Leadership Team

A woman in a magenta dress standing in front of a collage of black and white photos with a neon pink sign that says 'Shri'. She is smiling, with dark hair, wearing earrings, a necklace, and a ring, in an indoor space with brick walls and wooden flooring.

  • Founder & Executive Director

    Alison Bologna started Shri in 2010 with a vision of creating a space where people from all backgrounds could come together to practice yoga, fostering healthier and more compassionate communities, while also revitalizing a city that has been economically struggling since the Industrial Revolution. 

    Since opening its doors in downtown Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Shri has become a success story for the city, drawing in hundreds of students for special events and outreach programs.

    Inspired by the overwhelming response, Alison expanded Shri in 2012 to include a nonprofit arm, Shri Service Corps, that serves more than 8,500 students for free every year - both in its studios and remotely in schools, shelters, hospitals, recovery centers, and youth clubs. Every Shri program is guided by a curriculum, developed by Alison, to support students both on and off the yoga mat or chair, and Alison continues to run Shri’s annual teacher training to a select group of aligned practitioners to serve the community.

    A graduate of Harvard University with a master's degree in English, Alison wrote her thesis on Henry David Thoreau, “America’s First Karma Yogi,” based upon her scholarly research on yoga’s roots in New England. Since then, she's put “skill into action” by purchasing and then transforming 390 Pine Street, a 15,000 square foot historic mill, to expand Shri’s mission into affordable housing, historic preservation and commercial real estate; Alison’s work is most recently profiled nationally by Northwestern University Kellogg Professor Harry Kraemer in his book: “Your Values-Based Legacy.”

    When Alison is not at Shri, she anchors the morning news on NBC 10, and she serves on the boards of the Pawtucket Boys and Girls Club and the Pawtucket Foundation.

  • STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR

    A polished grant writer and accomplished fundraising professional with 25 years of proven experience in the fund development field, over the past decade.

    Derek has successfully secured more than $100 million in public and private investments - both locally and nationally.

    His expertise lies in partnering with municipalities, educational organizations, governmental agencies, and local non-profits to drive meaningful results. He excels at navigating complex funding landscapes, crafting compelling proposals, and building strong relationships with funders to advance organizational missions.

    Dedicated and results-driven, Derek approaches every project with a commitment to excellence and unrivaled passion.

  • Operations Director, Shri Bark

    Dave Mongeau is the creator and operations director of Shri Bark - the nut-free snack line produced under the Shri label that helps fund free outreach classes in the community.

    Dave also oversees maintenance in the building and all other Shri operations with Alison.

    When not at Shri, Dave is the chief photographer at WCVB-TV in Boston and the recipient of 10 Emmy awards.

  • IT Director

    Guillermo has more than 10 years of experience in the IT services industry.

    Guillermo grew up in the West End of Providence and continues to live there. He is an active supporter of the local arts organizations and social justice programs that continue to transform the city of Providence.

    Guillermo is a hobbyist photographer who can take a mean selfie and cool cat pictures. It’s been rumored that he has a meme collection that’s taken up all his phone storage.

A smiling woman with light brown hair holding a white coffee mug, sitting on a black leather couch, wearing a white T-shirt with a black coffee bean and the word 'Shir' printed on it.

  • Finance Director

    Silvana has been running all the finance operations at Shri for more than 10 years.

    Before Shri, Silvana spent 30 years working in finance for attorneys.

    And in her free time, Silvana loves dogs and volunteers at her local local shelter every week.

  • PROGRAM DIRECTOR

    Robin oversees all daily operations in both the studio and community - this includes more than 300 classes every month.

    Robin also onboards new programs and teachers with Alison, and also mentors new teachers on the Shri Curriculum once they join the weekly schedule.

board of directors & advisory council