Patricia Roe

About Patricia

• Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana.
• I was a very good student in high school and graduated as salutatorian of my class—as a result, I got a full scholarship to college, which was unheard of at the time for an African-American woman.
• Attended Indiana University Bloomington, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in business administration and management with minors in accounting and marketing.
• While I was in college, I worked in the General Electric factory for a short time—this experience inspired me to finish my degree because I realized I didn’t want to continue working in a factory.
• After graduating, I struggled to find work and had to move back in with my mother for about a year before I found a job.
• A friend encouraged me to apply for a job at USA Funds, where I began working in customer service and later transitioned into a role in human resources.
• In 2000, my husband died of cancer, which forced me to reevaluate my work-life balance—I decided to start working in a role in philanthropy that gave me more flexibility.
• For the last 40 years, I’ve watched USA Funds grow into Strada Education Network, where I’m now the vice president of philanthropy, focusing on postsecondary student success.