President & Chief Executive Officer

Sylvia Ferrell-Jones joined YWCA Boston in late January 2007, after 25 years in the fields of real-estate investment management and non-profit governance and executive leadership.

At YWCA Boston, she has shepherded a dramatic shift in the organization's focus, leading towards greater financial stability and enhanced programmatic outcomes.

For twenty years, Ferrell-Jones focused on management of real-estate based assets, serving as a director at AEW Capital Management, headquartered in Boston, and as a principal investment officer with the state of Connecticut Trust Funds, with portfolios ranging up to $2 billion.

Subsequently, Sylvia served as Director of Agency Development for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, where she provided governance, management and fundraising consultations to a $26 million not-for-profit affiliate portfolio.

Ferrell-Jones earned her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and her juris doctor from Yale Law School. She has held leadership roles with numerous community and professional organizations, including local, regional and national real estate organizations; the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ; Big Brothers Big Sisters of America; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay; LeadBoston; and The Partnership. 

Sylvia currently serves on the board of directors for United Church Funds; Andover Newton Theological School; and the Wellesley Centers for Women, and sits on an advisory board for Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network, and the corporate advisory board for Women of ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting).