Per Scholas Appoints New Chief Operating Officer to Accelerate Mission-Driven Initiatives

Per Scholas Appoints New Chief Operating Officer to

Accelerate Mission-Driven Initiatives

BRONX, N.Y. (January, 31, 2025) — National nonprofit Per Scholas has appointed a new Chief Operating Officer to their National Leadership Team. Tamara Johnson, previously Per Scholas Chief of Staff, continues her career with the nonprofit in this new role with a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership and operational management, ready to further the organization’s mission of building a more equitable workforce.

In this role, Tamara is responsible for the successful execution of our strategic plan, working in close partnership and collaboration with Per Scholas’ multiple funding and employer partners.

Tamara has built a career in both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Before Per Scholas, Tamara spent the past 15 years in the workforce development field, including nearly 12 years as a senior leader at leading nonprofits such as Year Up and Genesys Works. Before Year Up, she built collaborative client relationships in relationship management and business development roles in for-profit organizations.

“I am honored to move into this role at Per Scholas as Chief Operating Officer,” said Tamara Johnson. “This organization is at the forefront of creating meaningful opportunities for individuals to thrive in the tech workforce. I look forward to working with the incredible team at Per Scholas to expand our reach and deepen our impact across the nation.”

Per Scholas has a longstanding reputation for delivering industry-recognized training and connecting talented individuals to high-growth careers. Appointing Tamara Johnson as Chief Operating Officer underscores Per Scholas’ dedication to scaling its efforts and ensuring that technology career opportunities are accessible to all.

“Tamara’s extensive experience and passion for workforce equity make her an ideal leader for this critical role,” said Per Scholas President and CEO Plinio Ayala. “As we continue to scale our programs and serve even more learners, her vision and expertise will be instrumental in driving operational excellence and advancing our mission.”

For more information about Per Scholas and its programs, please visit www.perscholas.org.

About Per Scholas: 

Per Scholas is proud to celebrate 30 years of fostering economic mobility by giving individuals from diverse backgrounds access to high-growth tech careers. Since 1995, we’ve offered no-cost tech training to more than 30,000 technologists in the most sought-after tech skills, generating over $2 billion in increased personal earnings. By 2030, we aim to train and upskill 25,000 technologists annually—building on three decades of impact. With 20+ campuses and remote programs, we partner with employers—from Fortune 500 companies to startups—to create inclusive talent pipelines in fields like Cloud, Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, IT Support, and Software Engineering. 85%+ of our learners are people of color, 40% are women, and more than half hold a high school diploma as their highest educational credential. We are building a future where successful careers in tech are accessible to everyone, driving transformative economic change.

Learn more at PerScholas.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

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