Allison Gomez has dedicated her career to bettering outcomes for vulnerable populations, particularly through her leadership as program manager for the unaccompanied refugee minors program at Ascentria.
Since joining the nonprofit, she has increased URM participant assurances by 20% in eight months while expanding her leadership scope to oversee the family resource team, managing a combined staff of 12 and integrating service delivery across programs. She oversees budgets exceeding $1 million annually while strengthening community partnerships to increase employment readiness and housing stability opportunities. Her research at Worcester State University focused on poverty reduction strategies and self-sufficiency in urban areas, while she is pursuing her Ph.D. in strategic leadership and administrative studies at Marywood University.
Her community service began early through childhood visits to oncology wards and was solidified by witnessing 9/11’s impact while growing up in New York City. As a New England Patriots Cheerleader from 2015-2018, she collaborated with nonprofits regionally and internationally, notably bringing the Lombardi Trophy to Worcester.
What lesson do you have for the next generation? We are each powerful puzzle pieces. Even without seeing the full picture, our unique contributions may be the ones that complete meaningful change.
What do you want to accomplish in the next 50 years? As Dr. Gomez, use my research to build sustainable systems to expand access to education, housing, and opportunity, empowering future generations of leaders.
