Our Team
Education
B.A. in Management & Society, UNC-Chapel Hill
Elevator Pitch
Neils Ribeiro-Yemofio was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia, the proud son of Ghanaian immigrants. His work ethic and values were shaped by the love and guidance of his family. Growing up across the DC-Metro area, Neils witnessed deep disparities in the education system, sparking his lifelong passion for social justice—particularly in education reform. Throughout his career, Neils has remained committed to expanding equity and opportunity for all. He has worked with several local and national nonprofits, including LIFT, an economic mobility organization; College Track, which supports first-generation and low-income students through college; and City Year, a national education nonprofit. By age 30, Neils had served as Program Manager, Program Director, Start-Up Executive Director, and Regional Director. In addition to winning several national leadership awards, Neils has participated in multiple executive leadership programs. He has helped launch three nonprofit boards focused on education and mental health and has supported board development for emerging organizations since 2012. He holds a BA in Management and Society with a Minor in Social Entrepreneurship and African American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an MS in Nonprofit Management with a concentration in Organizational Leadership from Northeastern University. In 2017, Neils founded Heroes for Hire (now called V2R Academy), a consulting business that supports social entrepreneurs in launching and leading nonprofit ventures. Neils currently lives in Prince George’s County, Maryland with his wife, Shamelle—a fellow Tar Heel—and their two sons.