Vince Marigna
Breakthrough Collaborative announced today that Vince Marigna has been named its CEO effective July 18. Marigna will succeed Elissa Vanaver who announced her retirement last fall and who has served as National CEO since 2017.
Most recently, Marigna served as Executive Director of Braven – Newark, where he grew the number of college students served year over year, secured funding to fuel growth regionally and to support the expansion of Braven nationally, and served on the New Jersey Governor’s task force focused on student success in college. Marigna spent over a decade in leadership at KIPP New Jersey, where he served as the Chief Schools Officer/Chief Academic Officer and later as the Chief People Officer.
“We believe Vince is the ideal executive to lead Breakthrough’s next chapter of growth and success, following Elissa’s successful efforts to strengthen the Collaborative,” said Pat Talamantes, Chair, Breakthrough Collaborative National Board of Trustees. “Vince is a human-centered leader with a great mind for strategic planning and management. His experience leading organizations that span the entire K-12 and college continuum coupled with his people and equity-centered leadership style will benefit Breakthrough at this important time for our mission, students, and teachers.”
“It’s an exciting time to be at Breakthrough and I am thrilled about the tremendous opportunity to be part of such a dynamic and vital organization,”said Marigna. “Breakthrough’s unique near-peer program model is helping create a generation of inspired students and a pipeline of talented and diverse educators and leaders,” he continued.
“The time to improve equity and outcomes in education is now and Breakthrough offers a proven solution. I look forward to partnering with our affiliates, schools, community leaders, funders, and supporters for continued growth and impact.”
Marigna began his career as a high school English teacher and Teach For America corps member in New Jersey, going on to join the local Teach For America staff in Newark where he coached and supported incoming teachers in that program. As a first generation college graduate himself, Marigna has committed his career to organizations expanding educational opportunity for students from backgrounds that are historically marginalized and underserved by the education system.
