Bottom Line Adds New Members to its Board of Directors

Bottom Line, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to educational equity, announced the addition of three new board members: Geraldine White, Chief Diversity Officer, Publicis Groupe US; Mike Volo, Principal, Financial Advisor, CAPTRUST; and Max Clermont, Senior Technical Adviser, Partners In Health. The members, who are appointed to a three-year term, include a Bottom Line program alumnus for the first time.

Bottom Line partners with degree-aspiring students of color as they get into college, graduate, and go far in life, by providing them with individual support to persist, earn a degree, and launch their careers. Its model is recognized for its rigorous, externally validated proof-of-impact on college enrollment, persistence, and graduation. The new members will be implementing the organization’s strategic plan, which focuses on expanding to directly serve 20,000 students annually as well as reaching 400,000 with the Bottom Line program model through partnerships by 2030.

“We are proud to welcome these new board members who, in addition to their notable careers, have extensive experience working with our organization and proving to be relentless allies to our students,” said Bottom Line’s CEO Steve Colón. “They embody our commitment to ensuring that staff, board members, and partners reflect our students–while fervently believing that higher education should be accessible to all.”

Bottom Line board chair Auditi Chakravarty commented, “Our new board members’ expertise and dedication will be instrumental as we strive to ensure that Black and brown students have access to the transformative power of a college degree. They understand that getting into a college which is a good fit, graduating with lower debt, and launching a meaningful career are essential to advancing economic mobility.”

Geraldine White is Chief Diversity Officer of Publicis Groupe US, where she leads the organization’s DE&I efforts across its largest market, spanning inclusive talent experiences; building more equitable systems, policies and practices; and driving long-term organizational change. Previously, she was the Head of Diversity & Inclusion in North America for Publicis Sapient and also served as Program Management Discipline lead. Her thought leadership has extended across industry forums, including Pharrell Williams’ Mighty Dream Forum, New York Advertising Week, and 4A’s Equity and Inclusion Congress.

Ms. White is a member of Rochester Institute of Technology’s employer advisory board, the Institute for Corporate Productivity’s Chief Diversity Officer board, and holds additional board positions with Bottom Line and A Call to Men. She’s been named a She Runs It Working Mother of the Year and Changing the Game honoree, recognized in Dress for Success’ global Your Hour Her Power 2023 campaign, and was included in AdExchanger’s Top Women in Media & Ad Tech 2023 list.

“I’m honored to serve on the board for Bottom Line and to support the organization’s focus on eradicating inequities in degree attainment for first-generation college students,” said Geraldine White. “Potential can be highly subjective, and there is a clear difference between chance and true opportunity. The work of setting young talent up for success amidst the ever-evolving challenges in higher education must be consistent and collective. I appreciate being able to contribute to Bottom Line’s mission and impact.”

Mike Volo is Principal, Financial Advisor at CAPTRUST, where he works alongside the country’s leading nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, corporations, and public sector employers to help manage their retirement programs and serve as a fiduciary advisor. His prior firm, Cammack Retirement Group, joined forces with CAPTRUST in 2021 to form the country’s leading independent retirement plan consulting and investment advisory firm.

Prior to serving as the senior partner at Cammack Retirement, Mr. Volo led the client service organization, focused on tax-exempt institutions, as senior vice president at Fidelity Investments. He also served as the head of acquisition and client marketing for Fidelity. Additionally, Mike served as the chief marketing officer and head of product management of Scudder Investments.

Mike Volo stated, “I have been involved with Bottom Line for nearly 25 years and have seen the incredible impact the organization has had on individuals, families, and communities. Bottom Line has an amazing track record of success, and I look forward to helping the organization serve more students in more cities across the country.”

Max Clermont is a Senior Adviser with Partners In Health United States where he leads technical, operational, and strategic advising for public health practitioners working to build more resilient, community-oriented, and equity-first health systems. Previously, he was Chief of Staff & Associate Director for Community Health Engagement at UChicago Medicine’s Trauma Center supporting the launch of the center and design of the hospital-based violence recovery program.

Mr. Clermont has also held positions with Obama for America and Brigham & Women’s Hospital. He serves on the President’s Communications Advisory Council at Brown University and is on the board of directors for Just A Start, Health & Medicine Policy Research Group, and Center on Halsted.

Max Clermont commented, “I am a living and breathing example of Bottom Line’s impact. I believe in its mission now more than ever, and that getting in and through college can have a transformative impact on your life and community. As the first alumnus to join the National Board of Directors, I am looking forward to using my first-hand experience to help shape the next decade of Bottom Line’s growth and expansion, while preserving the unique strengths of the program. The world around us is changing every day and I’m excited to partner with Bottom Line’s leadership to prepare our students with the skills they need to succeed in that future.”

About Bottom Line:

For 25 years, Bottom Line has been fighting for educational equity by ensuring that the right to a quality college education is accessible to the many, not just the few. Its vision is to create a far-reaching ripple effect, launched by the transformative power of a college degree and a mobilizing first career. For degree-aspiring students from first-generation and low-income backgrounds, Bottom Line is a relentless ally that partners with them to get into college, graduate, and go far.