WASHINGTON, DC – Urban Alliance, a national youth development nonprofit, today announced the appointment of Nicola Diamond as Chief Operating Officer, in which capacity she will oversee finances, human resources, and internal operations for the organization.
“As Urban Alliance continues our efforts to expand economic opportunity for underserved youth, Nicola’s expertise in operational leadership will help us to smoothly and efficiently adapt as we grow our work,” said Eshauna Smith, CEO of Urban Alliance. “Her three decades of experience in education illustrates a passion for youth development and commitment to student success that will make her a valued addition to our national leadership team.”
Diamond comes to Urban Alliance from a background in public education, most recently as Chief Financial Officer for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in Maryland, one of the largest school districts in the nation – and one of the many regions in which Urban Alliance provides youth employment programming. As Chief Financial Officer, Diamond oversaw the development of a $2.7 billion budget and provided strategic guidance to the Board of Education and Superintendent on financial matters. Throughout her 30 years of service to MCPS, Diamond worked as both a teacher and leader, gaining extensive experience in professional development, technology, operations, finance, and human resources. Diamond is a graduate of Cornell University, where she received her undergraduate and graduate degrees.
“Joining Urban Alliance is the culmination of a personal and professional lifetime focused on empowering economically-disadvantaged students to aspire and succeed,” said Diamond. “This role will enable me to use the lessons I’ve learned over three decades in public education to continue serving young people in an exciting new capacity with an organization that shares my passion for equity.”
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About Urban Alliance
Urban Alliance aims to increase economic opportunity for economically-disadvantaged high school students through paid, professional internships, job skills training, and mentoring. Since 1996, UA has provided over 5,000 young people with internships, and another more than 20,000 youth with professional skills training. With more than 20 years of experience serving youth in Chicago, Washington, DC, Baltimore, Northern Virginia, and Detroit, Urban Alliance has a track record of improving post-high school outcomes. A recent six-year study found that completing UA’s High School Internship Program had a measurable impact on young men attending college, mid-GPA students enrolling in four-year colleges, and students’ retention of professional soft skills. 100 percent of UA students graduate from high school; over 90 percent are accepted to college, and 80 percent enroll in college. A further 80 percent of enrolled alumni persist to a second year in college, and 80 percent of all alumni are connected to a college, career, or career training pathway one year post-program.