05/27/2026
We are so excited to spotlight Eric, a dedicated member of our Board of Directors who has been part of The Bridge Foundation family since 2025! ✨
Eric first began his journey with us bringing something that cannot be taught, the credibility of someone who lived the story our students are still writing. Raised by a single mother in Maywood, Illinois as the child of an incarcerated parent, Eric knows firsthand what it means to navigate a world that wasn't built with you in mind. That lived experience fuels every room he walks into and every student he pours into.
"I lead with integrity, authenticity, and care, because that's what changed my life, and that's what changes theirs." — Eric
For Eric, this work is personal. As a proud LGBTQIA+ two-time first-generation college graduate, double major in Psychology and Social Work, Master's degree holder in Educational Policy and Administration, and current PhD candidate at Drake University, Eric has turned every obstacle into a credential. His dissertation focuses on African American and Black males at Predominantly White Institutions, examining how intersecting identities shape their experience in academic spaces. This isn't just scholarship. This is advocacy with a degree behind it. Since 2019, he has worked in higher education building authentic relationships with students and pushing them to step outside their comfort zones and into their full potential. Whether he's serving as National Director of Academic Affairs and Civic Engagement for Omega Delta Phi Fraternity Inc., shaping TBF's STEM engagement strategy at the board level, or developing pathways to academic success for the students we serve, Eric is always focused on one thing: making sure the next generation has what they need to win.
Eric believes every young person deserves someone who came back for them. And he shows up every single day to be exactly that.
Join Eric in making a difference. Donate or Volunteer Today! Link in our Bio. ⬆️
