Leaders from Boston University’s Wheelock College, The Community Builders, and Points32Health will join EMPath’s Board of Directors

Boston, MA – Today, Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath), a Boston-based nonprofit dedicated to disrupting poverty, has grown its leadership with the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors, as well as the selection of new Board leadership, establishing an all-female Executive Committee of the Board.

All innovative leaders with deep roots in the Boston community, EMPath is proud to welcome the following new members to its Board:

• Mary L. Churchill, PhD, Associate Dean and Professor of the Practice at Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education and Human Development
• Stephanie Garrett-Stearns, Vice President of Communications and Fund Development at The Community Builders, Inc., a leading nonprofit developer and manager of affordable housing in the U.S. and member organization of EMPath’s global learning network, the Economic Mobility Exchange™
• Eddie Walker, Vice President of Medicare at Point32Health, the parent organization for Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

Biographies of the new Board members are below.

“EMPath is thrilled to welcome our new Board Members and grateful that these individuals are contributing their time and expertise to supporting and advancing our mission, especially as we head into our 200th year,” said EMPath President & CEO Kim Janey. “Each person brings a strong understanding of the systemic barriers impacting families and the need for bold solutions to move families forward. We know they – in partnership with our new all-female Executive Committee – will make the collective impact of our Board that much stronger.”

Alongside the new members, EMPath announced a new Board Chair and Vice Chair, establishing an all-female Executive Committee of the Board. The new slate of Board Leadership includes:

• D’Arcy Goldman, new Board Chair, Former Principal of Humboldt Storage and Moving
• Pam Murray, new Vice Chair, Consultant
• Jennifer Gaudet, Treasurer, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Sharon Niles, Clerk, Managing Director, Special Acquisition Services Group, Deloitte Tax LLP
• Kim Janey, President & CEO of EMPath

“Having been involved with EMPath for decades, it’s been wonderful to see the organization grow and evolve over the years, and I'm honored to now serve as Board Chair,” said D’Arcy Goldman. “As we gear up to celebrate the organization’s 200th year in 2024, this is a pivotal moment for the Board, and will be especially exciting with all-female Executive Committee at the helm. We look forward to supporting EMPath as it enters its next chapter.”

The full list of EMPath’s Board of Directors can be found here. Below are the biographies of the new Board Members:

Mary L. Churchill, PhD, Associate Dean and Professor of the Practice, Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education and Human Development

Mary Churchill has held leadership roles in universities and colleges in New England for over 30 years. She is an international voice for social justice and change management within higher education and currently serves as Associate Dean and Professor of the Practice at Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education and Human Development. In 2021, Mary took a public service leave from BU to serve as the Chief of Policy and Planning for Mayor Kim Janey in Boston where she supported the launch of the mayor’s Children’s and Youth Cabinet, led the development of an alternative response to 911 calls for mental health emergencies, and coordinated the implementation of a city-wide COVID-19 mask mandate. She received a PhD in Sociology from Northeastern University in Boston.

Stephanie Garrett-Stearns, Vice President of Communications and Fund Development, The Community Builders

Stephanie Garrett-Stearns is Vice President of Communications and Fund Development for The Community Builders, a mission-driven housing organization, where she leads award-winning communications and fundraising strategy and program execution. Stephanie was previously Chief Communications Officer for Boston Mayor Kim Janey, the city's first woman and first Black mayor. In addition to serving as campaign manager for former Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson, Stephanie’s corporate experience includes Head of Public Relations and Chief Corporate Spokesperson for a division of Siemens, along with roles at Accenture and US Steel. Stephanie holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in human resources management from Michigan State University.

Eddie Walker, Vice President of Medicare, Point32Health

Eddie Walker is the Vice President, Medicare at Point32Health. Point32Health is the parent organization for Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, two of New England’s most iconic nonprofit health care companies that merged in 2021. In his role at Point32Health, Eddie is responsible for the strategic direction and financial performance of the Medicare business. He has a history of developing innovative products that improve health care quality, access, and equity. Eddie previously served as Vice President, Medicare for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Managing Director, Medicare at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island where he led a multi-year turnaround of the organization’s Medicare business while achieving record setting growth. He has an MBA from Cornell University’s Johnson School of Management and a Bachelor of Science from Tufts University.