Sylvia Cini-Grenada is a program manager at Jobs for the Future. A member of the postsecondary team, her focus is on supporting the Student Success Center Network. Her responsibilities include managing systems for data gathering and communication across the team. Sylvia also helps to develop and implement new approaches to supporting educators in the field that lead to improved and more equitable student outcomes.
Her skills and areas of expertise include:
- Program design and management
- Grant research, development, and implementation
- Stakeholder engagement
- Competency-based education
- Guided pathways
- Career and technical education
- Economic mobility
- Equity
- Technology in education
Before joining JFF, Sylvia served as a director of special projects in the Office of Government Relations and Grants at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, North Carolina. There, she supported the design, pilot, and scaling of instructional and holistic support models, including competency-based education and guided pathways.
In 2020 and 2021, Sylvia coordinated pandemic-related relief grants across college units, which involved helping teams develop budget plans and tracking impact. She has also worked in homeless services.
Reflecting on her decision to join JFF, she says, “The success of postsecondary learners relies on the strength of a team—from faculty and coaches to college presidents and state leaders. It’s at this local level that real change occurs. What makes JFF amazing is its ability to stand beside each of these experts and offer support and technical assistance at all levels. It takes a special organization to help others see the possibilities and brave the storm of complex change.”
Sylvia has a master’s degree in management and leadership from Western Governors University and a bachelor’s degree from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, daughter, and cat.
