The Rauch Foundation, a Long Island-based family foundation, has announced the appointment of Jennifer Marino Rojas as Vice President of Grants and Operations. In that capacity, she will manage the Foundation's grantmaking and its day-to-day operations. She will report to the Foundation's President, Nancy Rauch Douzinas, and will succeed longtime Vice President Linda Landsman, who informed the Foundation previously of her desire to retire in April. In the meantime, Linda Landsman and Jennifer Rojas will work together to ensure a smooth transition.
For the past five years, Rojas has served as Deputy Executive Director, and Long Island Coordinator, for the Children's Defense Fund - New York. There, she worked with the Executive Director to oversee all advocacy, research, education, training, outreach, organizing, mobilization and communication activities for the organization. She directly managed the policy, legislative and advocacy efforts around children's health, juvenile justice, child welfare, education and early childhood learning. She oversaw fiscal and administrative procedures, and she led efforts to foster linkages with other organizations.
From 1998 to 2007, she served in the City of New York's Administration for Children's Services—most recently as Associate Commissioner for Administration, Program Support and Placement Services in the Division of Child Protection (2006-2007) and as Associate Commissioner in the Division of Child Care and Head Start (2005-2006). A resident of Centerport, she is an attorney and a graduate of Marist College and of The Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Touro Law Center in Central Islip, where she teaches a seminar in child welfare.
"Jennifer Rojas brings to the Foundation extraordinary experience in administration, policy and children's issues, as well as a thorough knowledge of Long Island," said Nancy Rauch Douzinas, President of the Rauch Foundation. "That experience will be of enormous value to the Foundation, as we focus on such crucial priorities as issues of children and families, the environment and future needs of Long Island."