CCEP Advisory Committee Members
Calvin Butts
Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, is President of State University of New York College at Old Westbury, and Pastor of the nationally renowned Abyssinian Baptist Church in the City of New York.
A native of New York City, Dr. Butts earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. He returned to New York and earned a Master of Divinity Degree in Church History from the Union Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry in Church and Public Policy from Drew University. He has taught Urban Affairs and served as an Adjunct Professor in the African Studies Department at City College, New York. He has also taught Black Church History at Fordham University. Sought after internationally for his comments on social, religious, educational and ethical issues, Dr. Butts has conducted speaking engagements before a vast array of colleges and universities, business and professional organizations, religious congregations, and governmental agencies throughout his career.
Along with his Presidency at the College at Old Westbury, Dr. Butts continues as pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in the City of New York — among the most historic churches in the nation. Under his leadership, Abyssinian Baptist Church is committed to playing an active role in the ongoing development of its New York City home.
Pedro Noguera
Pedro Noguera, PhD, is a professor in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University. He is also the Executive Director of the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education and the co-Director of the Institute for the study of Globalization and Education in Metropolitan Settings (IGEMS).
An urban sociologist, Noguera’s scholarship and research focuses on the ways in which schools are influenced by social and economic conditions in the urban environment. Noguera has served as an advisor and engaged in collaborative research with several large urban school districts throughout the United States. He has also done research on issues related to education and economic and social development in the Caribbean, Latin America and several other countries throughout the world. Between 2000 and 2003, Noguera served as the Judith K. Dimon Professor of Communities and Schools at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. From 1990 to 2000, he was a Professor in Social and Cultural Studies at the Graduate School of Education and the Director of the Institute for the Study of Social Change at the University of California, Berkeley.
Robert L. Hughes
Robert L. Hughes was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of New Visions for Public Schools, a leader of public school reform in New York City, in September 2000. New Visions works with the New York City public school system, the private sector, and the community to mobilize resources and develop programs and policies that lead to significant, lasting improvement in the achievement of all children.
As a newly appointed Partnership Support Organization (PSO), New Visions is accountable for improving student achievement in 63 New York City public schools, serving more than 30,000 students. The goal of the New Visions PSO is to graduate at least 80 percent of students college and career ready.
Mr. Hughes, an attorney, has long been an advocate for improved access to and outcomes within the New York City public school system. He served as co-counsel in the nationally watched court case, The Campaign for Fiscal Equity v. The State of New York, challenging the equity of New York State’s educational finance system. Mr. Hughes continues to serve as a member of the Campaign’s board of directors.
Prior to joining CFE in 1993, Mr. Hughes served as deputy director for Advocates for Children, a leading not-for-profit agency, long active in assuring New York City’s children’s right to public education.
Mr. Hughes received his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and his law degree from Stanford University School of Law.
Michael A. Rebell
Michael A. Rebell is an experienced litigator, administrator, researcher, and scholar in the field of education law. He is the executive director of the Campaign for Educational Equity at Teachers College, Columbia University. The Campaign seeks to promote equity and excellence in education and to overcome the gap in educational access and achievement between advantaged and disadvantaged students throughout the United States.
Previously, Mr. Rebell was the co-founder, executive director and counsel for the Campaign for Fiscal Equity. Mr. Rebell is the co-author of three books, and dozens of articles on issues of law and education. His most recent works are MOVING EVERY CHILD AHEAD: FROM NCLB HYPE TO MEANINGFUL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY (Teachers College Press, 2008) ( with Jessica R. Wolff), Equal Opportunity and the Courts, PHI DELTA KAPPAN, February, 2008, and Professional Rigor, Public Engagement and Judicial Review: A Proposal For Enhancing The Validity of Education Adequacy Studies, 109 TCHRS C.REC. 1303 (2007).
In addition to his research and litigation activities, Mr. Rebell is a frequent lecturer and consultant on education law. He currently is a lecturer in law at Columbia Law School and for the winter term, 2008, a visiting Professor at Harvard Law School. For many years, he also taught courses on law and education at the Yale Law School.
Mr. Rebell is a graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law School.
Kim Sweet
Kim Sweet is the Executive Director of Advocates for Children on New York City (AFC). Prior to AFC, she served as Associate General Counsel at the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI). During her ten successful years at NYLPI, Ms. Sweet spearheaded the office’s special education advocacy work, oversaw and ran the special education pro bono project, served as one of NYLPI’s senior managers, conducted litigation on disability rights issues and led a number of policy initiatives and coalitions.
Kim is a well-recognized expert in the field of education reform and a talented manager with a legacy of accomplishments in the education field during the past ten years. Ms. Sweet is also an adjunct professor at the Urban Law Clinic of New York Law School. After graduating law school, Ms. Sweet clerked for the Honorable Robert P. Patterson, Jr., District Court Judge of the Southern District of New York and spent three years as a litigation associate at the firm of Patterson, Bellknap, Webb & Tyler, LLP. Ms. Sweet holds a B.A. from Brown University and a J.D from Columbia Law School.
Alfonso Wyatt
Alfonso Wyatt joined the Fund for the City of New York as Vice President to continue over two decades of service to youth and youth serving agencies. Prior to joining the Fund, Alfonso worked as a teacher and administrator for the NYC Board or Education, as Deputy Executive Director of The Valley, Inc., and various community based organizations, serving as a Counselor, educator, program developer, administrator, youth advocate and public speaker.
Alfonso Wyatt has developed innovative approaches that respond to the needs of young people in foster care, public schools, employment/training programs, churches and CBO's. He has trained and mentored three generations of dynamic youth workers and leaders on effective techniques to effectively teach, reach and nurture young people.
Alfonso attended Howard University, Columbia's Teacher's College, The Ackerman Institute for Family Therapy, Columbia's Institute for Not-for-Profit Management and is currently enrolled in New York Theological Seminary. He has served as an advisor to government, foundations, religious institutions, universities, youth serving organizations and non-profits from around the Country. He serves on the advisory board of the Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, and the Correctional Association and Osborne Association. Alfonso Wyatt is the chairperson of the Fountain For Youth, a collaboration of leading youth service agencies, faith institutions, business partners, and youth, coming together to address issues of violence. Alfonso Wyatt is an ordained minister on the staff of The Greater Allen Cathedral of New York in Jamaica, Queens.
