Who is Edna?

Edna Yohannes, MBA currently serves as the Executive Director of Development at UC Riverside School of Medicine (UCR.) She has over 15 years experience in executive senior management in healthcare academia and corporate environments. She is experienced in leadership, high profile projects management, partnership building and product/services management.

She is part of a team that raised over $300 million for UCR’s first Living the Promise campaign. She has developed multiple programs and outreach campaigns that helped raise millions of dollars over the years.

Prior to joining UCR, she worked at Charles. R. Drew University of Medicine and Science as Chief of Staff to the Office of the President as well as Liaison to the Board of Trustees and Board of Councillors supervising staff and directing administrative, financial, and operational activities. She led the formation of the President’s Community Advisory Council in 2013 including the development of its governing charters. She also managed the implementation of three Strategic Plans and is well versed in WASC and other accreditation processes.

Edna is the founder of Global Bridges, a non-profit organization located in California with a mission to serve the immigrant and underrepresented communities in identifying solutions towards social mobility and financial resiliency.

Edna received her MBA and Intercultural Studies degree from Biola University with distinction (summa cum laude) and her Baccalaureate of Science in Physics from Asmara University. Edna lives in Lakewood, CA.