We are pleased to announce our incoming Chief Financial & Operations Officer Monique Lopez. 

Lopez brings nearly 20 years of senior-level experience in finance, particularly within the non-profit sector, to her role at Poly beginning July 1, 2025. Currently at J.P. Morgan, she serves as a Managing Director & Industry Executive leading a team in the Government, Healthcare, Higher Education & Non-Profit Group (GHHN). Prior to her time at J.P. Morgan, Lopez spent 11 years at Wells Fargo, where she advanced to the position of Vice President in Government & Institutional Banking. She was recently named one of Crain’s Notable Diverse Leaders in Banking and served as the former Co-Chair for Tri-State Pride Business Resource Group (BRG). She is also a member of the LGBTQ+ Executive Leadership Forum and the Hispanic Executive Leadership Forum. 

“Monique’s extensive experience in corporate and commercial finance and commitment to fiscal responsibility will be instrumental in supporting our mission to provide exceptional learning opportunities for all students,” said Head of School John Rankin.

Lopez graduated from the University of Mount Saint Vincent with a B.S. in Finance and earned a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs with a concentration in Advanced Non-Profit Management. She also earned Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) and holds expertise in cash management, diversification of revenue streams, and project management.

In addition to mentoring young and seasoned professionals, Lopez is the founder of Omni Breakthrough, LLC. Through this organization, she has mentored and coached over 100 students, helping them secure highly coveted finance internships. She has also taught presentation and public speaking courses, and created and presented workshops at Columbia University, DePaul, and Barnard at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Lopez shared, “There’s nothing better than helping people. I get great joy from it – seeing people win, seeing them succeed.” 

Incoming Head of School Dr. Noni Thomas López was impressed by Lopez’s thorough research and comprehensive understanding of independent school finances demonstrated during the interview process. “Monique brings exceptional expertise in financial planning, governance, and human resource management, combined with a genuine passion for K-12 education that makes her an outstanding addition to our leadership team.” 

As a lifelong New Yorker who grew up in the Bronx, Lopez is excited to embark on her forthcoming chapter at our school. “When I think about Poly Prep and what it represents as a mission and purpose-driven organization, it falls in line with my values and my belief in the importance of education and community service,” she said. “I’m transitioning from the banking world to a role where I can have a deeper, more thoughtful impact and I couldn’t be more thrilled.” 

Though she initially entered college as a pre-med student, Lopez quickly discovered her passion for finance. “My family owned small grocery stores throughout the Bronx, and the finance aspect of it came naturally to me,” she said. After college, Lopez was accepted into a Municipal Fellowship Program in finance where she worked six months on the government client side and six months on the investment banking side. “The stars aligned, and people often say I got lucky, but luck is when preparation meets opportunity.”

Poly is fortunate to have Lopez joining our leadership team with her strong background in both finance and non-profit management. Her approach to financial leadership emphasizes the importance of culture and teamwork. “Numbers are great and strategies are great, but  everyone needs to be rowing the boat in the same direction; culture will eat strategy for breakfast any day of the week,” she explained. “I have to first understand the team and the people to maximize our full potential in service to Poly students and its community. Given what I know now, the sky’s the limit.”

We can also gauge insight into Lopez’s leadership style from her childhood dream: “When I was a kid I wanted to be a coach when I grew up. I played basketball, volleyball, and softball in high school and I admired my coaches tremendously. They helped shape who I’ve become.”

Lopez continued, “I hold a deep appreciation for the transformative power of education and the strength of community, especially as my family and I have firmly planted our roots in Brooklyn.”

Lopez lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with her wife, Emily, and son, Oliver.