Through a digital coaching platform that combines a student-facing mobile app called MyCoach, expert coaches who work with students virtually, and a predictive and prescriptive analytics engine, Beyond 12 helps institutions provide their students with the academic, social, and emotional support to succeed in higher education. Beyond 12 not only provides students with differentiated coaching that ensures they earn a college degree, but also provides actionable feedback to K-12 organizations about their college preparatory efforts, improves the retention work of colleges and universities by sharing data-driven insights gained from supporting students, and influences the national conversation about student success.
Our History
Beyond 12 was founded in 2009 by entrepreneur, Alexandra (Alex) Bernadotte, who drew inspiration to create the organization from her own experience as a first-generation college graduate. Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Alex grew up in inner city Boston, the oldest daughter of immigrant parents who were determined to see her succeed. Like many first-generation college students, Alex struggled with the transition to college. Her first year at Dartmouth was tough. After years of hard work to get into college, Alex was shocked to realize that receiving her acceptance letter had been the easiest step. But she stuck it out, graduated in four years, and became the first in her immediate family to receive a college degree. The challenges Alex faced during those years at Dartmouth planted a seed for what she wanted to do: start an organization to ensure other first-generation college students wouldn’t struggle as she had.
Our Staff
Bold, innovative, and committed. The Beyond 12 team is a small but mighty force that draws on its own experiences and expertise to provide students – and their institutions – with the information and support they need to succeed. Join our team.
Alexandra Bernadotte
Founder & CEO
Alex has more than 18 years of executive management and stra
Alexandra Bernadotte
Founder & CEO
Alex has more than 18 years of executive management and strategic development experience in both the nonprofit and private sectors. Immediately before launching Beyond 12, she was an Entrepreneur in Residence at NewSchools Venture Fund where she conducted the research and developed the business plan for Beyond 12. Alex's previous professional experience includes serving as executive director of The Princeton Review's Silicon Valley office, co-founder and vice president of marketing and online strategy at educational travel startup Explorica, director of operations at EF Education, and operations manager at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, where she coordinated the efforts of an international youth substance abuse prevention foundation.
Alex was also the executive director of Foundation for a College Education (FCE). She currently serves on the FCE advisory board, as well as the board of directors of the Great Oakland Public Schools Leadership Center. Alex received her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and earned a master's degree with a concentration in policy and organizational leadership from Stanford. She is an Ashoka Fellow, a recipient of the 2011 NewSchools Venture Fund Entrepreneur of the year award, and a 2012 Jefferson Award for Public Service. In addition, Fast Company recently named Beyond 12 “one of the world’s top 10 most innovative companies in education.
Chris Co
CTO & Head of Product
Chris has over 10 years of product management, engineering,
Chris Co
CTO & Head of Product
Chris has over 10 years of product management, engineering, security, and team leadership experience from eBay and Workday, where he developed and executed product strategies, and hired and mentored dozens of college graduates through their post-college years. Chris has volunteered with College Track and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Bay Area and has an unwavering passion for Beyond 12’s mission, paralleled only by his love for problem-solving and photography. Chris lives in the East Bay with his wife (an Oakland public school teacher of 10+ years) and has a bachelor's degree in applied mathematics from UC Berkeley.
Heather Craig
Chief Program Officer
Heather is a program management professional with 15+ years
Heather Craig
Chief Program Officer
Heather is a program management professional with 15+ years of experience in project management and digital marketing. She has led large, integrated project teams of 100+ people focused on end-to-end creation of industry-leading, data-driven digital experiences for clients such as JP Morgan Chase, Prudential, TED, Amway, and Unilever. Heather was most recently a Senior Program Director at SapientRazorfish, a digital marketing and consulting firm that provides business, marketing, and technology consulting services to clients all over the world. In addition to serving as the lead for the 130+ member Mercedes-Benz USA account team, she managed 14 direct reports and provided strategic vision and career mentorship to 70+ project managers and producers.
Jan Gilboy
Chief Sales Officer
Jan Gilboy leads Beyond 12’s sales and marketing teams as
Jan Gilboy
Chief Sales Officer
Jan Gilboy leads Beyond 12’s sales and marketing teams as chief sales officer. Her role is focused on developing and sustaining strong partnerships with colleges and universities, specifically focusing on low-income, first-generation under-represented students to help them graduate.
Jan is a mission-driven sales leader with over 20 years experience in the education space. She is a first-generation college student who started her career in college publishing and successfully pivoted to sales and sales management with such companies as The New York Times, Turnitin, and Roadtrip Nation. She has sold a variety of SaaS products, Apps, and professional services serving a cross-section in education, CTE and workforce development. A strong believer in education as the most important tool to change one’s life, Jan has developed partnerships with community colleges and universities as well as systems/consortia in the US and Canada. Outside of work, Jan enjoys travel and hiking, and is a passionate supporter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Jan resides outside of Denver with her three dogs and son, and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Hunter College in New York City.
Dr. Eve Shapiro
Chief Knowledge Officer
Drawing on a decade of experience in higher education and ex
Dr. Eve Shapiro
Chief Knowledge Officer
Drawing on a decade of experience in higher education and extensive research experience, Eve is dedicated to developing a robust and nuanced understanding of student success and persistence. Eve's previous experience includes teaching and advising at four universities, developing university-based mentorship programs for first-generation students, researching the efficacy of technology-based social and psychological support platforms, and evaluating K-12 tutoring initiatives. Eve received her BA from Indiana University and her MA and PhD in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a focus on social inequalities, psychosocial wellbeing and social change.
