The Founder

Niecy Dennis is the president of the WDGA and is responsible for directing and overseeing WDGA’s public initiatives and worldwide efforts to bring employment to educated and talented students in Kenya. Ms. Dennis is credited with creating a worldwide ‘Youth Peace Ambassador’ leadership program.

Niecy Dennis had been at Mellon Financial Corporation for over 25 years and has held the position of Vice President for Talent Engagement. While at Mellon, she is credited for starting the Pittsburgh Regional Internship Collaborative Enterprise (PRICE). In addition to her professional commitment, Dennis is a facilitator for INROADS', an organization providing leadership for development of talented minority youth.

Since visiting Kenya in 2004, Ms. Dennis’ desire to improve the lives of students with the promise of Employment became the inspiration for the WDGA. Many of the very same tools utilized in her position at Mellon became the groundwork for the students of the WDGA. Ms. Dennis’ decided to leave Mellon in 2007 to realize the WDGA goals each and every day.

Ms. Dennis resides in Pittsburgh and serves on the boards of the Pennsylvania Women Work and the New England's Horace Mann School for the Deaf in Boston, Massachusetts. Ms. Dennis is a graduate of Duquesne University where she studied Finance and Human Resource Management. She is also a sought-after speaker on building and motivating teams for not-for-profits; corporate community relations; and volunteer programs.