Elesia Thurston
Chief Operating Officer

Elesia oversees organizational operations and supports the execution of programs designed to empower youth from underserved communities. In her role, she provides strategic and operational leadership to ensure the foundation’s day-to-day functions align with its mission of increasing access to higher education and long-term success for students.

Elesia brings a collaborative, hands-on leadership style and a strong commitment to building efficient systems, developing talent, and fostering an inclusive organizational culture. She works closely with staff and interns to strengthen internal processes, enhance program delivery, and support sustainable growth. Her background includes experience across diverse professional environments, equipping her with a practical, solutions-oriented approach to nonprofit management.

Guided by a belief that strong operations are essential to meaningful impact, Elesia is dedicated to aligning people, processes, and purpose to help mission-driven organizations thrive and better serve their communities.