NSSA STEM Starter Academy at Mt. Vernon
Board & Executive Leadership
Meet the Dedicated Individuals Who Lead and Guide Our Organization Towards Success.
Our Free, Barrier-Breaking STEM Programs Are Made Possible with the Generous Support of Our Partners and Sponsors.
Robert Holland, Jr.
(Apr. 11, 1940 - Dec. 22, 2021)
Chairman of the Board
Robert “Bob” Holland, Jr. was a business executive and entrepreneur who grew up in Albion, Michigan. He earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Union College and an M.B.A. from Bernard Baruch, Graduate School of Business.
He was an associate and partner at McKinsey & Company for over a dozen years, and although he was based in NYC, he spent several years in their Amsterdam, London, and Cleveland offices. He then became the principal owner, Chairman, and CEO of Rokher-J Inc., City Marketing, and Gilreath Manufacturing, Inc. He then continued to provide corporate leadership as President and CEO of the Vermont-based, publicly traded ice cream maker – Ben & Jerry’s.
Driven by his commitment to empowering others, Holland founded the Detroit, MI, Make-A-Difference Dropout Prevention Program and was the Chairman of the Board of Spelman College, where he was on the Board for 25 years as well as Board Vice Chair and Chair for the Harlem Junior Tennis Program for over 40 years. He was also on the NCAA’s Advisory Board, the Research Corporation’s Board, and in NYC, the Board of the Children’s Aid Society and the Lincoln Center Theater.
Over the years, Mr. Holland’s highly distinguished career includes serving on the Boards of Directors of Carver Bank, Lexmark, Neptune Orient Lines, YUM Brands, the African American Advisory Board of PepsiCo, Frontier Communications, The MONY Group, Neptune Orient Lines (Singapore), New York Dock Railway and Olin Corporation.
Most recently, before his passing, he served on the Business Advisory Board of the US Pentagon, Department of Defense, Washington, D.C., and was the Chief Mentor, Managing Partner, and Advisory Board Member of ESSEX Lake Group, a profit enhancement firm in Shanghai, New Delhi, and New York. He kindly served as Chairman of the Northeast STEM Starter Academy (NSSA) in Mt. Vernon, where Bob worked on raising graduation rates and preparing more African American and other underserved, at-risk students for careers within the STEM sector.
Board of Directors
Get to know the talented individuals behind our company.
Executive Advisory Board
Gerald D. Dennis,
Founder and Executive Director
Gerald started his consulting company in early 2012 after more than twenty years in the technology sector including 6 years with IBM, 10 years with Xerox and 3 years with IKON. During those years in the tech space, Dennis held a number of senior sales and sales leadership positions. After forming his consultancy, Gerald came to learn of the many challenges associated with the hometown of his youth, Mount Vernon, NY and the issues facing the children attending the city’s public schools.
In response to learning of the significant educational outcome disparity associated with the minority but majority population attending the city’s public schools, Dennis’ felt compelled to learn more and determine what was being done. Too quickly, it became abundantly apparent that little if anything was underway to drive meaningful and sustainable change.
- Since the formation of the NSSA, Dennis has dedicated the majority of his time and talents building the foundation that he and the 501 (c)(3)’s board feel has the opportunity to drive meaningful change for all of the underserved children attending one of the city’s 16 public schools.
- Education: Dennis holds undergraduate and graduate degree in psychology from Eastern New Mexico University and Northern Arizona University.
- Contact: gdennis@nssa-mv.org, 914-888-7556
Executive Summary
For many reasons, public school children of Mount Vernon are falling behind at an alarming rate. Evidence suggests they are not prepared for participation in our global economy, especially regarding STEM-based subject matter.
The Northeast STEM Starter Academy at Mt Vernon will ensure Mount Vernon public school students have access to state-of-the art science and technology resources that prepare them for careers as teachers, scientists, computer technologists, doctors and engineers. It will produce transformative change for Mount Vernon children as well as cultural and economic change for the city and region.
Read our Executive Summary to learn more about:
- the critical situation in Mount Vernon
- how a technology and science center can be a solution
- how you can help, including naming opportunities for donors
