Meet Richard Zambino: Roman's New Director of Development and Alumni Relations
Earlier this month, we welcomed Richard Zambino to Catholic High as the new Director of Development and Alumni Relations. In this role, Rick oversees the Annual Giving program, serves as the lead for growing the number of individual and corporate EITC/OSTC participants, and works closely with alumni and other important constituents to grow their affinity toward Roman. We are thrilled to have Rick at Roman, and we look forward to his many accomplishments and future success. Please read the following welcome message from Rick:
Hello! I am humbled and elated to return to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to serve the greater network of Cahillites and the students of Roman Catholic High School: past, present, and future. Having Archdiocesan roots, I hold sincere appreciation for the traditions and education representative of Roman. Through these institutions, the Roman Catholic community has flourished, inspiring my own purposefulness in supporting the advancement of its Mission.
I am proud to hail from Philadelphia, having grown up in the Modena Park section of The Far Northeast. There, I was surrounded by great family, friends, and organizations that instilled in me a plethora of values. In particular, I admired the ways in which my Mom, Dad, Oma, and Opa gave back to the local community through their professions in teaching, law enforcement, and entrepreneurship, respectively. As the years passed, I became cognizant of my own desire to serve the Philadelphia community. Fast-forward to the present day and I am applying those service-based values in ways I never quite imagined, here at Roman Catholic!
My introduction to the Archdiocese was through the CCD program of St. Anselm Parish. Despite their busy schedules, my parents and grandparents managed to drive or walk us to class each Tuesday evening. At St. Anselm I was immersed in the faith and traditions of Roman Catholicism, which ultimately inspired the decision to continue my education in one of the secondary schools of the Archdiocese. Although the decision was made to enroll at Father Judge, I have learned that many core values and lessons are shared between institutions and constituents of the entire Archdiocese. While the neighborhoods of Roman and Judge are geographically separated, I feel as though I have come to a place (Roman) that has felt like home all along.
I entered the post-secondary world at Saint Joseph's University, where I graduated with a Bachelor's in Political Science and International Relations in 2013. After finalizing my undergraduate studies, I decided to continue my education at Hawk Hill. My approach shifted toward Education and Leadership/Administration, earning two Master's Degrees in 2015 and 2022, respectively. I put my education into practice as a social studies teacher for nearly ten years. Through that time, I was fortunate to help students acquire significant lessons of the past and utilize them for the construction of a continuously improving future. As fulfilling of an experience as it was, I aspired to return to Philadelphia and support its local stakeholders. This ambition led me to Roman Catholic and I could not be more excited for what lies ahead!
I am thankful for this opportunity and look forward to playing a positive role in supporting the advancement of Roman Catholic. One of my goals is to build strong relationships through trust, communication, and hard work. I hold the conviction that great and continuous progress can be made when we make a concerted effort to combine our unique skills and talents. The Alumni Association has done this, spectacularly, throughout the long and illustrious history of Roman Catholic. Along with key stakeholders, Alumni have aided the advancement of Roman's institutions in significant ways. As we begin a new calendar year, I am excited to start my journey in support of this incredible network. I look forward to meeting everyone and to forging outstanding connections! Should you need anything or like to say hello, feel free to contact me at rzambino@romancatholichs.com.
Richard J. Zambino Jr.
Director of Development and Alumni Relations