Katherine Zepeda
Chief of Staff to CEO, Senior Director
Katherine is chief of staff to the CEO at Beyond 12. In her
Katherine Zepeda
Chief of Staff to CEO, Senior Director
Katherine is chief of staff to the CEO at Beyond 12. In her role, she supports the CEO and Beyond 12 team in advancing special projects and strategic efforts. As a recipient of multiple college access, success, and scholarship support services, Katherine has dedicated her career to ensuring that college is not only accessible to first-generation, underrepresented minorities but that it promotes persistence, graduation, and a pathway to a career. Before joining Beyond 12 in 2013, Katherine worked and interned at East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, College Track, and Glide Memorial Foundation and was involved in research and leadership groups aimed at promoting higher education for first-generation students. Katherine graduated from UC Berkeley in 2013 with a BA in social welfare and she is currently pursuing her MBA at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business.
Donna Arriaga Edmonds
Director of Program
Donna Arriaga Edmonds was born in New York to parents who em
Donna Arriaga Edmonds
Director of Program
Donna Arriaga Edmonds was born in New York to parents who emigrated from Guatemala. She was the first in her family to graduate from high school and pursue a college degree. She obtained BAs in political science and writing and linguistics from Georgia Southern. She received a MA in public administration from the University of Georgia, concentrating on higher education and nonprofit management. Donna began her time with Beyond 12 as a college coach working with HSF GO Scholars and currently supports and manages the Atlanta office and partners. Donna strives to enhance the opportunities of underrepresented groups within our education system.
Ian Barrett
College Coach
Ian Barrett is a first year college coach at Beyond 12. Hail
Ian Barrett
College Coach
Ian Barrett is a first year college coach at Beyond 12. Hailing from Philadelphia, PA, Ian came to Atlanta to attend the prestigious Morehouse College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in education in 2020. A lifelong learner and proud advocate for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Ian’s passions lie most in helping others “see their best selves” and take on new experiences. While in college, Ian was able to follow his passion by helping organize and execute the AUC Philadelphia Club HBCU High School Tour, a program created to teach Philadelphia high school students about HBCUs. He also mentored students on campus and volunteered at elementary schools in the metro-Atlanta community area. Still looking to be an active participant in his community, Ian is a current member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the Urban League of Greater Atlanta Young Professionals, and Toastmasters International. In his free time, Ian enjoys binge-watching TV series (especially classics), learning about investing, reading, exercising, and spending time with friends and family.
Jazmin Betancourt
Operations Manager
Jazmin has a wide range of experience in direct service, cur
Jazmin Betancourt
Operations Manager
Jazmin has a wide range of experience in direct service, curriculum development, program planning, and evaluation. She has served students from kindergarten to college for over 10 years and is committed to education reform that increases equity, cultural competency, and life-long learning. In her current role she draws from her previous college coaching and account management experiences to optimize Beyond 12's HR, communication, and project management processes. Her previous work includes teaching second grade Spanish and math at Roses In Concrete Community School, a dual language immersion charter in East Oakland, and consulting with Resource Development Associates where she collaborated with district leaders, teachers, parents, and students to evaluate the effectiveness of K-12 after-school programs and services in the Mt. Diablo and Antioch unified school districts. Jazmin is a first-generation college graduate, with a multiple subject teaching credential, master's degree in education, and bachelor's degrees in peace and conflict studies and art history from UC Berkeley.
Khadijah Bijoux Hill
Associate Director of Program
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Khadijah graduated from
Khadijah Bijoux Hill
Associate Director of Program
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Khadijah graduated from the University of San Francisco (USF) where she earned her B.A. in Critical Diversity with a minor in African American Studies. As a first-generation college student, she sees educational access and support for underrepresented youth as her calling. Khadijah served as a peer mentor for the Muscats Scholars Program, where she mentored 50 first-generation college freshmen during their transition from high school to college. Khadijah’s passion for educational equity built her commitment to ensure all students possess the tools to succeed in higher education.
Yaniv Brener
Associate Software Engineer
Yaniv Brener is an associate software engineer with Beyond 1
Yaniv Brener
Associate Software Engineer
Yaniv Brener is an associate software engineer with Beyond 12. He made the leap to software after teaching himself to code; previously, he worked as a chemical engineer on projects ranging from predictive analytics to alternative fuels. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. As the child of immigrants, Yaniv saw first-hand the difficulty of navigating unfamiliar systems, which led him to volunteer with youth education groups including Junior Achievement and PAIR Houston (Partnership for the Advancement & Immersion of Refugees). He strongly believes in increasing education equity and helping underrepresented students own their journey through the education system.
Kevin Brown
Associate Director of Program
Kevin Brown is an associate director of program at Beyond 12
Kevin Brown
Associate Director of Program
Kevin Brown is an associate director of program at Beyond 12, and returns after originally serving as a college coach from 2011-2013. Prior to re-joining the Beyond 12 team, Kevin spent the last 6 years at KIPP Through College both as an alumni advisor working with under-represented students in college and as a team manager helping to both train and support other advisors. During his time at KIPP, Kevin was heavily focused on programming and strategic planning related to community college persistence. In addition to working in education, Kevin also comes from a background in mental health stemming from serving as a residential advisor at Seneca Center, a group home for youth who’ve experienced severe physical or emotional trauma in their childhood. Kevin is a Bay Area native who grew up in Oakland and graduated from the University of California, Davis with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and an emphasis in law. While at UCD, Kevin was an academic advisor through Upward Bound where he provided counseling and mentorship to low-income, first-generation high school students in the Vallejo and Sacramento areas.
