Bottom Line Appoints New York Executive Director Who Aims to Empower More Students Pursuing Their Dreams
NEW YORK, NY — After an extensive search, Bottom Line welcomes Gabrielle Gilliam as the new executive director for its New York site. As one of Bottom Line’s three legacy regions, Bottom Line New York proudly served 2,435 degree-aspiring students from first-generation and low-income backgrounds last year through its college Access and Success advising programs. Gabrielle will cultivate deeper local partnerships to extend this impact, helping to meet Bottom Line’s national goal of directly supporting 20,000 students annually by 2030.
“Gabrielle has made a life-long commitment to uplift mission-driven organizations in her city, particularly those focused on expanding possibilities for students from communities deserving greater support,” stated Alissa Silverman, chief regional officer of Bottom Line. “Her passion and decades of experience will be instrumental in bolstering our consistent presence in the lives of New York students.”
Gabrielle Gilliam is a seasoned professional in nonprofit management, specializing in institutional advancement including fundraising, strategic planning, and board development. She has held leadership roles at a variety of organizations including United Negro College Fund, Bottomless Closet, Poly Prep Country Day School, Opening Act, and Oliver Scholars. Since 2014, she has been an independent consultant, offering support to non-profits such as NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Fiver Children’s Foundation, Brooklyn Children’s Theatre, and The Peter Westbrook Foundation. Additionally, she is a Senior Lecturer at Columbia University and part of the Management Faculty at the Institute for Nonprofit Practice. She holds a BA in Drama and Africana Studies from Vassar College and an MA in Performance Studies from NYU/Tisch.
“I take special pride in driving forward work that empowers young people to ideate bigger, brighter futures for themselves and achieve their most ambitious dreams,” says Gabrielle. “I’m especially inspired to lead Bottom Line New York – pathways to higher education are elusive for too many students across our city and Bottom Line provides the opportunity and access our young people need and deserve. When we pour into our students today, we strengthen our city and communities – for years to come.”
