Nadia Lopez

Nadia Lopez is an educator, author, and founding principal of Mott Hall Bridges Academy, a public middle school she established in Brownsville, Brooklyn, in 2010. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Wagner College and a master’s degree in education from Long Island University before entering education and school leadership.

Lopez is the author of The Bridge to Brilliance: How One Woman and One Community Are Inspiring the World, a memoir about founding Mott Hall Bridges Academy and expanding educational opportunities for students in an underserved community. Her work has received national attention through a TED Talk, media appearances, and recognition including Barnard College’s Medal of Distinction.