Newton's Janet Altman named Executive Director of Alray Scholars Program

Janet Altman will serve as the new Executive Director of the Alray Scholars Program, a Boston-based nonprofit helping students who have left college complete their educations. Altman, a resident of Newton, has filled the role of Program Director at the nonprofit since 2015, and began her new position on Sept. 4, 2017.

The Alray Scholars Executive Director position is new, funded through a $100,000, multi-year grant from the Cummings Foundation. Altman’s promotion signifies a moment of major growth for the grassroots organization, which relies almost solely on the efforts of volunteer mentors and board members. Prior to 2014, it had no paid staff

“My new role as Executive Director will allow Alray to expand its reach in helping more students earn their college degrees and find meaningful employment,” Altman said. “The need for Alray’s services is growing, so my top priority will be to develop a sound funding strategy and continue to build on our success.”

Altman joined Alray Scholars as a Board Member in 2011, serving until 2014, when she became the first paid staffer – the Mentor Coordinator. One year later, she was promoted to Program Director. She has also mentored individual Alray scholars since 2012. For the past three years, she has managed daily operations of the scholar/mentor program and overseen all the volunteers. Under her leadership, the nonprofit attained the highest level of partnership with the Boston Mayor’s Mentoring Movement and Mass Mentoring. It has also established partnerships with numerous colleges and educational organizations, and has received funding from the Cummings Foundation, the Lenny Zakim Fund, the Orville W. Forte Charitable Trust and other foundations. It also partnered with Match Beyond to provide career and job placement services to Alray Scholars.

Previously, Altman was a School Coordinator for Read to a Child in Boston; Outreach Coordinator for the Boston Jewish Film Festival; Director of Adult Education at Hebrew College; and an International Marketing Manager at Magic Software in Boston and Israel. She has a business degree from the University of Maryland and is an active member of Temple Shalom in Newton, serving as President of its Sisterhood.

Alray Scholars was started in 2008 by Boston Globe writer Neil Swidey, following the publication of his book, “The Assist,” which chronicled Charlestown High School’s championship basketball team and its legendary coach, Jack O’Brien. Swidey worked with friends and community members to fill an unmet need in Boston, by providing support for students whose college paths had been interrupted. Named in honor of a promising Charlestown athlete lost to street violence, the nonprofit aims to give Boston students who left college a second chance at success. Its support formula includes one-on-one mentoring for each scholar, financial assistance and post-graduation job placement assistance. With a deep appreciation for the many financial, logistical, and psychological hurdles students face in returning to college after suffering a setback, Alray Scholars is helping local students solve the college completion puzzle – a challenge for low-income students nationwide.

“Janet is a remarkably dynamic, resourceful and dedicated leader,” Swidey said. “The Alray Board is thrilled to have her assume the role of Executive Director, to take this organization to the next level.”