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Jennifer Roller

Program Officer, Urban Affairs and Neighborhoods

Jennifer Roller, takes a hands-on passionate approach as the Program Officer, Urban Afairs and Neighborhoods, for The Raymond John Wean Foundation. Jennifer, who formerly worked as the director of Upward Bound and SCOPE at Youngstown State University, has extensive experience working with many community organizations and has been at The Raymond John Wean Foundation since 2007.

In this position, she is responsible for the Neighborhood SUCCESS Grants Program, whereby she provides support to grassroots groups in the cities of Warren and Youngstown for neighborhood improvement projects.  From working with groups to identify achievable goals to helping them find partners for various projects, Roller takes a hands-on approach to her work.

Additionally, through the Foundation’s community investment grants, Jennifer is engaged with prospective grantees in support of strategic development and capacity building. Jennifer’s extensive background in community involvement includes working with such groups as the Mahoning County Homeless Continuum of Care and various Youngstown City Schools committees. Roller said she finds it extremely rewarding to serve as a link between the community and The Raymond John Wean Foundation.

"I have always been about access: determining eligibility for low income individuals, linking and referring families to community resources, providing disadvantaged students with the tools necessary to succeed in college… and now supporting grantees in their strategic development as they build better communities," Roller said.

She continued, "As a lifelong resident of the valley, it does my heart good and makes me proud to be an active part of the change."

In addition to being an advocate for access, Jennifer is also a strong voice for diversity in all segments of society, including higher education and grassroots organizations.

Jennifer is extremely proud of many of the organizations with which she has worked. "Every time a group puts pen to paper and actualizes a concept, I see it as an accomplishment. I am a firm believer that good ideas are a dime a dozen, but what really makes the difference is the ability to actively participate and to follow through consistently," Roller said.

Jennifer earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in education from Youngstown State University.