Leader in Public Sector, Government Relations Joins Posse Veterans Recruitment Effort
Eleni Kalisch has joined the Posse Veterans Program in a newly created role: Special Advisor for Recruitment. Eleni brings skills and experience from a career first launched as a news writer at CNN, 20 years of public sector work, including as Assistant Director of Congressional Affairs for the FBI, and 12 more years as VP of Government Relations for Royal Caribbean.
"I fell in love with The Posse Foundation when I was working for Royal Caribbean Cruises in Miami and was honored to serve for over 10 years on the Posse Miami Advisory Board,” Eleni says. “After leaving Royal Caribbean last year, I was anxious to remain engaged with Posse in some capacity.”
“What better way to serve Posse than to provide amazing scholarship opportunities to the men and women who serve our country.”
Eleni Kalisch, Special Advisor for Recruitment, Posse Veterans Program
As the special advisor for recruitment, Eleni has found a role that combines her dedication to Posse and commitment to the broader veteran community. Since August, Eleni has been leading a recruitment team in reaching out to veterans across the country and globe, working to identify the next Veterans Posses to attend partner institutions Vassar College, Wesleyan University and the University of Virginia.
“When I learned that Posse was looking for someone to lead the effort to help identify candidates for the Posse Veterans Program, I jumped at the opportunity,” Eleni says. “What better way to serve Posse than to provide amazing scholarship opportunities to the men and women who serve our country.”
“Eleni joining our team is huge boost,” says Posse Veterans Program Director Adam Lessuck. “The breadth of her career combined with her prolific experience and understanding of the institutions we work with in the veterans outreach process makes her an exceptional choice for this position. Having Eleni in this new role lays the basis for expanding the number of veterans who have access to top colleges and bringing new university partners on board for the Veterans Program.”
The Posse Veterans Program was launched in 2012 to identify, train and support veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces interested in pursuing bachelor’s degrees at top colleges and universities. Those accepted into the program attend college as part of a team of veterans—a Veterans Posse. Participants receive training prior to matriculating on campus and mentoring once enrolled. In addition, Posse partner colleges provide veterans in the program with supplemental funding to cover the full cost of tuition. The Posse Veterans Program is currently recruiting student veterans to attend Vassar College, Wesleyan University and the University of Virginia.
