Franchesca is a Delaware native who joins Urban Alliance as the Program Director for the Baltimore office, having worked in higher education, youth sports development, and college/career access. She is passionate about strategically creating and fostering a sustainable pipeline of robust career experiences and opportunities for underrepresented students.

As a coach, mentor, advocate, and educator, Franchesca has dedicated her career to serving students in marginalized communities. She has led college/career access, workforce development, and academic programming for students across Baltimore City. Her work began in the non-profit sector as a community health worker at The University of Maryland Pediatrics, providing health education in Baltimore City schools That role led to her joining Harlem Lacrosse, providing students with comprehensive social-emotional and academic support during the school day and facilitating after-school youth development workshops and lacrosse programming. She supported the design and implementation for the Baltimore “Pathing” program, intended to help students in securing postsecondary career plans and college placement. During her time as a student at Morgan State University, she further honed her skills, working with the University of Maryland Baltimore County athletic department as an Academic Advisor. In this capacity, she provided crucial academic support and mentorship to students facing the risk of losing their athletic scholarships due to academic underachievement.

Franchesca earned her Bachelor’s degree in public health from McKendree University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration at Morgan State University. Beyond her professional pursuits, she enjoys the beach, hiking, sports, and spending time with her wife and son.

Coming to this role, her foundational values are grounded in the power of education and the importance of fostering leadership in young people.