Our Executive Leadership Group
Jeannette Buntin, President
Jeannette is a seasoned higher education, nonprofit, and community leadership professional with more than 20 years of experience advancing student engagement, diversity and inclusion, organizational development, and large-scale community impact. Her career spans senior roles across multiple institutions and organizations, where she has led strategic initiatives in diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, campus and community development, and student success.
Jeannette has held leadership and senior management positions at Boston University, Suffolk University, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Bentley University, Mount Ida College and most recently Curry College. Beyond her higher-education work, she has consulted and trained organizations in areas of inclusive leadership, culture transformation, and community engagement.
A dedicated champion of leadership development, Jeannette is a founding member of the African American Women in Higher Education Association–New England and maintains active memberships with NASPA, the National Association of Black Accountants, the Massachusetts Association of Women in Education, and the Association of American Colleges & Universities. She also serves as a mentor with the National Black MBA Association’s Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) Program and a former Trustee for Mission Grammar School in Boston’s South End. Jeannette currently sits on the board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, where she has served as Co-chair of the Board Nominating Committee and Executive Board.
Jeannette has been a committed member of the National Black MBA Association for more than a decade. She previously served on the Boston Chapter’s leadership team before joining the Board of Directors in 2021 and now leads the Chapter as its President, guiding its renewed mission and strategic direction.
She earned her bachelor's degree in political science from Southeastern Massachusetts University (now UMass Dartmouth) and a master's degree in education, with a concentration in student personnel development and counseling, from Northeastern University. Jeannette is also a proud graduate of The Partnership, Inc. Leadership Development Program.
Rigobert "Rig" Noel, Vice President - Marketing * Communication
Rig is a results-driven leader, educator, and community advocate with more than 20 years of experience advancing equity-centered initiatives across higher
education, youth development, clinical support, and municipal services. He is deeply committed to expanding access, building sustainable systems, and creating meaningful pathways to opportunity through strategic leadership and community-centered programming.
As Executive Director of Next Level Sports Club, Rig has led strategic growth efforts that expanded participation to
more than 300 families across Bridgewater, Lakeville, Middleboro, and surrounding communities. Under his leadership, the organization has strengthened operations, forged key partnerships, expanded marketing and sponsorship efforts, and delivered inclusive, high-quality youth athletic programming that promotes youth development, leadership, and community engagement.
Rig is a graduate of Boston College, Cambridge College, and the University of Massachusetts Boston, with advanced training in leadership, management, and administration that informs his systems-level approach to organizational and community impact.
He currently serves as Vice President of Marketing & Communications for the National Black MBA Association – Boston Chapter, where he leads branding and digital strategy while supporting member engagement initiatives to increase visibility, grow membership, and strengthen corporate and community partnerships across Greater Boston and New England.
Previously, at Bentley University and Boston College, Rig played a key role in advancing career development, employer relations, and experiential learning initiatives. His work supported graduate and nursing students through coaching, clinical placement coordination, and data-informed programming, contributing to improved student outcomes, workforce readiness, and equitable access to professional opportunities.
Rig also serves the Town of Bridgewater as a Finance Committee Member and former Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Across all of his roles, he remains committed to empowering youth, developing leaders, and strengthening communities through collaboration, service, and impact-driven leadership.
Ana De Pina, Vice President - Administration
Ana is an entrepreneur and Relationship Banker at Chase Bank, who enjoys working with women, entrepreneurs, schools, and
families in Massachusetts.
Ana believes that the work she does is extremely important due to the wealth gap in the United States and due to Financial Education that is lacking in so many communities. Ana does not work alone. Ana has assembled a team of Accountants, Estate Attorneys, Real Estate and Mortgage Brokers to provide personalized guidance and support.
Ana is a multilingual professional. Ana speaks Cape Verdean Creole, Spanish, and Portuguese, having mostly taught English as a Second Language and History to the multicultural communities of Boston and Wakefield, MA for fourteen years. Ana has a love and deep respect for all children, families, and teachers.
Ana holds a Bachelor's Degree in Classical Languages from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, a Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Suffolk University. Ana has a Life and Health Producers License and Series 6, 7, 63 and 66 Investment Licenses. Ana resides in Boston with her mom, daughter, and son.
Muhammad Gulraiz, Vice President - Operations
Gulraiz Awan is a program, operations, and technology professional with over nine years of experience spanning telecom, consulting, startups, and clean energy. His work focuses on helping organizations move from strategy to execution by building strong operating models, aligning cross-functional teams, and embedding data-driven decision-making into everyday processes.
Throughout his career, he has led and supported complex initiatives across large enterprises and early-stage ventures. He has held roles in national telecommunications, management consulting, and U.S.-based clean energy and deep-tech innovation, where he has worked closely with engineering, product, finance, and operations teams to improve execution, strengthen governance, and support growth. His experience includes scaling programs across regions, improving service reliability, and supporting federally funded research commercialization efforts in the United States.
In addition to his professional work, he is deeply committed to leadership development and community engagement. He currently serves as Vice President of Operations for the National Black MBA Association’s Boston Chapter, where he focuses on rebuilding operational foundations, strengthening governance, and supporting sustainable chapter growth. Earlier in his career, he served as President of the IEEE Student Branch, leading large inter-university programs and student leadership initiatives.
He is passionate about mentorship and education and has supported students and early-career professionals through formal and informal mentoring roles. He values collaboration, inclusion, and lifelong learning and is especially interested in helping organizations and individuals navigate change with clarity and confidence.
Outside of work, he enjoys cooking, delivering educational webinars, and following cricket. He is multilingual and enjoys connecting with people across cultures and communities. Gulraiz holds an MBA from Boston University and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (FAST NUCES).
Wendy Stevens, Chapter Secretary
Wendy is a results-driven individual with over 12 years of experience in the energy and fintech sectors. She brings a strong track record in organizational operations, administration, project management, and financial oversight. Known for her strategic mindset and collaborative leadership, Wendy plays a pivotal role in streamlining departmental functions, enhancing cross-functional communication, and driving sustainable organizational growth.
A passionate advocate for female empowerment, Wendy is committed to helping girls achieve financial independence and build meaningful futures. She serves as a mentor with the Impact Wave Initiative, a program dedicated to supporting and uplifting girls across Africa by helping them chart personalized paths to success and self-sufficiency.
Wendy holds a master’s degree in finance and a bachelor’s degree in economics and computing.
, Vice President - Finance
TBA