Regan Chagal
Senior Director of User Experience
Regan Chagal has over 20 years of experience leading user-fo
Regan Chagal
Senior Director of User Experience
Regan Chagal has over 20 years of experience leading user-focused UX and visual design projects in the fields of healthcare, media, the arts, finance, retail, editorial, and education. Regan is passionate about using design as a tool to foster positive community experiences and encourage communication and connection. Since 2015, she has led the design of Beyond 12’s MyCoach® app and now leads user experience across all of Beyond 12’s products. She holds a BA in graphic design from the University of Maryland and a MFA in book arts and printmaking from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
Stephanie Chang
Senior College Coach
Stephanie graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts
Stephanie Chang
Senior College Coach
Stephanie graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Global Poverty and Practice. During undergrad, she served as a grievance caseworker, then grievance division director, for the Student Advocate’s Office at UC Berkeley. At the Student Advocate’s Office, Stephanie supported students facing concerns related to disability status, harassment, and/or discrimination, among other things. She also co-created a direct-to-student fund to provide grants for out-of-pocket healthcare costs for students with disabilities and financial need. Through this work, Stephanie became passionate about advocating for equitable access for students with intersectional and historically underrepresented identities, as well as uplifting student voices against institutional and structural barriers. She hopes to continue working in one-on-one support services through her role at Beyond 12 and eventually earn her MSW.
Jesenia Chavez
College Coach
Jesenia Chavez is a first year college coach with Beyond 12.
Jesenia Chavez
College Coach
Jesenia Chavez is a first year college coach with Beyond 12. Prior to joining Beyond 12, Jesenia supported high school students as a college adviser fellow for UC Berkeley’s Destination College Advising Corps, where she strived to make college a viable option for first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students. In May 2019, she received her bachelor's degree in sociology from Cal State East Bay. Prior to that, she received an associate’s degree in sociology and liberal arts at Contra Costa Community College. While in college, she worked as an elementary school instructional assistant for the West Contra Costa Unified School District. As a first-generation college graduate, Jesenia knows how vital it is for students to have a strong support system while navigating their educational journey, so she hopes to continue to be a resource for her students. In her leisure time, Jesenia enjoys nature, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.
Jeanette Corona
Senior Product Manager
Since 2017, Jeanette has led the end-to-end cycle for consum
Jeanette Corona
Senior Product Manager
Since 2017, Jeanette has led the end-to-end cycle for consumer/B2C and enterprise/B2B products. She proactively sought a role in software consulting after working at the Hispanic Heritage Foundation to promote STEM for underrepresented high school youth in over 15 cities nationwide. Jeanette was the first in her family to graduate from high school and pursue a college degree. During undergrad, she was a peer counselor for the Educational Opportunity Program, helping first-generation college students navigate the unknowns of attending University of California, Berkeley where she earned her bachelors in social welfare. On her free time, you'll find Jeanette developing recipes for Café 15, her family's creative kitchen in Oakland or spending time in nature with her husband, 2 kids, and parents.
Peter deVroede
Senior Director of Engineering
Peter has extensive experience in software engineering and p
Peter deVroede
Senior Director of Engineering
Peter has extensive experience in software engineering and product development at companies including Adobe, Xerox PARC, Electronic Arts and Disney. His most recent experience was as co-founder and CTO of podcast platform company Stitcher (now a part of SiriusXM). He has also served on several non-profit boards, including several youth sports leagues, the Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC) and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Peter and his partner (a high school teacher in Hercules) live in the East Bay and have twins, both of whom attend college in Oregon. Peter has a bachelor’s degree in physics from UC Berkeley and MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, and is an avid skier, skateboarder and golfer.
Maxine Dimalanta
College Coach
Maxine graduated from UCLA in 2022 with a bachelor’s degre
Maxine Dimalanta
College Coach
Maxine graduated from UCLA in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in education & social transformation. Maxine found her love for culturally-conscious counseling and student affairs in her work with UCLA’s student-initiated, student-run college access and retention programs, where she worked as a SPEAR peer counselor and SPACE peer advisor. Learning from her time as a counselor, student leader and organizer in cultural/political student organizations such as Samahang Pilipino and the Mother Organizations Coalition, Maxine hopes to continue to support students from historically excluded communities navigate higher education. Looking to stay involved in her community, she is currently an active member of Kappa Psi Epsilon Sorority, Inc. Maxine was born and raised in the Bay Area, where she attended WCCUSD schools and was a UC Berkeley EAOP/DCAC student and a Beyond 12 Student!
Shallah Fairbanks
Senior Customer Success Manager
Shallah has a wide range of experience in customer success,
Shallah Fairbanks
Senior Customer Success Manager
Shallah has a wide range of experience in customer success, operations, compliance, and hospitality. Prior to Beyond 12, she worked at Wish, helping to align policies and improve communication with global outsource partners. Her passion for reducing inequality led her to the role at Beyond 12 and she is focused on working with partners to help close the college graduation gap between first-generation students and their peers. Shallah is a Bay Area native and received a BS in criminal justice from California State University, East Bay.
Cesar Ferreyra
Account Executive
Prior to joining Beyond 12, Cesar helped scale other mission
Cesar Ferreyra
Account Executive
Prior to joining Beyond 12, Cesar helped scale other mission driven companies like uConnect, SV Academy, and Handshake. During his time at SV Academy, he made access to the tech industry more equitable by training underrepresented people on how to break into the tech industry via careers in sales. Cesar is passionate about social impact and equity. He has been able to impact others throughout his career by working at mission driven organizations. As a first-generation college student, Cesar was placed on subject to dismissal after his first quarter in college because he didn’t know how to navigate the higher education system. As a result of this and other life experiences, Cesar is extremely excited about making an impact at Beyond 12!
