The Jed Foundation

JED is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults. We’re partnering with high schools and colleges to strengthen their mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention programs and systems. We’re equipping teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other. We’re encouraging community awareness, understanding and action for young adult mental health.

Chief Executive Officer

Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

Advisory Board Member, Health Policy and Management Department

Social Innovation Summit

Social Innovation Leadership Council is a close-knit network of #CSR, #ESG, #DEI, and purpose-driven experts focused on supporting each other with questions or requests for ideas, resources, connections, insights, and more. Learn more at https://sisomni.com/.

Member, Social Innovation Leadership Council

The City College of New York

Executive Advisory Board, S Jay Levy Fellowship for Future Leaders

National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention

Steering Committee Member

Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company driven to improve the lives of those affected by chronic disorders of the central nervous system.

Member Board Of Directors; Nominating Committee; past member of Audit Commitee

BlackThorn Therapeutics (acquired by Neumora)

BlackThorn Therapeutics was a privately-held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in San Francisco. Acquired by Neumora (neumoratx.com).

Board of Directors; Compensation Committee; Audit Committee

Trek Medics International

Trek Medics International is dedicated to reducing the global burden of premature death and disability in vulnerable communities through the development of prehospital and emergency care services.

Advisor

HIV Experience Resources Organization (HERO)

HIV Experience Resources Organization (HERO) is an online resource to navigate a complicated system to get help if you are newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

Crisis Text Line

Crisis Text Line is free, 24/7 emotional support for those in crisis.

National Advisory Board Member

Nonprofit and public health leader focused on protecting emotional health and preventing suicide for teens and young adults.

Successful track record launching and growing new products and organizations - participated in or led the launch of more than 30 new products and services.

John MacPhee

Building Thriving Communities | Organizational Culture Strategist & Consultant | Certified Executive Coach | Coaching Leaders Who Aspire To Do Great Things | Keynote Speaker | Board Member | Bilingual (English/Spanish)

I partner with leaders and mission-driven organizations to design and facilitate executive coaching, leadership development, and team retreats that strengthen culture and performance.

Bio: 
Dr. Sofia B. Pertuz is a certified executive coach, consultant, and workplace culture strategist with decades of experience strengthening leadership capacity and shaping inclusive workplaces across higher education, nonprofit, and corporate sectors. As Founder of Mainstream Insight, she partners with mission-driven organizations to deliver coaching, leadership development, strategic planning and change management solutions grounded in values alignment and organizational growth.
Sofia has held senior leadership roles including Managing Director of Inclusion and Leadership Development at Billie Jean King Enterprises, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at The Jed Foundation, and Associate Vice President and Dean of Students at Hofstra University. In these positions, she advanced leadership pathways, enhanced workforce engagement, and guided organizations through periods of rapid change.

A bilingual (Spanish/English) facilitator and international speaker, Sofia leads transformative conversations on leadership, organizational resilience, cultural identity, and LGBTQ+ advocacy. Her signature approach blends humor, clarity, and candor, helping leaders navigate complexity with confidence and care. She has authored and co-authored publications on Latinx identity, leadership transitions, and cultural values, and she teaches Capstone: An Integrative Business Challenge at IE New York College.

Beyond her organizational work, Sofia founded Latinas Completing Doctoral Degrees, a virtual network of more than 9,000 members, and serves on the boards of 100 Hispanic Women and Yes Collective. 

Sofia earned a PhD from Seton Hall University and holds certifications as an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Professional Certified Coach, SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), Certified Diversity Executive®, and practitioner in Everything DiSC® and Gallup CliftonStrengths®.

Sofia is a published author, including a book chapter, “Exploring Latinx/a/o Identity, Cultural Values, and Success in Higher Education.”

Sofia takes having a good sense of humor seriously & earned a Certificate at Stand-Up University at the Governor’s Brokerage Comedy Club in Bellmore, NY.

Sofia B. Pertuz, PhD, ACC, CDE®

Recently at the SOMOS, Inc. (fka Somos el Futuro, Inc.) conference in Puerto Rico, I had the privilege of moderating a conversation that has stayed with me. I have been reflecting on what it meant for all of us to gather and speak honestly about how our stories are shaped, challenged, and reclaimed, and how energizing it was to be surrounded by leaders who are moving our communities forward in so many ways.

Moderating the Latina Empowerment Series panel, “Media Justice in the Age of Misinformation: Reclaiming Our Stories, Rebuilding Truth,” during the SOMOS Women’s Luncheon hosted by 100 Hispanic Women National, Inc. was a meaningful moment in my ongoing commitment to advancing Latina leadership.

