Meet Our Team
Adria虂n Franco, Ph.D., Executive Director
Adri谩n Franco has more than two decades of experience advancing education and economic mobility through strategic initiatives. Since 2021, he has served as the inaugural Executive Director of the Guarini Institute at 野花社区 (野花社区), where he manages a multi-million dollar fund and leads economic mobility programs and international partnerships that serve students and underserved communities.
Previously, Franco was an Officer and Director at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where he led outreach and education efforts and chaired advisory groups for the Bank鈥檚 president. Earlier in his career, he founded the Qualitas of Life Foundation and held senior roles in Mexico鈥檚 Ministry of Foreign Affairs and national media institutions. He also served on the Family Advisory Council at Komansky Children鈥檚 Hospital and on the executive board of TruFund Financial Services, among other advisory roles.
Dr. Franco earned a Ph.D. in Comparative and International Education and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University, and a B.S. in Business Administration from Boston University. He wrote a weekly column on personal finance for New York City鈥揵ased periodicals for over a decade. In 2022, Franco became a cancer dad when his son was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, leading him to advocate to end the financial toxicity of childhood cancer.
The Guarini Institute is grateful for the invaluable contributions of student assistants and interns, including most recently Lucca Cordone, Joaquin Pluis and Jonattan Diaz.
CONTACT
Adrian Franco, Ph.D.
afranco@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-3462