Dr. Adriana Alejandro Osorio
Dr. Adriana Alejandro Osorio is a social justice leader and stands fearlessly firm on issues affecting children around the world. She has spent her career in the nonprofit and philanthropy sector, leading efforts that advance global health and development and amplify children's rights in the U.S. and abroad. She is currently the chief advancement officer at Esperanza United, which mobilizes Latinas and Latin@ communities to end gender-based violence.
Previously, at the Child Friendly Governance Project, Adriana spearheaded the mobilization of resources that co-create and catalyze solutions benefitting children by strengthening child-friendly governance at all levels of society. She developed partnerships and business opportunities, leading the implementation of the organization’s fundraising strategy. She has also headed high net-worth development efforts, stewarded one of the first UNICEF Child Friendly Cities in the United States, cultivated private sector partnerships advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, and made targeted investments in the development of new tools and strategies to reduce the burden of infectious disease and the leading causes of child mortality in developing countries.
A native of the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, and having lived in Dutch St. Maarten, she considers the Caribbean the most sacred of places, and learned so much from the rivers and waterfalls and beaches that are located in the islands that saw her grow up. Her formal education, however, is her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras and her Ph.D. in Biomolecular Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
FMR involvement: Board member since 2023
Education: Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison (Biomolecular Chemistry) and B.S., Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras (Chemistry, Italian)
Interests or hobbies: Biking, gardening, playing violin
Community engagement: Esperanza United - Board Member; Ramsey County Medical Reserve Corps - Volunteer; Young Women Initiative of MN - Council member; Former Commission for Judicial Selection, Non Attorney Member (2nd district)
Favorite metro Mississippi River location: Hidden Falls, where I have memories of slowing down just to watch the ripples in the river go by with my son when he was little. Crosby Park has a special place in my heart where, again, the juxtaposition of the expansive river hugged by all the trees makes you feel you're in another world, certainly not in the middle of the city. Finally, I feel so much gratitude and wonder when looking through the river and its beauty during a bike ride through the East River Parkway.
Conservation and environmental heroes: Vanessa Nakate, climate change activist; Lea Thomas (Green Girl), intersectional environmentalism activist
Why I serve on the FMR board: I am passionate about leaving a better world for our next generation, focusing on the effects of social justice and climate change. I look forward to serving with FMR to engage youth in decisions that directly influence the river’s wellbeing, addressing climate challenges and ensuring a resilient future for this invaluable ecosystem.