Javier Garcia
College Coach
Javier Garcia is a remote college coach with Beyond 12. Befo
Javier Garcia
College Coach
Javier Garcia is a remote college coach with Beyond 12. Before joining Beyond 12, Javier worked in his hometown of Delano, California as an agriculture prep counseling fellow with the Wonderful Company, where he supported high school students and their families during the college application and decision-making process. While an undergraduate student at the University of Redlands, Javier secured a position working for Campus Diversity and Inclusion, the entity responsible for coordinating diversity programs. In this role, he primarily supported first-generation student programs but also helped plan and execute programming to create an atmosphere that welcomes, values, and fosters diversity and inclusion on campus. Javier is passionate about empowering and supporting low-income, first-generation, and historically underrepresented college students. He understands the transformative power of his college experience and the vital role that his different support systems played in ensuring his success. Javier graduated from the University of Redlands with a BA in race and ethnic studies in the spring of 2020. He recently completed a master’s in higher education and student affairs at the University of Redlands.
Emily Gardin
College Coach
Raised in Waterbury, CT, Emily Gardin (she/they) attended Em
Emily Gardin
College Coach
Raised in Waterbury, CT, Emily Gardin (she/they) attended Emory University in Atlanta, GA, earning her bachelor's degree in African American Studies with a minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies in May 2021. She is a 2021-2022 Afro-Latinx Líderes Avanzando Fellow with UnidosUS. Emily and other fellows built out a policy brief, Supporting Mental Health for Black and Latinx K-12 Students, and presented it to members of U.S. Congress. Through this fellowship, she has cultivated skills in community advocacy, coalition building, and crafting policy memorandums seeking equitable reform.
Elioth Gomez
Content Analyst
Elioth found a strong affinity for Beyond 12's mission and h
Elioth Gomez
Content Analyst
Elioth found a strong affinity for Beyond 12's mission and has had many roles within the content team. He first joined in the spring of 2017, before his last semester of college, as an intern and currently works as a content analyst. Elioth graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in molecular biology. As a first-generation undocumented college student he understood the importance of striving for educational equity and now hopes to help increase equity and representation within the sciences. As a content analyst, Elioth works on content creation, deployment and everything in between to ensure a high quality experience on the MyCoach app.
Aaron Harvey
College Coach
Born and raised in San Diego, Aaron Harvey is a first-genera
Aaron Harvey
College Coach
Born and raised in San Diego, Aaron Harvey is a first-generation college grad earning his bachelor’s and associate’s in political science at UC Berkeley and San Diego City College. While at Berkeley, Harvey was the chair of The Berkeley Underground Scholars (BUS), a student organization that focuses on the recruitment, retention, and advocacy of formerly incarcerated and system impacted UC students. Harvey was also the lead coordinator for the BUS transfer program where he trained a team of UC students in assisting community college students in applying to UC schools.
Tajeé Jackson-Drake
College Coach
Tajeé was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. As a first-g
Tajeé Jackson-Drake
College Coach
Tajeé was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. As a first-generation college student, she is driven to help close equity gaps and provide bridges to opportunities for youth in overlooked, underserved communities. She graduated from Franklin & Marshall College with a BA in psychology and Spanish. After graduating from college, she joined the College Advising Corps, where she assisted a few hundred students across three schools. She hopes to go to law school and start a nonprofit that provides access to both mental health assistance and legal advice for people living in underserved communities so she can continue to serve her community in new ways. In her free time, she likes to do arts and crafts and dance.
Deja Jahi
College Coach
Deja Jahi currently serves as a first-year college coach for
Deja Jahi
College Coach
Deja Jahi currently serves as a first-year college coach for Beyond 12. She graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, with a BS in psychology. Prior to becoming a college coach for Beyond 12, Deja was an assistant director/mentor for Star Struck Sports. There, she created and orchestrated fundraiser events to help support students from underrepresented areas and provided guidance, and recommended coping mechanisms for youth dealing with difficult issues and situations. As a first-generation college student, Deja knows firsthand the challenges one may face while being in a new environment, and how important it is to have a strong support system to help navigate through their college career. This is what led to her interest in Beyond 12. She genuinely loves helping others and in her role as a college coach, she aspires to continue to support students throughout their college journey. During her free time, she loves hot yoga, trying out new foods, and traveling with her family.
Andrew Jensen
Associate Software Engineer
Prior to joining Beyond 12, Andrew worked as a high school m
Andrew Jensen
Associate Software Engineer
Prior to joining Beyond 12, Andrew worked as a high school math teacher and in a variety of functions in investment management. He earned a teaching credential at San Francisco State University, a BS in Mathematics at the University of California at Davis, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst Charterholder. Andrew is grateful for the choices and security that education has afforded him and therefore deeply values the opportunity to work to increase educational equity.
D'Juan Johnson
Associate Director of Program
DJ, a Houston native, graduated from Texas A&M Universit
D'Juan Johnson
Associate Director of Program
DJ, a Houston native, graduated from Texas A&M University in 2016 majoring in sport management & business administration. Prior to joining our team, he served as a program manager at EMERGE Fellowship in Houston. During his time at EMERGE Fellowship, he supported and assisted over 100 students at five high school campuses within Aldine ISD through applying to top tier colleges across the country. DJ was also a CAC adviser with the Texas A&M University Chapter from 2016-2018. His passion for this work has been evident from the very beginning as a youth, DJ volunteered at the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club. When he is not working hard at work, he enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family and playing with his French bulldog, Miami.
