Following a career in fundraising, Aileen served for 18 years as Chief Executive of Prep for Prep, arguably the nation’s preeminent leadership development program for students of color. During her tenure, she increased the pool of future leaders from 1,500 to more than 5,000, including a third of whom are Ivy League graduates. Succeeding the organization’s founder, Aileen expanded the program and its reach, cemented Prep’s leadership in the field, and strengthened its financial foundation. Among her accomplishments were the launch of a consulting practice that advised over 200 organizations serving 250,000 students worldwide as well as increased STEM offerings through key partnerships with Bloomberg, Google, and JPMorgan Chase. Working closely with a 70-member Board, including New York City leaders in finance, law, consulting, and tech, Aileen managed transitions of long-serving Board chairs, successfully engaging and diversifying the next generation of philanthropists. During her tenure, she raised over $235 million from private sources, which enabled Prep to increase its reserve funds from $1.5 million to more than $40 million. 

Subsequently, Aileen served as CEO and Director of the Children's Museum of Manhattan—renowned for its world-class research-based exhibitions and outreach to diverse communities—as it undertook an institutional transformation following a long-serving leader. Spearheading a $200+ million project for a future landmarked home facing Central Park, she professionalized internal capabilities while reopening the Museum during the COVID pandemic. Aileen raised over $40 million in capital support during her tenure and guided the Board to align with the institution’s future needs.

Twenty years as a Trustee of her alma mater, Kenyon College, complements Aileen's professional experience. Having chaired the College’s search for its 20th president, Aileen was elected Board Chair in 2023. An Executive Committee member since 2006, she chaired the Equity and Inclusion Committee for 15 years and helped reshape the Board through her work on the Governance Committee. Aileen also serves as a Trustee of The Gund (Kenyon’s decade-old art museum), The Kenyon Review (its renowned literary journal), and the Philander Chase Conservancy (a highly effective land conservancy). She is a Phi Beta Kappa, High Honors graduate of Kenyon, which awarded her an honorary doctorate in 2012 following her Commencement address in which she spoke about race in America. Aileen also holds a General Course Certificate from the London School of Economics. In 2023, she was invited to join Carleton College’s Parents Advisory Council.

Aileen was recognized with the 2014 Woman of Achievement Award by Women in Development, New York and as a 2015 Influential Educator Changing the Way We Learn by Noodle.com.

A long-time resident of Harlem where she raised two sons with her husband in their now empty nest, Aileen is an avid baker and retired running enthusiast.