St. Louis Community Foundation Launches Youth Connections Advisory Committee 

The St. Louis Community Foundation has selected 11 highly qualified and engaged community members to serve on the inaugural advisory committee for its Youth Connections Fund, a key component of its 2024-2028 Strategic Plan. As part of our ongoing commitment to reemphasizing the “community” in Community Foundation, we recently put out an open call for community members to join us in advancing opportunities for youth to thrive in our region. After reviewing dozens of applications from passionate and knowledgeable individuals, we have assembled a dynamic committee of experts, leaders, advocates, and community representatives to help guide our work.  

Over the coming months, the Committee will meet regularly to provide strategic direction on programming and funding opportunities, and champion the work of our strategic plan. We look forward to the valuable guidance and insights its members will bring as we launch exciting projects and impact-focused programs.  

Advisory Committee Members

Dr. Saras Chung

Dr. Saras Chung is committed to seeing young people given the support and opportunities they need to thrive. As the executive director of SKIP Designed, Saras works with leaders to design better systems for child and youth thriving. As an adjunct professor at Washington University in St. Louis’ Brown School of Social Work, she teaches social policy for children and youth and system dynamics. Her youth advocacy has been recognized by the Missouri House of Representatives and she has been awarded fellowships from the Federal Reserve Bank in St. Louis and the International Society for Child Indicators.

When she’s not working, she loves to run, coaching for the St. Louis City NICA youth mountain biking team (Go Otters!) and spending time with her husband and two emerging adult children. 

Dr. Stacy Clay

Stacy Clay has dedicated his career to supporting young people and historically disadvantaged communities. Stacy graduated from St. Louis University with a degree in elementary education and he received his master’s degree in education administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Stacy was the Executive Director of College Summit-St. Louis and a two-term member of the University City School Board. 

Stacy resides in University City with his wife and two daughters. 

Dr. Sean Doherty

Dr. Sean Doherty began his career in public education at Webster Groves School District as a third-grade teacher. He then moved to Parkway School District, where he served as a teacher, an assistant principal and eventually as the principal. In 2010, Doherty moved to the School District of Clayton as the principal of Captain Elementary. He later became the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for Clayton Schools. Doherty was appointed as Superintendent in 2016, after serving as interim Superintendent during the 2015-2016 school year. Doherty focused on the empowerment of learners, educational equity, and modeling the importance of a growth mindset as the district’s lead learner. In 2022, he returned to the Missouri Botanical Garden serving as Vice President for Education – moving the Garden’s mission forward through learning. 

Nikki Doughty

Prior to joining the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation as the Chief Impact Officer,, Nikki was the Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Institute for School Partnership (ISP) at Washington University.  Committed to equity and social justice, Nikki’s work has centered on access and opportunity for our most underserved communities. During her time at the ISP, she collaborated with school districts across the region to develop programming that positioned SLPS teachers and school leaders to adopt innovative approaches to school transformation.  Nikki holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Missouri – St. Louis (2002), a Master of Arts in International Relations from Webster University (2005), and a Master of Social Work from the Brown School at Washington University (2014). 

Dr. Courtney M. Graves

Dr. Courtney M. Graves is a Licensed Professional Counselor, school board director, and nonprofit leader who has dedicated her career to empowering youth and families across the St. Louis region. She currently serves as the Director of The Salvation Army Ferguson Community Empowerment Center, where she oversees programs that provide trauma-informed care, family support, and youth development, including the innovative Spark Academy. Dr. Graves is also the Board Chair of the Emerson YMCA, where she advocates for community wellness and youth enrichment initiatives. As a director on the Ferguson-Florissant School Board, she remains committed to advancing educational access and student success. 

Dr. Graves is also a proud mother of two sons—one a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and the other a graduating senior at Morehouse College. 

Galicia Guerrero-Dunn 

As a first-generation college graduate and daughter of immigrants, Galicia Guerrero-Dunn is passionate about the power of education and has centered her career on increasing access and equity across education systems. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in social work from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, and a Master of Social Work degree with concentrations in children, youth, and families from Washington University in St. Louis. Focused on the intersection of social work and education, she has led the implementation and evaluation of numerous educational programs and services across all age groups, from birth through post-secondary education. Today, she leads the data and evaluation work for Ready Readers, a nonprofit striving to understand better and respond to early childhood literacy needs within the greater St. Louis metro region.   

Molly Joyce 

Molly Joyce is an experienced leader with a proven track record in strategic planning, program management, partnership development and achieving ambitious outcomes, particularly in K-16 education. With a deep commitment to dismantling inequitable systems and increasing access to education and economic mobility, she has dedicated her career to ensuring students and young professionals have the support and resources they need to succeed. Molly has spent over 15 years at KIPP St. Louis Public Schools, where she has held multiple leadership roles, including Director of Special Projects and Director of KIPP Forward. Molly holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Dayton. She continues to be a driving force in expanding educational equity, shaping policies, and fostering partnerships that create long-term opportunities for students and communities. 

Vicki May 

Victoria May is the executive director of the Institute for School Partnership (ISP) at Washington University in St. Louis. The Institute is Washington University’s signature program to strategically improve teaching and learning within the K-12 education community. Through the ISP, local schools are connected with a world class research university, teachers are inspired with new knowledge and teachers and students are empowered with exemplar resources. 

Vicki has worked for over twenty years linking WashU faculty members and programs with local schools and the community. Current areas of focus include school and teacher leadership, development of engaging STEM instructional materials and programs, and strategic university-school partnerships for increased student achievement. She believes that teaching in the K-12 public schools is amazingly difficult and rewarding and that a single teacher can change the lives of many students. This has led her in a pathway toward advocating for classroom resources, teacher mentoring, and leadership opportunities. 

Bob Newmark 

Bob Newmark is a leading Mergers and Acquisitions partner with the global law firm BCLP.  He concentrates his practice in the areas of business and transactional counseling. Mr. Newmark has experience representing primarily closely held businesses and their owners in a range of transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, general commercial counseling, joint ventures and strategic alliances, and cross-border structuring. He counsels companies in a number of industries, including food and beverage, finance, manufacturing, retail/luxury, and infrastructure (especially telecommunications). Mr. Newmark previously served as Managing Partner of the Firm’s St. Louis office from 2011 to 2021, and has held a number of firmwide roles including strategic planning and merger integration.

Shelly Williams  

With over 17 years of experience in leadership roles dedicated to improving youth outcomes, Shelly Williams has become a passionate advocate for equitable access to opportunities that allow children to thrive. Equipped with a degree in Anthropology from the University of Notre Dame, Williams has consistently demonstrated a commitment to driving positive change through strategic innovation, community engagement, and collaborative partnerships. Williams’ leadership journey spans several impactful roles, including her most recent role as the Executive Director of Access Academies, Director of Strategic Marketing and Community Engagement at LUME Institute/University City Children’s Center, and National and Local Initiative Director at Nine Network of Public Media. 

She is also a Parent Ambassador for both New City School and Whitfield School, a 2023 graduate of Focus St. Louis’ Leadership St. Louis program, and a proud mother of two daughters.