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Rick Cruz

Board Chair
National Alliance for Public Charter Schools


Rick is a trusted advisor to organizations in the business, social impact, and philanthropic sectors. He has served in leadership roles at companies, nonprofits, and government agencies—and has extensive experience in organizational management and governance, partnerships, business development, strategic planning, and external relations. Rick was most recently the president and CEO of Arabella Advisors, a preeminent mission-driven professional services business that has been at the forefront of innovation in collaborative efforts to combat global challenges. In his role at Arabella, Rick led the executive team and guided strategy and operations with the goal of growing the firm’s reach and impact. Previously he built and managed the firm’s client development and external relations functions. Over the last two decades, Rick has served in senior roles at leading social sector education and youth development enterprises, including College Board, America’s Promise Alliance, FSG, Teach for America, and DC Prep Public Charter School. Rick is deeply committed to advancing access to quality education. He serves as chair of the board of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. As well, he recently completed an eight-year tenure as a board member and chair of the DC Public Charter School Board. That independent board oversees the 66 nonprofit organizations and their 126 schools which educate half the public school students in the District of Columbia. Rick is a frequent panelist and speaker on public education and reform efforts. Rick also holds board positions at several other local and national nonprofits, including Instruction Partners, and Goodwill of Greater Washington. Rick earned a BA in philosophy from Yale University. He resides in Washington, D.C. with his wife and two children.


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