner Riley lives in Boston and holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Pomona College in California, a master's degree in counseling from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland and a master's degree in school administration, planning and social policy from Harvard University.
Fireside Chat Guest Speaker: Commissioner Santiago
Carlos E. Santiago is Commissioner of Higher Education for Massachusetts, appointed to this position by the Board of Higher Education (BHE) in July 2015. Working with the BHE, he is responsible for providing overall direction to public higher education in Massachusetts and helping shape state-level policies that maximize the benefits of higher education to the Commonwealth and its citizens.
On October 1, 2019, Santiago was named the chair of the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) Executive Committee.
Santiago joined the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education in April 2013 as the Senior Deputy Commissioner for Academic Affairs.
His past academic appointments include that of Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (Wisconsin’s second largest research university). He brings over 30 years of experience in public higher education. Santiago also served as provost and chief operating officer at the University at Albany, (SUNY). He was a professor of economics at UWM and SUNY-Albany and holds a Ph.D. in economics from Cornell University.
Santiago is also the author or co-author of six books and has published dozens of articles and book reviews, of which many focus on economic development and the changing socioeconomic status of Latinos in the United States. On two separate occasions, in 1996 and 2011, Santiago has been named one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the United States by Hispanic Business magazine.
WEC’s 12th Annual Meeting is less than a month away! We warmly welcome you to learn more about our speakers prior to our event on Nov. 1st at 4PM.
Free to the public. Live on Zoom. Please register on Eventbrite.
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