LYNN — La Vida Scholars’ new executive director has more than 20 years experience in education and community planning.
Boston native Claudio Martinez succeeds David Zagunis, who stepped down earlier this year after working with La Vida for 10 years.
“I’m very excited to welcome Claudio Martinez, a friend for many years,” said Bob Hildreth, founder of La Vida Scholars and Inversant. “I’ve always admired his career and look forward to the wonderful things he will do for La Vida.”
La Vida Scholars equips low-income, high-achieving Lynn students, primarily from immigrant families, with resources and preparation needed to enter great colleges, and awards parents who save with matched funds and the training necessary to make informed decisions regarding their child’s higher education.
Since 2007, the program has helped 98 students find more than $12 million in grants, scholarships and awards.
Executive Director of the Hyde Square Task Force for 17 years, Martinez comes to La Vida Scholars from Boston University’s BRIDGE (Building Refugee and Immigrant Degrees for Graduate Education) Program, where he has served as co-director since 2016.
He is a 2013 Massachusetts Institute of Technology CoLab Mel King Community Fellow and 2005 Barr Foundation Fellow. Martinez has served as advisor and board member of many foundations and public-private partnerships, including the advisory board of Inversant, La Vida’s partner, since 2010.
“I look forward to supporting the youth and families of Lynn so they can achieve their higher education goals, attend the college of their dreams, and lead meaningful and productive lives,” said Martinez.