Jasper Jones
College Coach
While born and raised in Glendora, CA, Jasper now resides in
Jasper Jones
College Coach
While born and raised in Glendora, CA, Jasper now resides in Portland, OR. Before joining as a college coach, they worked as a college access coach at CollegePossible. In this position, they supported a caseload of high-achieving, mid to low-income students through the college application process. Jasper graduated from Willamette University in 2020 as an English major with an emphasis in creative writing. Outside of their classes, Jasper was dedicated to running the student newspaper and worked at the on-campus coffee shop. Jasper is passionate about empowering students to take advantage of resources and discover what works best for them as an individual. They feel it is a profound honor to create a safe and fun environment for students to share their feelings, goals, and struggles. In their free time, Jasper loves to play Dungeons and Dragons, write poetry, listen to podcasts, and hang out with their orange tabby cat.
Gretchen Karl
Executive Assistant
Gretchen Karl brings over 15 years of managerial office admi
Gretchen Karl
Executive Assistant
Gretchen Karl brings over 15 years of managerial office administration to the team. With a background as a classroom educator, Gretchen's talents are a unique blend of creativity, problem solving, adaptability, and patience. A gifted multi-tasker, juggling curve balls and busy days at a lightning pace are where she thrives. Before joining Beyond12, Gretchen worked as an executive assistant to leaders in the fields of education and racial equality. Working with changemakers, her time in the classroom, and educating her own children drives her core belief that every person deserves a unique and quality education. Gretchen lives in Maryland with her husband and their five children. She holds a BS in elementary education from Towson University.
Damneet Kaur
Operations Associate
Damneet was raised in San Diego, CA by way of Punjab. She is
Damneet Kaur
Operations Associate
Damneet was raised in San Diego, CA by way of Punjab. She is the daughter of Sikh immigrants and the first in her family to graduate from college. Damneet holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Race and Resistance Studies. As the operations associate for Beyond 12, she is experienced in program planning, coaching, and human resources. Damneet is committed to ensuring that education at all levels is accessible to folks of color, lower socioeconomic backgrounds, immigrants and incarcerated individuals. Self and community care are vital in all of the work she does.
Bavani Kehoe
Technical Product Manager
Bavani is a Bay Area native who loves working at the interse
Bavani Kehoe
Technical Product Manager
Bavani is a Bay Area native who loves working at the intersection of education, equity, and technology. After six years as a high school math teacher and advisor in Boston, Oakland, and San Francisco, Bavani transitioned to operations and technology work within nonprofits. She was thrilled to join a team that developed the exact product she had wished for when she was a teacher! Bavani lives in the East Bay with her partner and two children. She holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Massachusetts in Boston and an SB in mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Ashley Kelly
College Coach
Ashley Kelly is a college coach based in Oakland, CA. Ashley
Ashley Kelly
College Coach
Ashley Kelly is a college coach based in Oakland, CA. Ashley has been coaching and mentoring college students since 2017. Before working as a college coach Ashley taught ESL for K-5 grade and university students. She earned a BA in international studies with minors in Spanish and sociology from Elon University in 2011 and a master's degree in social work from UC Berkeley in 2017. She is excited about supporting Beyond 12 students getting access to the support they need to succeed in college.
Mariah Knight
Program Manager
Mariah was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a pro
Mariah Knight
Program Manager
Mariah was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a program manager in Beyond 12’s Atlanta office. She is a recent graduate from Spelman College and received a bachelor’s of arts in International Studies with a minor in Spanish. Previously, she served as a peer ambassador for Achieve Atlanta mentoring students academically and socio-emotionally in the program. During her time in college, she established a teen girl health and empowerment course in Cienfuegos, Dominican Republic to ensure girls of color were receiving equitable education regarding their health and empowering them to become global change makers. Mariah loves engaging in international relations topics and has interned with three international organizations: CARE International, International Rescue Committee, and Girls Going Global. She believes the world will never be equal until education equity is achieved domestically and internationally. Mariah has a passion for community outreach which drives her continuous efforts to give back to her community and mentor students throughout Atlanta. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, trying out new restaurants, and making organic beauty products.
Dan Kurtz
Lead Software Architect
Dan has worked as a software engineer for over 10 years. Bef
Dan Kurtz
Lead Software Architect
Dan has worked as a software engineer for over 10 years. Before his commitment to reducing inequality led him to Beyond 12, he created mobile games at Big Fish Games and community websites for nonprofits at Trellon. Dan is a San Francisco native with a BA in cognitive science from UC Berkeley and a MA in information studies from the University of Toronto.
Jonathan Lai
Associate Data Analyst
Jonathan works as an associate data analyst at Beyond 12, or
Jonathan Lai
Associate Data Analyst
Jonathan works as an associate data analyst at Beyond 12, originally joining as a content intern in the summer of 2019. He recently graduated from UC Berkeley, majoring in English and Cognitive Science. Jonathan spent his undergrad working with multiple educational mentorships across the East Bay, including working as a teaching assistant in high school math and English classrooms, staffing FAFSA support workshops, and serving as a mentor and coordinator in after-school programs for elementary students.
