The Community Foundation for MetroWest is pleased to announce the appointment of three distinguished leaders, Michelle T. Miller, PH. D. of Dover, Antonio J. Gutierrez of Framingham, and Michael Stephens of Wellesley, to its Board of Trustees. The Foundation also proudly announces the appointment of Susan Kavoogian as Chair and Neeti Ciolino as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Longtime leaders and steadfast champions of the Foundation’s mission, Kavoogian and Ciolino have served in numerous leadership roles over the years, including Kavoogian as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Distribution Committee, and Ciolino as a member of the Governance and Distribution Committee. Their deep institutional knowledge, longstanding commitment, and collaborative leadership have helped strengthen the Foundation’s community impact and philanthropic leadership across MetroWest. As Board Chair and Vice Chair, they will help guide the Foundation through its next chapter of growth, strategic engagement, and regional impact.
Michelle T. Miller, Ph.D., (Dover), is a strategic thinker with experience as a research analyst and consultant in chemical engineering, drug delivery, and biotechnology. Recently, she conducted management, staff, and board interviews for the Early Learning Center at Family Access of Newton, helping to identify and understand the main factors behind staff turnover, enrollment declines, and other operational issues. Michelle now serves on the Strategic Planning Committee for the Community Foundation for MetroWest and reviews grant applications on the Grant Distribution Committee. Her involvement with the Foundation started as a donor, which gave her a strong appreciation for how community foundations support local philanthropy.
Antonio J. “AJ” Gutierrez (Framingham) is the Chief Executive Officer of Equal Opportunity Schools, where he leads efforts to turn real-time student insights into in-year decisions that expand opportunities and enhance college and workforce readiness. He co-founded Saga Education, a national leader in high-impact tutoring, helping to develop and scale one of the most rigorously validated interventions in K–12 education. AJ has worked at the intersection of research, policy, and practice to improve student outcomes on a large scale, collaborating with the Biden-Harris Administration, U.S. Department of Education to promote the National Partnership for Student Success, Harvard University, the University of Texas at Austin, and Mathematica. He resides in Framingham, Massachusetts, where his daughter attends Framingham Public Schools.
Michael Stephens, (Wellesley) is a wealth management professional at Fiduciary Trust Company, where he helps successful families with personalized wealth planning, investment management, and trust and estate strategies. He has been involved with the Community Foundation for MetroWest for over a decade, beginning with the Community Fund for Wellesley and most recently serving on the Corporate Philanthropy Advisory Board. He also serves on the boards of the Wellesley Education Foundation and Land’s Sake Farm in Weston. Mike lives in Wellesley with his wife and two boys.
“We are thrilled to welcome Michelle, AJ, and Mike to our Board of Trustees, and to appoint Susan Kavoogian as Board Chair and Neeti Ciolino as Vice Chair,” said Jay Kim, Executive Director of the Community Foundation for MetroWest. “Susan and Neeti have been exceptional leaders and trusted partners to the Foundation for many years. Their insight, generosity, and unwavering commitment to the community have strengthened every part of our work.”
Together, Kavoogian, Ciolino, and our new board members bring remarkable expertise, leadership, and dedication to the community. Their collective experience will help advance our mission and position the Foundation to respond to the evolving needs and opportunities facing the region.
Departing from the Board are Roland Hoch of Concord, Kenneth Vona of Sudbury, and Kathryn Fagin of Weston. The Foundation extends its sincere gratitude for their years of service and leadership in supporting the organization’s mission and the communities it serves.
