The NSHSS Winter Foundation Bulletin
Welcome to the Winter Edition of the Foundation Bulletin! Inside, you’ll meet one of our inspiring scholarship recipients, join us in welcoming Fabian De Rozario as the new Executive Director of the NSHSS Foundation, and celebrate Vanessa Hartigan, the newest member of our Foundation Board. Thanks to your generosity, we continue to open doors for exceptional students—and we are deeply grateful for the role you play in advancing our mission
Featured Foundation Earth Day Scholarship Winner
Kelly Liu is a junior at Valley Christian High School, passionate about environmental sustainability and public health. She conducts advanced research with institutions including the University of Maryland, MIT, Harvard, and the ISS research lab, developing machine-learning systems for wildfire detection, harmful algal bloom forecasting, and early warning tools for neurological health. As founder of the nonprofit ConServe, Kelly leads initiatives to combat air pollution through GIS risk mapping, sensor installation in elementary schools, and hands-on STEM education for young students.
NSHSS Foundation Welcomes new Executive Director: Fabian DeRozario
Fabian DeRozario serves as Executive Director of the NSHSS Foundation, where he leads the organization’s mission to expand access to educational opportunities through scholarships. A nationally respected leadership trainer, facilitator, and thought leader, Fabian brings more than 30 years of experience developing people, building inclusive cultures, and advancing talent across education, nonprofit, and corporate sectors. His career has been defined by a deep commitment to developing capabilities in others and coaching emerging leaders to thrive.
Fabian is the founder of GlobalConnect Consulting, where he has worked with more than 200 organizations worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies, and previously served as a master facilitator with Korn Ferry. His leadership experience includes serving as National President & CEO of the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP). Earlier in his career, Fabian held senior student affairs and university leadership roles and served for eight years leading global operations and university relations for an international nonprofit organization. As Executive Director of the NSHSS Foundation, Fabian combines strategic leadership, governance experience, and a passion for student development to help position the Foundation as a nationally credible and impactful education philanthropy.
Welcome to the Board!
Vanessa Hartigan
New Foundation Board Member
Vanessa Tapia Hartigan is the co-founder and President of MUSE, focused on building the value-based economy. She was an advisor and board observer at BlueX Trade, Inc., a global freight tech platform, where she previously served as CFO. She is a financial services executive with 20+ years of industry experience spanning institutional sales, wealth management, and investment banking. Before that, she was with Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where she served on the Western Region Institutional Sales Leadership Team and as a Senior Relationship Manager & cofounder of the local prime brokerage sales initiative. She is an active volunteer in her community.
She is currently on the board of trustees of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, serving as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee, and as a board member and Treasurer of the Stanford Latino Alumni Association. Vanessa spent her early childhood in Liberia, West Africa. She has a BA in International Relations with Honors, an MA in Food Research (Developmental Economics), and an MBA from Stanford University. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and son Rohan who is a NSHSS member.
Foundation raises over $100,000 in 2025!
The NSHSS Foundation closed 2025 by raising $101, 575. This represents a substantial increase over the previous year and it’s the first time the Foundation has eclipsed the century mark since 2020. Special thanks to Abercrombie & Fitch Co. whose support of Mental Health Awareness scholarships was a major factor in achieving this outcome.
The NSHSS Foundation thanks the following donors for making a difference in the lives of outstanding students.
Founder’s Circle ($1,000+)
Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
Todd Corley
Sheronda Dorsey
Aaron George
James W. Lewis
Lee Lewis
Scholars Circle ($500-$999)
Joe Coleman
Kolby Keo
Yawei Liu, PhD
Robert Marchman
Friends Circle ($100-$499)
Kaylen Bennett
Carlos Bortoni
Scott & Charlene Bryeans
Toni DeVol
Tanya Odom
Kimberly Parrish
Steve Pracht
Donor Spotlight
Kim Parrish is a nationally recognized media executive, entrepreneur, and philanthropist whose career spans television, beauty, and youth advocacy. A trusted presence to millions of viewers, she is best known for her years as an on-air host on QVC and her leadership in the beauty industry. Her innovation and impact have earned her multiple Stevie Awards, including Female Executive of the Year.
A dedicated supporter of education and student success, Kim is a donor to the NSHSS Foundation and the proud mother of two NSHSS members, Chase and Zachary, who have collectively earned more than $19,000 in scholarship and grant funding over the past several years. Through her professional work and philanthropy, she remains deeply committed to empowering students and expanding access to educational opportunities.
Pictured here is Kim’s son, Zachary Hartman, alongside James W. Lewis at Scholars Day at Johns Hopkins University, 2025.
Make an Impact Today
Your gift of any amount helps provide scholarship funding to reduce financial barriers for students with academic and leadership potential and the desire to pursue careers.