Dr. Monique Perry-Graves
Dr. Monique Perry-Graves is a transformational executive and board director with over 25 years of experience spanning business, education, and the nonprofit sectors. She is widely recognized for her expertise in leading organizations through complex transitions, driving strategic growth, and building high-performing teams.
Since May 2025, Dr. Perry-Graves has served as Chief Executive Officer of Road to Hire, the education and workforce nonprofit founded by the Co-Founder and CEO of Red Ventures corporation. Road toHire invests in the untapped potential of young adults by breaking down barriers to career success. The organization provides continuous support from high school classrooms, primarily in Title 1 schools, to high-paying careers, and equips young professionals with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to unlock economic mobility and lasting career growth. Road to Hire is one of the unique nonprofits that provides training and financial support for four years of college so that participants graduate debt-free, along with career support; a longitudinal investment uncommon among many nonprofits. With corporate partners including Bank of America, Lowe's Corp, Ally, and Duke Energy, Road to Hire serves close to 2,000 students annually, awarded over $4 million in college scholarships last year alone, and has placed numerous graduates into high-paying careers in the Charlotte region in the fields of business intelligence and data science.
From 2021 to 2025, Dr. Perry-Graves served as the first tri-region statewide Executive Director of Teach For America North Carolina (TFA NC), where she successfully unified three regional affiliates into a single, cohesive entity, significantly expanding the organization's impact. Under her leadership, TFA NC secured over $40 million in public and private funding, launched high-impact initiatives such as Ignite High-Impact Tutoring and Future Forward, and strengthened statewide partnerships while maintaining a sustainable funding structure. During a period of significant organizational change, she led TFA NC to achieve its highest-ever staff engagement scores and drove efforts to double TFA's impact on students and communities by 2030.
Before joining Teach For America, Dr. Perry-Graves spent over a decade at York Technical College, where she served as Chief Enrollment and Campus Operating Officer. In this role, she spearheaded transformative growth in enrollment, revenue, and retention, while overseeing student affairs, financial aid, and strategic enrollment initiatives. Her leadership resulted in historic enrollment gains and the creation of YTC Reconnect, South Carolina's first formal adult re-enrollment program. She also led strategic communications and marketing efforts and served as full-time faculty, further deepening her impact on student success.
Dr. Perry-Graves is also the Founder and CEO of CMEG & Company, an advisory and speaking firm focused on helping leaders and organizations navigate high-stakes, high-pressure situations and pivotal transitions. Through her advisory work and engagements, she supports organizations in making critical decisions, leading through complexity, and sustaining performance during periods of change. She is also the creator of Wisdom for Work®, a leadership platform offering insights on decision-making, leadership, and organizational effectiveness, and The Mourning Manager™, a platform focused on supporting leaders navigating grief while continuing to lead in their personal and professional lives.
Dr. Perry-Graves has been recognized at both the state and local levels for her leadership and contributions. Her accolades include the A. Wade Martin Innovator of the Year Award from the State of South Carolina, recognition as a Power 100 Leader by the Charlotte Business Journal, and being named one of Mecklenburg County's 50 Most Influential Women. In 2024, she was honored as one of the region's Most Admired CEOs by the Charlotte Business Journal.
As a seasoned board director, she currently serves on private company and nonprofit boards, including EducationNC (EDNC) and as an independent board director of ed tech company Circle In App. She was a gubernatorial appointee by former Gov. Roy Cooper to the DRIVE Task Force focused on the recruitment and retention of diverse educators, among multiple other board positions over the past decade. A proud graduate of North Carolina Central University, she began her career through the INROADS® internship program, securing an early leadership opportunity at a Fortune 100 corporation. She later earned a Master's in Strategic Communications and Leadership from Seton Hall University and a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Florida.