Aramis Gutierrez

Aramis Gutierrez is a nationally recognized and award-winning college access professional, highly sought-after presenter/speaker, and advocate for Educational Equity. Most notably, he launched the Rutgers Future Scholars as the founding program director in 2008, growing the program from 200 to 3000 students as of 2022. Through the RFS program, he provided university-wide leadership across five cities, annually supporting over 250 middle and high schools and more than 400 undergraduates at Rutgers University. RFS boasts hundreds of college graduates from many of the top colleges and universities in the country.  Scholars contribute to our nation, from entrepreneurs, public health advocates, engineers, teachers, and nurses to community organizers.

Aramis built academic alliances with key school, university, community, government, and corporate partnerships (200+). Through leadership and collaboration, he raised over 20 million dollars of support through corporate and private donations and grants. He served as a public relations leader for print, TV, multimedia, and live events and led marketing and design of promotional and educational materials. He introduced and co-designed courses integrated into the university curriculum, including: "Mentoring as Public Service," a unique communication and mentoring service-learning experience, and "Excellence First," a 1st-year seminar on college success and building a sense of belonging. Over his tenure with RFS, he worked closely with program full-time staff (16) & seasonal partners (100+) in developing program curriculum, strategic planning, evaluation and assessment, fundraising, and exploring program replication nationally.

Aramis is a certified elementary teacher and high school counselor with experience serving communities in Trenton and Princeton. Before establishing RFS, he served as the inaugural Associate Director of the Career Equity Resource Center at Rutgers University in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Education, as a Community College academic advisor, a High School counselor, and an elementary teacher.