Leadership
NYFPS' Board of Directors provides leadership and strategic guidance to ensure that the organization runs to achieve its greatest potential.
Richard Lam
President
Biography:
Richard Lam received his Bachelor of Science in Business and Political Economy from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University. Recognizing the importance and positive impact of educational programs on underserved communities, he is passionate about helping nonprofits apply best business practices towards fulfilling their missions. Richard has past experience in corporate banking at Cathay Bank and project management at Bloomberg L.P. He was an Analyst on the investment team at 1199SEIU Benefit and Pension Funds. Richard is a Senior Associate at Willis Towers Watson with the private equity investment team. He has over a decade of service with NYFPS and was Vice President before stepping into the role of President.
Grace E. Hirshorn
Vice President
Biography:
Grace E. Hirshorn is a Principal Consultant at Mercer. Prior, she was a Consultant at Mercer Digital. Grace also has previous experience working as the Coordinator of Future Problem Solving Teams at Convent of the Sacred Heart Upper School in Greenwich, Connecticut. She remains active and connected to her alma mater, Yale University, as an alumni interviewer. Grace received her Bachelors of Arts from Yale University.
Sarah H. Fiess
Executive Director
Biography:
Sarah H. Fiess is a School Outreach Coordinator at Tech Valley High School. She was the Director of Literacy of the Albany Charter School Network. She has over a decade of experience in the classroom teaching English Language Arts and Social Studies at both the middle and high school level. She has also taught Gifted & Talented on the middle school level. Prior to stepping into the role of Executive Director, Sarah was Evaluation Director at NYFPS. Sarah received her B.A. in English and Secondary Education from The College of New Jersey. She holds a M.A. in Teaching of English from Columbia University.
Steven Faiello
Evaluation Director
Biography:
Steven Faiello is a Product Engineer at Specified Technologies Inc. Currently, he specializes in fire protection systems. Prior, Steven was an Engineer at Vanton Pump and Equipment Corp. and a Design Engineer with Innovative Solutions & Support. He has experience with engineering design of aircraft instruments and aviation products. Steven received his Bachelors of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology.
Jason D. Navarino
Board Member
Biography:
Jason D. Navarino is a graduate of the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. He holds a J.D. degree from Yale Law School, where he was a Senior Editor of the Yale Law Journal and Director of the Community and Economic Development Clinic as well as its Small Business Legal Services program. Additionally, Jason holds a LL.M. degree in Tax Law from New York University School of Law. After law school, Jason served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Barry T. Albin, Supreme Court of New Jersey and was an Associate at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. He is currently Partner at Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP where his practice focuses on tax, corporate, and nonprofit law.
Dr. Hope Hirshorn
Secretary
Biography:
Dr. Hope Hirshorn currently serves on the Alumnae Board at Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich, Connecticut. She was Vice President in the Underwriting Department of AMBAC Indemnity Corporation. She and her husband currently reside in West Harrison, New York with their family. Hope received a B.A. from Oberlin College as well as a M.P.A. and A.P.C. from New York University. She holds a M.A., M.Phil, and Ph.D. from Fordham University.
Leslie Blaustein
Board Member
Biography:
Leslie Blaustein is a teacher at PS 77 - The Lower Lab School and she is an active participant of Lower Lab’s STEM committee. She also currently volunteers as a workshop reviewer for the National Association For Gifted Children. Leslie has over 20 years of experience teaching at both public and private schools including PS 112, PS 176, The Dalton School, 92nd Street Y Art Center, and Convent of the Sacred Heart School. Leslie holds a Master's degree in Education and an advanced certificate in Gifted & Talented Education from Hunter College, as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Syracuse University.
Matthew G. Boyas
Board Member
Biography:
Matthew G. Boyas is a Senior Data Scientist for The MITRE Corporation’s Model-Based Analytics Department. He was previously a Business Analyst at ZS Associates. Outside of his professional life, Matthew is an amateur classical clarinetist who plays with orchestras and chamber music groups. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Social Science from Dartmouth College. Matthew holds a Master of Arts in Statistics from the University of California, Berkeley.