Miles Lawrence
College Coach
Born and raised in Oakland, California, Miles has had the op
Miles Lawrence
College Coach
Born and raised in Oakland, California, Miles has had the opportunity to see all walks of life. While attending school at Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), he was able to be a part of numerous mentorships along with college readiness programs that helped him see the light at the end of the tunnel within education. After graduating from California State University, Northridge (CSUN) during the peak of the pandemic, he developed a passion for helping students like himself achieve higher levels of success. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in communication studies in hopes of continuing to spread the knowledge he’s gained while inspired to learn and understand others. He often emphasizes the importance of success not having a set look to it. Judging a book by its cover is NOT in his repertoire. As a first-generation college student and a first year college coach, Miles hopes to become a resource and benefit to those within his community.
John Lithio
Data Scientist
John Lithio is a data scientist at Beyond 12. Previously, he
John Lithio
Data Scientist
John Lithio is a data scientist at Beyond 12. Previously, he worked to improve K-12 student outcomes as a data scientist with the New York City Department of Education, where he developed a passion for improving equity in society through education. John also has experience in the finance industry and received a master's degree in analytics from Georgia Tech and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Hope College. He is dedicated to applying his technical skills as a data scientist to improving educational outcomes for first-generation and low-income students at scale.
Chinasa Mackey
College Coach
Born and raised in Oakland, CA, Chinasa graduated from Sonom
Chinasa Mackey
College Coach
Born and raised in Oakland, CA, Chinasa graduated from Sonoma State University in 2019 with a BA in criminology and criminal justice. Prior to her role at Beyond 12, Chinasa served as a case manager with Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY) serving justice systems involved young adults. During this role, Chinasa connected youth to services in the community, facilitated legal education workshops, court advocacy, and supported youth with college applications and financial aid. Chinasa’s true passions are prison reform, restorative justice practices, and guiding Black and Brown youth to reach their true potential. In her free time, Chinasa loves working out, eating great food and reading science fiction novels.
Guadalupe Ortiz
College Coach
Guadalupe Ortiz is a first year college coach with Beyond 12
Guadalupe Ortiz
College Coach
Guadalupe Ortiz is a first year college coach with Beyond 12. She started her college journey at Georgia Highlands College, then transferred to Georgia State University where she received her bachelor's in social work in 2018. While attending college, she co-founded La Mano, an organization that focused on supporting first-generation students through their journey in college. Before becoming a College Coach, she worked as site coordinator for Communities in Schools, where she supported high school students by empowering them to stay in school and helped them with their life goals. Guadalupe has a passion for supporting first-generation students in achieving equal access to higher education and helping them become successful in their post-secondary journey. In her free time she enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with her family.
Payal Patel
Senior Director of Finance and Operations
Payal has over 15 years of experience in finance, operations
Payal Patel
Senior Director of Finance and Operations
Payal has over 15 years of experience in finance, operations and human resources management in both the private and not-for-profit sectors. Before joining Beyond 12, Payal was the Director of Finance & Operations for the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights where she helped manage a $21M capital campaign and helped launch Restore Oakland. Payal is passionate about helping others, especially mentoring students, and has dedicated much of her life to volunteering with youth organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs and Girls Inc. She has also been an advocate for education equity and other human rights through her previous roles. She is active in her community, previously serving as a Commissioner for the City of Richmond, CA. Payal is a Bay Area native and earned her BA in psychology from San Francisco State University.
Dana Perez
Director of Development
Dana has over 12 years of experience in full-cycle fundraisi
Dana Perez
Director of Development
Dana has over 12 years of experience in full-cycle fundraising and strategy and philanthropic partnership management. Immediately before joining Beyond 12, Dana was the managing director of development at education nonprofit City Year Los Angeles, where she served as the head of the 15-person development department and worked with the executive director, board of directors, and her team to raise $8.3 MIL, reaching the highest annual private revenue goal in City Year’s 29-site national network. Throughout her career, she has led fundraising initiatives for noteworthy education causes, securing major donations from corporate, individual, and institutional funders. Dana’s previous experience includes serving as corporate development director at City Year LA, director of development, annual fund and donor engagement at Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, donor relations and special events manager at Allies for Every Child, and account executive at the United Way of Greater Los Angeles. Dana received her BA in human development from the University of California, San Diego.
Karina Pichardo
Software Engineer
Through the support of non-profits similar to Beyond12, Kari
Karina Pichardo
Software Engineer
Through the support of non-profits similar to Beyond12, Karina was able to dream big and earned a bachelor’s degree in cognitive science from the University of California, Berkeley. After working in the corporate field for two years, she decided to seek an opportunity in which her career as a software engineer and passion for educational equity could intersect.
Tyra Preston
Content Strategy Analyst
Tyra, a Houston native, works as a content strategy analyst
Tyra Preston
Content Strategy Analyst
Tyra, a Houston native, works as a content strategy analyst in Oakland, CA. She graduated from Texas A&M University in 2015 with a BS in Child Professional Services. Prior to becoming a college coach, Tyra worked as a senior college advisor for College Advising Corps, where she assisted over 1,200 students to successfully apply and enroll in college and financial aid. After being a mentee of the CAC program, she developed a passion to empower students to create their own pathway to success which led her to Beyond 12. She is also a performing artist who loves to create music, dance, and write during her free time.
Alysha Robbins
Content Associate
Alysha joined Beyond 12 as a content deployment intern durin
Alysha Robbins
Content Associate
Alysha joined Beyond 12 as a content deployment intern during her second year of undergrad, and has since graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in social welfare and a minor in city and regional planning. Alysha's lived experience in under-resourced public schools has led them to pursue a career focused on ensuring and preserving access to higher education for first-generation, low-income, students of color. Alysha uses she and they pronouns.
