About Kenwood
Kenwoodʼs mission is to redefine higher education through experiential learning, mentorship, and community impact that accelerates careers and advances society.
About Kenwood
Kenwood is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to reshaping higher education through real-world, experiential learning. Founded on the belief that education should extend beyond the classroom, Kenwood bridges academic theory with industry practice, giving students the opportunity to learn by doing.
Since 2010, Kenwood has worked alongside students, faculty, and industry partners to create experiential learning opportunities that emphasize financial sustainability, systems thinking, and community impact.
Our History
Founded in 2010, Kenwood was created to rethink how higher education prepares students for the real world. From the beginning, the organization focused on experiential learning, financial sustainability, and community partnership—building programs that move beyond theory and place students in active, decision-making roles. By 2014, Kenwood expanded its presence across public and private academic institutions, developing hands-on models in entrepreneurship, business management, and community engagement.
As Kenwood grew, so did its commitment to applied education. In 2017, project-based learning and industry partnerships became central to its offerings. By 2023, these programs proved self-sustaining, enabling further expansion into banking and real estate. This growth culminated in the beginning of 2026 with the launch of Kenwood’s Career and Leadership Launchpad.
Kenwood offers turnkey experiential learning programs that provides internships, hands-on development projects, and professional mentorship—at no cost to the participant
Our Approach
Kenwood’s Career and Leadership Launch programs are designed to push students beyond theory into application, judgement, and execution. We believe the best learning happens by doing. Our initiatives unite education, business, and community. Together, we build opportunities that shape leaders, strengthen communities, and inspire lasting impact.
About Kenwood
Meet The Team
Kenwood is led by educators, professionals, and community leaders committed to
real projects.real mentorship.real results.
Leadership
6 people- As President of Kenwood, Dr Graig Arcuri leads with the belief that education should empower as well as inform. A systems thinker, lifelong business leader and educator, he developed Kenwood’s hands-on learning model that connects students to industry, strengthens local economic ties, and builds confidence for lasting impact. He is dedicated to creating a sustainable revenue generation model while creating opportunities where students, professionals, and communities come together to spark innovation and positive change.
- As Executive Director at Kenwood, Paul Lomanto helps drive the organization’s mission of experiential education through strategic planning, systems development, and student collaboration. A SUNY Oswego Finance graduate, he was deeply influenced by Dr. Graig Arcuri’s hands-on learning approach and is committed to expanding those opportunities so more students can experience the same real-world impact.
- As Vice President of Curriculum at Kenwood, Eason Lee fosters growth, collaboration, and a shared vision that empowers people to reach their fullest potential. An MBA graduate inspired by Dr. Graig Arcuri’s lessons on bold, unified leadership, he is committed to creating meaningful opportunities for students and team members to learn, connect, and excel. At Kenwood, Eason works to strengthen the community and expand the impact of hands-on education.
- As Director of Mentor Development at Kenwood, Allison brings over a decade of student success coaching experience, specializing in helping individuals gain clarity on their goals, establish clear priorities, and balance competing commitments. She is most energized by using behavior change frameworks to coach others toward their personal goals and guide emerging leaders as they launch high-impact service projects. At Kenwood, she translates these principles into actionable toolkits that equip mentors to build transformative coaching relationships, accelerating mentee careers and empowering them to make a lasting, real-world difference.
- Andjela is a proud alumna of SUNY Oswego, where she earned a BFA in Graphic Design and a master’s degree in Human–Computer Interaction. She currently works in marketing and web design, specializing in user-centered, thoughtfully organized digital experiences that help brands communicate clearly and effectively. Driven by a passion for marketing and personal growth, Andjela is motivated by helping people and organizations reach their full potential through purposeful design and strategy.Outside of work, Andjela enjoys reading, staying organized, working out, and exploring creative hobbies. She also loves horseback riding, skiing, golf, traveling, and spending time with animals. Her curiosity, creativity, and attention to detail extend beyond her professional life, shaping how she approaches both her work and the world around her.
- As a Talent Acquisition Coordinator at DigiKey, Kaija supports full-cycle recruiting, onboarding, and process improvement initiatives, while leading the company’s internship program. She enjoys working with people, building connections, and creating positive experiences for others.Outside of work, Kaija enjoys crocheting and knitting, including designing her own patterns for clothing and making toys for her cats, Stormy and Sunny. She also loves reading, writing, gaming, and listening to music, especially P!nk.Kaija is excited to bring her skills, creativity, and enthusiasm to Kenwood and to learn from new people and experiences along the way.
Career & Leadership Launchpad
4 people- Karen Bourne is a Training and Project Management professional who is passionate about bringing people together, creating opportunities for growth, and helping teams turn ideas into meaningful results. With more than 10 years of experience leading projects, developing people, and improving processes across government, private-sector, and community organizations, Karen brings a collaborative and people-centered approach to her role as Project Management Division Director.Karen is especially passionate about helping students and emerging professionals gain real-world experience and the confidence to lead. She believes strong project leadership means not only keeping work moving, but also recognizing potential challenges early, raising risks openly, and working alongside others to find practical solutions that move a team toward a positive outcome. Through Kenwood, she looks forward to building a supportive project management community where participants can learn, contribute, and grow together.
- As a Business Analyst, Joe Guleria helps Kenwood utilize its data better, identifying gaps and improving efficiencies across the board. He holds a Master's degree in Business Analytics from Simon Business School, University of Rochester and brings a background in operations, automation, and analytics. He is helping Kenwood better understand who its strongest donors and supporters are, what's working across its campaigns, and how its programs and outreach are performing. His focus is on building systems and insights that help Kenwood run smarter, so the organization can spend less time managing data and more time delivering on its mission
- As Kenwood’s Social Media Mentor Zachary Nusimow empowers students to transform bold marketing ideas into meaningful, real-world impact. A SUNY Oswego MBA and graduate in Broadcasting and Mass Communication, he is the recipient of the Award of Excellence in the Film and Video Narrative category from the Broadcast Education Association (BEA), as well as three New York State Broadcasting Awards of Excellence.Zachary is a strong advocate for project-based learning, encouraging students to think creatively, push boundaries, and bring passion and purpose to every project they undertake.
- Raised in Rockland County, NY, Jolie Santiago graduated with a Bachelor’s in Broadcasting and Mass Communication. She was an active member of the SUNY Rockland and SUNY Oswego communities. She has always been passionate about spreading knowledge and her career path in news helps her do that. At Oswego, she worked at WTOP-10 TV leading the first-ever all women’s hockey broadcast. Jolie interned with BronxNet Television in Bronx, NY, WWNY-TV in Watertown, NY and currently works at WNYT NewsChannel 13 in Albany, NY as a reporter and Executive Producer of Capital Region Lifestyle (CRL). She is looking forward to working as Kenwood’s PR and Communications Mentor and growing with this team.