Read to Succeed Buffalo (RTSB) announced the appointments of Dr. Marvel Ross-Jones and Crystal Rodriguez Esq. L.L.M. to its board of directors. Members of the board serve three-year terms.

Dr. Ross-Jones has spent the last 25 years of her career at Bryant & Stratton College, where she is currently serving as the director of the downtown Buffalo campus.  Her educational career extends to her work as the superintendent of Sunday Schools for the 45 churches that comprise the New York Western Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Churches of God In Christ.

Dr. Ross-Jones has served on a number of other Boards, including Mount St. Mary High School and the Girl Scouts of Western New York. She is an honored member of the 2019 Class of Black Achiever awardees and was the recipient of the Faith-Based Community Years of Service Award and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity 2014 Community Builders Award.

Ms. Rodriguez currently serves as the chief of staff & chief diversity officer for SUNY Buffalo State College.  In this capacity, she serves as a liaison between the president and other campus administrators, college council members, SUNY trustees, and SUNY staff, coordinates and interprets policy decisions and documents that serve the public mission of the college and supervises the staff within the office of the president.

Ms. Rodriguez has been recognized with a number of awards, including 40 under 40 in 2009 from Buffalo Business First, Hispanics United of Buffalo Nuestro Orgullo Community Award for Hispanic Leadership in 2010, Woman of Excellence Award, Every Woman Opportunity Center of WNY in 2013 and was a finalist for the Buffalo Niagara Partnership’s ATHENA Leadership Award in 2020.

“These incredible women are staunch advocates of education and understand the importance of providing young learners high quality, literacy-rich environments,” said Executive Director of RTSB Anne Ryan. “When you look at both of their careers, the positive impacts they’ve made on students is undeniable and adding their expertise and experience enhances our mission.”

Both Dr. Ross-Jones and Rodriguez reside in the city of Buffalo. For more information, head to readtosucceedbuffalo.org.