James Robinson
College Coach
Before becoming a college coach, James spent a year as a fel
James Robinson
College Coach
Before becoming a college coach, James spent a year as a fellow at the non-profit DonorsChoose. During his time there, he worked on the partner management team to help fulfill any partners' needs. He also worked on the marketing team where he helped teachers from across the world learn about new opportunities that DonorsChoose and their partners had to offer. He earned his bachelor’s degree in quantitative social science and minored in afro-african american studies from Dartmouth College in Spring 2020. Although he dealt with much adversity, with the help of mentors on and off campus he persevered through it. Reflecting on his struggles and working at different education non-profit companies influenced him to become a college coach.
Arielle Sanders
Senior Associate Director of Data Insights
Arielle is a senior associate director of data insights and
Arielle Sanders
Senior Associate Director of Data Insights
Arielle is a senior associate director of data insights and holds a Master’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics from Georgetown University and a B.A. from UC Riverside. Prior to Beyond 12, Arielle was Associate Director at Mathnasium in Arlington, VA, and through her work with K-12 students she truly realized the importance of a college degree for first-generation and low-income students. From her hands-on experience with kids and extensive mathematical background, Arielle has found her calling in the world of higher education and data here at Beyond 12.
Bria Shackleford
College Coach
Bria, an Atlanta native, is a first-generation college gradu
Bria Shackleford
College Coach
Bria, an Atlanta native, is a first-generation college graduate, and first year college coach at Beyond 12. She graduated from Georgia State University in 2016 with a BA in psychology and a minor in sociology. Prior to becoming a college coach, Bria worked as a special education paraprofessional within Atlanta Public Schools and as a substitute teacher within the Cobb County School District. After careful thought and consideration, she decided to enroll at Kennesaw State University for a master’s degree in teaching ESOL. Bria holds great passion for education and the academic achievement of minority students. In her free time, she enjoys reading personal development literature and spending quality time with friends and family.
Lara Sidhu
Senior Director of Program
Lara brings both personal and professional experience to her
Lara Sidhu
Senior Director of Program
Lara brings both personal and professional experience to her role as senior director of program. Since joining in 2013, her work strengthens her passion for serving youth and commitment to developing systemic interventions that generate more equitable outcomes for individuals from underserved communities. She has served as a college coach, coordinated professional development, and managed a partnership with NASFAA and The Department of Education. Before joining Beyond 12, Lara mentored Upward Bound students, facilitated Kids’ Turn workshops for families experiencing separation, supported survivors of domestic violence with the Riley Center, and promoted health and wellness at the YMCA and St. Vincent De Paul’s Ozanam Wellness Center. Lara earned a BA in psychology, graduating magna cum laude from the University of San Francisco and a MSW with a concentration in children and families with a PPSC from UC Berkeley.
Dr. Tianna Sims-Miller
Director of Data Insights
Tianna Sims-Miller is director of data insights at Beyond 12
Dr. Tianna Sims-Miller
Director of Data Insights
Tianna Sims-Miller is director of data insights at Beyond 12. She has over ten years of experience with data analysis, data visualization, and research. Tianna has worked in a variety of educational settings including academia, state government, and local schools where she used data to generate deep actionable insights. She loves talking about all things data to both technical and nontechnical audiences and telling compelling data stories. Tianna believes data can be used to reduce educational inequities and to improve education systems and outcomes for all. Tianna received a Bachelors of Science from the University of Central Florida and a PhD in research, measurement, and statistics from Georgia State University.
DeSiyre Spurgeon
College Coach
DeSiyre Spurgeon is a college coach at Beyond 12. Prior to t
DeSiyre Spurgeon
College Coach
DeSiyre Spurgeon is a college coach at Beyond 12. Prior to this, DeSiyre served as a college adviser with the Carolina College Advising Corps for two years. There, she helped hundreds of low-income, first-generation, minority high school students gain access to college, and create and commit to plans for their futures. In 2019, DeSiyre graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a Bachelor's of Science in Psychology and a minor in neuroscience. During undergrad, DeSiyre volunteered as a peer mentor to help community college transfer students acclimate to the university. In 2017, DeSiyre graduated from Fayetteville Technical Community College with an associate's in arts degree before transferring to UNC Chapel Hill. DeSiyre’s passion for helping underrepresented students gain access to college and find hope for their futures led her to join the Beyond 12 team where she hopes to continue assisting students with creating, elevating, and living their post-secondary dreams!
Catherine Tierney
Director of Content
As Director of Content, Catherine drives the content strateg
Catherine Tierney
Director of Content
As Director of Content, Catherine drives the content strategy for Beyond12's student-facing mobile apps. She brings over a decade of experience in education, from classroom teaching to ed-tech product management. She is driven by the belief that technology can help scale impactful solutions and lead to a more just world. Before joining Beyond12, she was senior editor and then senior product manager at ThinkCERCA, an ed-tech platform focusing on critical thinking and argumentative writing. Catherine holds a master's degree in education from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Francis Tompkins
Senior Director of Program
Francis is a senior director of program at Beyond 12. Since
Francis Tompkins
Senior Director of Program
Francis is a senior director of program at Beyond 12. Since 2015, he has led coaching skills training for Beyond 12’s coaches and he now leads the overarching training and professional development strategy for the broader program team. To his role, he brings over a decade of experience in project management, training, and facilitation, with a particular focus on coaching and leadership development. His experience ranges from building the leadership, evaluation, and strategic planning capacity of social sector organizations through his private practice, to working at a leadership development and culture change firm serving large private and public organizations. Francis is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach through the Co-Active Training Institute and a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coach Federation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in social studies from Harvard College, where his academic engagement focused on education, community organizing, psychology, and social change. Outside of Beyond 12, Francis is a volunteer executive coach with the Humanitarian Coaching Network, and a member of the board of directors for YES Nature to Neighborhoods, a leadership and wellness organization serving the community where he grew up.
