Board Of Directors
RLA has built an exceptional and active board of directors, see their bios below.
Anna Rosati
Anna Rosati and her late husband Chris Rosati showed enormous courage and inspirational leadership after Chris was diagnosed with ALS. From 2015 - 2017, when Chris passed away from the disease, their message was simple - never stop living, never give up hope, never stop trying to make a positive impact. Anna, Chris and their Inspire Media initiative were featured on CBS Evening News five times in three years and they touched countless lives with their work together. Rosati Leadership Academy is named in honor of Chris and Anna Rosati, who showed tremendous support of our mission as we first conceptualized the vision that we now strive to bring to life every day.
Neel Bhattacharjee
Neel Bhattacharjee is the head coach of the NCAA Division I Binghamton University Women’s Soccer Team. Bhattacharjee came to Binghamton in 2016 after successful coaching stints at Boston College, Syracuse, and George Washington University. He graduated from University of Maryland in 1998 with two degrees - in geography and secondary education-social studies. Bhattacharjee then earned his master's degree in applied geography at Texas State University in 2000. He has also completed coursework toward a PhD in geography from Arizona State University. In 2006, Bhattacharjee was the goalkeeper coach for the Under-21 Women's National Team working alongside former USA Women’s National Team coach Jill Ellis. He has also coached with the Region I and Region IV Olympic Development Programs (ODP). A native of Randolph, N.J., Bhattacharjee holds an "A" License from the United States Soccer Federation (highest license in the U.S.) and also holds an NSCAA Premier Diploma.
Doug Dicconson – President
Douglas Dicconson is the Founder of Theorem Media, an educational 501(c)(3) that knows entertainment has the power to educate. Douglas is an entrepreneur with experience leading creative storytelling initiatives in both large and small organizations by aligning clients, filmmakers, technologists, media strategists, communications execs, influencers, marketers, designers and programmers around a purpose. His work has won and been honored by Clio Awards, Webby Awards, London International Advertising Awards, Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards, Cannes Lions and dozens of others. He lives in Connecticut with his wife and two sons. When he’s not working, look for him on the nearest tennis court
Torsie Judkins
Torsie Judkins is an independent school educator focused on admissions, social justice, diversity, and inclusion. Currently the Director of Admissions at International School of Brooklyn, Torsie believes in the diversity of learners and strives to help every student reach his or her academic potential. Prior to ISB, Torsie held positions at Town School in New York, Rye Country Day School, and Durham Academy. He has a deep passion for helping families access Independent Schools through admissions counseling and helping students flourish in these new and sometimes challenging environments. Torsie holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from North Carolina Wesleyan College and a Master of Professional Studies in educational leadership from Manhattanville College. Born and raised in North Carolina, Torsie now resides in Tarrytown, NY with his wife and their two children.
Mike McGraw
Mike McGraw is the former Lewiston High School boys soccer coach, whose team captured three Class A state championships between 2015 and 2019. McGraw’s first state title with the Blue Devils in 2015 was a source of pride for a city that had undergone a dramatic change with the arrival of thousands of immigrants from African nations. The Blue Devils 2015 State Championship team was featured in the documentary, "One Team" by Ian Clough, an independent filmmaker. That team’s rise was also chronicled in Amy Bass’ book, “One Goal: A Coach, a Team, and the Game That Brought a Divided Town Together.” McGraw, a Lewiston High School graduate, played soccer at the University of Southern Maine before returning home where he served as an assistant coach at Lewiston HS for six seasons until becoming the Blue Devils’ head coach in 1983. Coach McGraw recently retired, following a career of 44 years as a high school biology teacher at Lewiston High School. McGraw spent 43 years with the school’s soccer program and 37 years as it's varsity head coach. McGraw was selected as Maine state coach of the year three times, conference coach of the year four times, and Region 1 (New England) coach of the year twice by the United Soccer Coaches of America.
Zam Zam Mohamud
Zam Zam Mohamud, the first Somali immigrant to be on the Lewiston School Committee, has served a prodigious role in her adopted hometown since arriving in 2001. She’s a certified nursing assistant at Central Maine Medical Center, where she also works as a translator when needed. Out in the community, she serves as a liaison between other immigrants and the city. If the police want something explained to the community, they call Mohamud. If other immigrants have questions about the school or the city hall, they call Mohamud. “If anybody needs help, I’m there for them,” she says. Mohamud found her way into the role as community leader by being visible, she says, but the motivation came from a desire to give back.
Charles Shipman
Charles Shipman is the Founder and Managing Principal of Blue Keel Financial Planning. Over a 20+ year career, Charles worked for several nationally recognized companies including PricewaterhouseCoopers and Bank of America Merrill Lynch prior to launching his own financial services firm in 2014. Charlie has two children who love soccer and share their father's passion for the UNC Tarheels (his alma mater). Charles brings the following skills to RLA: Finance and Accounting, Strategic Planning, Problem Solving, and Governance.
Chris White
Chris White is the founder and Executive Director of Rosati Leadership Academy. Prior to RLA, White was head Women’s Soccer coach at Chowan University, where he revitalized the program both on the field, taking the team from 12 losses to 12 wins and dramatically improving both team GPA and community service participation. Prior to Chowan, White served as an assistant coach at top Division I women’s soccer programs including Duke University, Univ. of Miami (FL), Colgate University and Amherst College. He has been on multiple Olympic Development Program (ODP) regional and state coaching staffs and regularly coaches at premier ACC, Big East and Big10 soccer camps including UNC, Duke, Villanova, Penn State, Ohio State and (former National Team Head Coach Tony Dicicco’s) SoccerPlus. He has studied the beautiful game with some of the top clubs in La Liga, as well as programming and player development in Medellin, Colombia. White has developed and coached dozens of players that have gone on to earn full scholarships, All-American honors, play professionally both in the States and internationally, and his coaching lineage includes multiple current assistant and head coaches at all levels nationally and internationally, including almost two decades of experience with Anson Dorrance’s UNC camps. A 1996 graduate of Colgate University, White was a four-year member of the men’s soccer team earning All-Patriot League and NSCAA Regional All-America honors as a goalkeeper. After earning his BA in Sociology and Anthropology at Colgate, he went on to play overseas. White subsequently received an MS in environmental science from the Univ. of Manchester (UK), and an MS in Ecology from The University of North Carolina. He also holds an NSCAA Premier Coaching Diploma and NSCAA Adv. National Goal-Keeping Diploma. White has been a classroom educator and advocate for alternative education programs for over a decade including teaching History at Waterville HS in Maine, and Science at South Bronx HS in New York City where he created a 10-day summer wilderness immersion leadership experience for students on the Colorado River. Most recently he served as an alternative education program director at Lewiston Middle School in Maine. Additionally, he spent 2 years as an Outward-Bound guide in Romania and was a whitewater rafting guide in Maine.
OUR PARTNERS
Since our inception in 2018, much of our success is due to the establishment of strong community relationships and partnerships. Over 2+ years, we have earned the trust of Bates College, Maine Community Integration, the Healthy Neighborhoods Planning Council of Lewiston, Lewiston Public Schools, the Lewiston Department of Recreation, and many others.
