Yissel Salafsky

Chief Executive Officer

Make Way for Books

Yissel Salafsky joined Make Way for Books as Chief Executive Officer in January of this
year. Most recently, she served as Senior Director of Program Operations & Strategic Initiatives
at the University of Arizona, where she led online program development. She has served as a
consultant to non-profit organizations, with a focus on organizational development, fund
development, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Yissel is driven by a passion for
community impact, social justice, and educational advancement. She has lived in Tucson for 28
years with her husband and three children. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from
the University of Arizona and a master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from
Arizona State University’s Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Innovation.