Chief Development Officer
DC Prep
Washington, D.C.

Meet Vanessa Gonzalez, a dedicated advocate for education and equity. Gonzalez’s deep belief that a great education can disrupt racial and other inequities has led her to focus her career in K-12 education. She studied economics and Spanish at Emory, taking advantage of study abroad programs in London and Buenos Aires to expand her horizons. The strong liberal arts foundation she received at Emory sharpened her strategic thinking and led to her first job as a strategy consultant at Bain and Company.

Since then, Gonzalez has used her “generalist” toolkit to advance public education through nonprofit leadership roles. As chief development officer at DC Prep in Washington, D.C., she leads fundraising, external communications, and alumni support for one of the city’s highest-performing charter school networks. She has also worked in Puerto Rico, her place of birth, leading recovery efforts in K-12 education and the arts after Hurricane Maria.

When she’s not working, Gonzalez loves to cook new recipes, make clothing and quilts, read, and travel. These days, her time is focused on her four-month-old son, Mateo. Gonzalez finds fulfillment in seeing the impact of the education provided at DC Prep, which helps students access opportunities and live choice-filled lives.

Emory played a significant role in Gonzalez’s success, providing her with opportunities to explore many interests, experience different cultures, and sharpen her analytical thinking skills. These experiences have made her a more empathetic, curious, and strategic leader in every role she has taken.