Mass Mentoring Partnership, Inc. proudly announces the appointment of Cynthia K. Orellana, Ph.D. as its new President and Chief Executive Officer.
Boston, MA (April 5, 2024) – Mass Mentoring Partnership, Inc. proudly announces the appointment of Cynthia K. Orellana, Ph.D. as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Orellana will be transitioning into her new role following the retirement of Lily Mendez, who supported the organization through a global pandemic and helped to position MMP to continue making strides forward in the years following.
The Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP) serves as an intermediary organization that provides the critical link between national evidence-based research and local programming to promote the quality and quantity of mentoring relationships.
MMP Board Chair, Warren Zola, shared, “On behalf of the entire board of MMP we are thrilled to have found such a dynamic leader in Dr. Orellana. Her experience, abundant talents, and passion for youth mentoring make her the ideal person to lead this organization. As a conduit for change throughout her career, Cynthia is perfectly situated to ensure that all young people in Massachusetts have the mentoring relationships they need to develop and grow into thriving and engaged adults.”
Dr. Orellana joins Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP) with a passion and commitment to inclusive and collaborative practices, bridging the opportunity divide and driving systems change. A lifelong advocate for empowering youth and building healthier communities, she brings to the organization an enthusiasm for building the capacity and the field of mentoring to ensure that all young people in the Commonwealth have access to caring and committed mentoring relationships. Dr. Orellana will be driving the next stage of MMP’s work to increase opportunities for youth to thrive in Massachusetts, particularly those coming from marginalized communities.
In addition to her expertise in the development of startup programs and initiatives, Dr. Orellana’s two decades of experience in community organizing, advocacy, civic engagement and social policy, cross-organizational partnerships, educational access, and justice perfectly aligns with MMP’s statewide efforts to increase the quality and reach of mentoring programs across the Commonwealth.
Prior to joining MMP, Dr. Orellana most recently held the Director of the Office of Community Partnerships (OCP) position at the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass Boston). In that capacity, she led the OCP in identifying, strengthening, and creating collaborative, high-impact community partnerships that helped to advance the university’s mission as Boston’s public research university. She also led strategic policy projects and initiatives to increase college readiness and college-going rates of the Commonwealth’s students, particularly first-generation-to-college, low-income, and underrepresented students.
Dr. Orellana shared, “There is much good work to be done together with partners across the Commonwealth to grow our young people’s access to supportive adult relationships. The power of mentoring relationships goes a long way in addressing the continued impacts of multiple pandemics, leaving young people with an increased need for belonging, care, guidance, and the social capital to thrive and become the future leaders and mentors of tomorrow.” Cynthia continued, “It’s the power of relationships and promise for what’s possible that moves me as I step humbly into this role. I am excited to build from MMP’s strong foundation and with anyone who wants to join us in this movement.”
Dr. Orellana has a history of service on boards and national and local advisory groups, highlighting her commitment to mentoring and the importance of strong role models in the lives of the youth in her community and beyond. This commitment is reflected in her role as a Founding Board Member of the Chica Project which focuses on empowering young Women and Girls of Color with the skills, confidence, network, and mentoring relationships to succeed. She has been recognized for her leadership and commitment to advancing communities by several renowned organizations, including the Massachusetts Black and Latino Caucus in 2023, the Commonwealth Seminar in 2021, Campus Compact in 2020, among others.