Newsmaker: Francisco Tezén ’97

Francisco Tezén ’97 was appointed president and CEO of A Better Chance, a national nonprofit that places young people of color into the leadership pipeline through increased access to academically rigorous secondary schools. Theo Killion, the chair of the national board of directors and an alumnus of the program, noted that Tezén, a first generation Peruvian-American, “has a deep personal affiliation to the power of educational experiences that change lives. For over 20 years Francisco has focused on developing and implementing strategies and partnerships to unlock the potential of mission-driven organizations.” Tezén was previously the chief development officer at the Food Bank For New York City, and held positions at Year Up, The New School, and Columbia Business School. Tezén majored in history and Latin American studies while at Wesleyan and earned his master’s in nonprofit management from the New School. He is married to Linda Rodriguez ’97.