Rick Cruz

Rick is Arabella Advisors’ president. In this capacity, he oversees the firm’s performance and drives execution of its strategy, helping to grow the organization’s reach and impact. He brings to the firm 25 years of experience in the corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors—with deep expertise in partnership development, strategic planning, program leadership, and external relations.

Over the last decade, Rick has served in a variety of senior roles at leading social sector education and youth development enterprises, including College Board, America’s Promise Alliance, FSG, Teach For America, and DC Prep Public Charter Schools.

Rick began his career in the professional services sector, working at the Corporate Executive Board (CEB) in Washington, DC and London for more than a decade, where he assumed successive leadership roles building teams that supported global corporations’ development of their strategic planning, finance, risk management, and governance capabilities.

Rick is deeply committed to advancing equity in education, and currently serves as chair of the DC Public Charter School Board, which provides oversight to 66 nonprofit organizations operating 126 public charter schools in the District of Columbia. He is a frequent panelist and speaker about public education and reform efforts. Rick also holds board positions at several local and national nonprofits, including Instruction Partners and the Washington International School. Rick is a member of the Pahara-Aspen Fellowship and the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

Rick earned a BA in philosophy from Yale University. He resides in Washington, DC with his wife and two children.