Clayton is an Investment Banking Analyst at Centerview Partners. He graduated from Indiana University in May 2025 with a BS in Finance and involvement in Crimson Equity Partners, the Investment Banking Workshop. Working in several philanthropic and community service roles throughout college, Clayton is excited to be involved with the NY Foundling and give back to the community.
Junior Board The Junior Board is a dynamic group of young professionals in their 40s and under dedicated to volunteering their time, talents, and energy to raise critical funds for The Foundling.
Mel has been on the Jr. Board of the New York Foundling for over 3 years. She first became involved with The Foundling after recently moving to NYC and wanting to get involved with a local charity that impacts foster children due to her own experiences in foster care. In 2022, prior to joining the board, she hosted and organized her own charity gala to benefit the children which raised over $10k to give toys for the holidays.
Mel earned an M.S. in Global Finance from Fordham University in NYC and a B.A. from Arizona State University, where she was a co-founder and president of the women’s gymnastics club and held various leadership positions as a member of Omega Phi Alpha sorority.
Professionally, she is a Credit Analyst at a global investment firm. In her role, she supports portfolio management teams through credit research, analysis, and trading. She also provides analysis and expertise through related to the investment grade finance industry. Prior to joining her current firm, she was an analyst at Rothschild & Co where she worked in investment banking as a generalist covering M&A, equities, and debt.
Outside of work she is involved in many charitable causes in additions to NY Foundling. She is an active member of the NYJL (New York Junior League).
In her spare time, she enjoys staying active with yoga, gymnastics, walking her dog (Pomsky), painting, and skiing in the winter. She enjoys traveling around the world and exploring new places, food, music, and the arts whenever she can.
Junior Board The Junior Board is a dynamic group of young professionals in their 40s and under dedicated to volunteering their time, talents, and energy to raise critical funds for The Foundling.
Ben Oxnard is a Vice President at Grant Avenue Capital, a private equity firm based in New York, with prior work experience in finance and investment banking. He graduated from NYU’s Stern School of Business with a degree in Finance and Computing & Data Science, where he was also a member of the varsity men’s volleyball team. Ben joined the New York Foundling Junior Board in 2022 to support its mission and ran the NYC Marathon as part of the Foundling’s team, raising funds to further its work.
Junior Board The Junior Board is a dynamic group of young professionals in their 40s and under dedicated to volunteering their time, talents, and energy to raise critical funds for The Foundling.
Scott Valencia is currently an Associate on the First Line Exposure and Optimization team within Markets at BNY. He was previously a Markets and Wealth Services Rotational Analyst at BNY. He graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. He has been a member of several volunteering organizations committed to giving back to the community, and wants to continue making a positive impact on others.
Junior Board The Junior Board is a dynamic group of young professionals in their 40s and under dedicated to volunteering their time, talents, and energy to raise critical funds for The Foundling.
Mark is currently a Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Bank of America and previously worked at the bank as a FIG investment banker. He first became acquainted with The Foundling while at NYU Stern and was deeply moved by its powerful mission and the dedication of its leadership team. Inspired to give back, Mark joined the NY Foundling Junior Board to support its efforts.
Junior Board The Junior Board is a dynamic group of young professionals in their 40s and under dedicated to volunteering their time, talents, and energy to raise critical funds for The Foundling.
My name is Myeesha Taylor, and I serve as a Staff Development and Campus Training Coordinator for a nonprofit organization. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and a Master’s in Social Work from the Silberman School of Social Work. I recently completed the Belle and George Strell Executive Leadership Fellows Program, where I strengthened my leadership and advocacy skills. I joined the New York Foundling Junior Board to help amplify the Foundling’s mission, advocate for its vital work, and raise awareness in the broader community.
Junior Board The Junior Board is a dynamic group of young professionals in their 40s and under dedicated to volunteering their time, talents, and energy to raise critical funds for The Foundling.
Steven Shi works in investment banking at Ardea Partners, with prior experience at Truist and Lincoln International. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Southern California with a BS in Business Administration, where he helped launch the distribution division of the nonprofit Team Awareness Combating Overdose. After graduation, he joined the NY Foundling Junior Board to continue making an impact outside of his career.
Junior Board The Junior Board is a dynamic group of young professionals in their 40s and under dedicated to volunteering their time, talents, and energy to raise critical funds for The Foundling.
Rebecca Rothbart is currently an MBA Candidate at The Wharton School, Class of 2026, and formerly a Creative Strategist at Spotify. For undergrad, she graduated from the University of Michigan in 2017 with a Major in Communication & Digital Studies. She joined the Junior Board after volunteering during the Holiday Drive in 2021 and was inspired by all the other interrelated programs offered, particularly around the topic of mental health. She now serves as the Co-Chair of New Membership and Outreach for The New York Foundling Junior Board. She is also an active volunteer with Free Arts NYC and the T. Howard Foundation.
Junior Board The Junior Board is a dynamic group of young professionals in their 40s and under dedicated to volunteering their time, talents, and energy to raise critical funds for The Foundling.
Carly Risom is a Vice President at H.I.G. Capital, a global private equity firm with $70 billion in assets under management. At H.I.G., Carly is a member of the Portfolio Operations Human Capital team, where she focuses on C-suite recruitment across the firm’s 100+ portfolio companies.
Carly graduated from Lehigh University, magna cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a double minor in Business and Environmental Studies.
Carly’s commitment to giving back to her community began in high school, where she served as a member of a youth program that supported both local community needs and those of underprivileged neighborhoods across the country. She graduated with over 1,000 hours of community service in 2015. Eager to both give back to the city she has called home since 2019 and also support the integrity of the American foster care system, she joined the Foundling Junior Board in the spring of 2024.
Junior Board The Junior Board is a dynamic group of young professionals in their 40s and under dedicated to volunteering their time, talents, and energy to raise critical funds for The Foundling.
Pranav Reddy is COO of imPAC Labs, a cybersecurity startup, with prior experience in operational roles in tech and as a consultant at McKinsey. He graduated from NYU’s Stern School of Business with a degree in Finance and Computing & Data Science, where he also served as Class President. Pranav joined the New York Foundling in 2024 after being drawn to its educational and community support initiatives.
Junior Board The Junior Board is a dynamic group of young professionals in their 40s and under dedicated to volunteering their time, talents, and energy to raise critical funds for The Foundling.