With a remarkable group of leaders, including Debralee Santos, Erica Priscilla Sandoval, LCSW, AWA, Madeline V. Marquez, and Dora Lassalle, Esq., we explored how misinformation shapes public perception, policy, and identity. We also highlighted the power of storytelling, advocacy, and innovation in reclaiming truth and strengthening our communities.

We reflected on media justice as a shared responsibility, storytelling as healing, economic equity as justice, and the importance of shaping how technology and AI represent us. Each panelist brought depth and clarity, and I felt grateful to be in conversation with Latinas leading with courage and purpose.

Beyond the panel, the entire SOMOS conference was a powerful reminder of what happens when changemakers come together. I had the chance to reconnect with colleagues, meet new partners, and witness leaders across sectors working with intention and heart. Being in Puerto Rico, surrounded by leaders committed to their communities and to one another, was grounding and inspiring.

As a proud Dominican woman from the Bronx, it meant a great deal to stand in that space and feel the collective strength and possibility of our leadership.

I am grateful to Alicia McGrath, MA,MBA for believing in me and recommending that I serve as moderator. Thank you to 100 Hispanic Women National, Inc. national board president Catherine Garcia and the planning committee for creating a space that uplifts Latina leadership. I also want to acknowledge Claudia Boyle for being an excellent MC and NYS Assembly Member Karines Reyes RN for her steady leadership and advocacy. A shoutout to LIZ GUTIERREZ, whose expertise ensured the luncheon presentation was streamed live for those who could not attend in person.

#SOMOSPuertoRico #100HispanicWomen #MediaJustice #Storytelling #Leadership

Sofia B. Pertuz, PhD, PCC

I am overjoyed to celebrate Nurys LeBron on successfully defending her dissertation proposal at Manhattanville University. Her study on the experiences of Latina doctoral students who are full-time working mothers explores a vital and often overlooked topic in higher education. Serving on her dissertation committee alongside Drs. Susan VanDeventer Iverson and Julie Alexander, Ed.D. has been both an honor and an inspiration. 

This work resonates deeply with me, not only because my own research focused on Latina leaders navigating complex systems, but also because Nurys and I share roots in the Highbridge section of the Bronx, where we happened to grow up in the same building during different times in our formative years. What a powerful reminder of how our paths, shaped by community and purpose, can reconnect in such meaningful ways.

As the founder of the online community "Latinas Completing Doctoral Degrees" this topic is especially close to my heart. I know firsthand the determination it takes to pursue scholarship while working full-time and caring for family. Future Doctora LeBron’s work will shed light on these lived experiences and inspire countless others who walk this path.

Congratulations, future Doctora LeBron! Your journey embodies the brilliance, resilience, and purpose of Latina scholars everywhere.

Open article: Nurys LeBron Successfully Defends her Dissertation Proposal by mville.edu

Nurys LeBron Successfully Defends her Dissertation Proposal

Leaders are still asking the same question we heard when I co-presented a workshop about reframing inclusion earlier this year with my colleague, Joel Pérez, Ph.D., PCC - Cultural Humility:  How do we communicate about inclusion and belonging with clarity and confidence in a climate that feels more complex every day?

On Wednesday January 28, 2026, from 12pm to 3pm ET, we will be co-facilitating an updated virtual workshop that takes this challenge head on.

"Reframing for Impact: Evolving Language, Enduring Values" is designed for leaders who want to communicate with purpose while staying grounded.

This past year it has been clear that many HR, nonprofit, and higher education leaders are being asked to manage difficult conversations, support staff through uncertainty, and make decisions about language that signal who they are and what they value. This workshop offers tools to help leaders move through that complexity instead of avoiding it.

We will explore:
💡 how language shapes trust and credibility
💡 how to navigate sensitive or high stakes conversations
💡 how to align communication with mission and values so teams can stay focused and move forward 

The session will be interactive and practical, and participants will walk away with strategies they can apply immediately.

Tuition is $395, and early registration before December 15, 2025 is $345 with the code REFRAME. Every participant will also receive a copy of Joel’s book Dear White Leader.

If you are interested in bringing this type of session directly to your leadership team, we can design a tailored version that supports your specific needs. The demand for grounded, values aligned communication support continues to grow, and organizations are looking for clear pathways to address it.

If that is your reality right now, feel free to reach out!

Link to learn more and register:

Open article: Workshops by apoyocoaching.com

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