Brenda Trujillo
College Coach
Brenda is a Bay Area native, born and raised in Richmond, CA
Brenda Trujillo
College Coach
Brenda is a Bay Area native, born and raised in Richmond, CA. After a tough journey through college, Brenda graduated from Sacramento State and received her BS in criminal justice in December 2020. Prior to joining Beyond 12, she had the opportunity to work with the Richmond Promise where she served as the AmeriCorps VISTA college success coordinator. With the Richmond Promise, she helped redevelop the mentorship program and supported students from Richmond through their college journeys, many who are first-gen and low-income like herself. She also worked with Bay Area Community Resources (BACR) as an after-school program leader where she focused on teaching 2nd-5th graders how to build positive relationships, and participate in meaningful academic and enrichment activities. Brenda hopes to continue providing support to students like herself and increase equity and college access for all.
Jennifer Vargas
College Coach
Jennifer was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, and
Jennifer Vargas
College Coach
Jennifer was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, and is currently located in Manhattan, NYC, and Little Ferry, NJ. She graduated from the State University of New York at Oswego with her bachelor's degree in psychology with a double minor in forensic science and business administration in May 2021. She is thrilled to bring professional experiences and resources that once upon a time she was receiving. Before joining her role at Beyond 12, Jennifer served as a behavioral assistant with Mental Wellness Center LLC providing behavioral intervention to children and adolescents in-home, zoom, or telephone setting. She also worked with the Educational Opportunity Program at Oswego as a peer leader, where she focused on developing and coordinating academic enrichment activities to help students increase interaction. Jennifer is passionate about mental health, counseling, therapy, justice practices, prison treatments, and empowering under-resourced communities and students. Jennifer hopes to continue her education by obtaining her master's in forensic mental health counseling at John Jay and supporting opportunities for students to acquire higher education. During her free time, Jennifer loves traveling, hiking, adventures, exploring nature, trying new restaurants, meditating, spending quality time with her loved ones, shopping, doing yoga, and listening to music among others.
Merling Velasquez
College Coach
Merling Velasquez is a college coach originally from Los Ang
Merling Velasquez
College Coach
Merling Velasquez is a college coach originally from Los Angeles, CA. Her passion for increasing the quality of life and mental wellness of marginalized communities led her to pursue a degree in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley. Merling has had the honor of working alongside first-generation college students, families and children with Autism to ease the transition to new phases of their lives. Merling loves exploring, and enjoys learning about anything and everything!
Meng Vong
Associate Data Analyst
After graduating with a degree in Statistics and Data Scienc
Meng Vong
Associate Data Analyst
After graduating with a degree in Statistics and Data Science from UC Santa Barbara, Meng is now working as an associate data analyst for Beyond 12. Prior to this, his work life has revolved around education, starting work off as a volunteer tutor for young children to becoming the lead teaching assistant for college students. Meng specializes in utilizing python for automation and deconstructing data to showcase a story on what the data can say. Now, he plans to use what he has learned to draw insights from data for the goal of helping more people gain access to higher education.
Amber White
Director of Program
Amber White is director of program at Beyond 12. Prior to th
Amber White
Director of Program
Amber White is director of program at Beyond 12. Prior to this role, Amber served as the behavior support specialist and multi-tier systems of support coordinator at Education for Change Public Schools where she managed a team of behavioral and academic paraprofessionals providing 1:1 services to high needs students. Before joining EFC, Amber was a mental health counselor with Seneca Family of Agencies where she provided direct behavioral and social emotional support in counseling enriched and non-public school settings. Amber is passionate about behavioral health and helping teams to understand their role and how they can use their passions to drive results while also building their profile as a professional. In 2016, Amber published an article as a part of her capstone project titled “Tuning “The System”: An Evaluation of Restorative Practices in San Lorenzo School District” where she focused on improving the educators ability to implement and sustain restorative practices within their classroom in hopes to decrease suspension rates amongst high school students, disrupting the school to prison pipeline. Amber completed a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Utah State in 2011 and went on to complete a master’s degree in behavioral health from the University of San Francisco in 2016.
Stephanie Zambrano
College Coach
After high school Stephanie attended her local community col
Stephanie Zambrano
College Coach
After high school Stephanie attended her local community college where she received an abundance of support from her college’s Puente Project. Her participation in Puente provided her the confidence and empowerment she needed as a first-generation student to transfer to UC Davis. While at UC Davis Stephanie served as a student outreach ambassador for the Transfer Opportunity Program where she provided resources to community college students and addressed common misconceptions surrounding the transfer pathway. This role was pivotal to Stephanie’s journey as it affirmed her passion for working with first generation, low income, and underserved students. Upon graduating from UC Davis she served as a college adviser fellow for UC Berkeley’s Destination College Advising Corps. Stephanie is excited to continue to work closely with first generation students through her new role as college coach.
Xinlin Zhao
Senior Data Analyst
Xinlin is a data analyst at Beyond 12. As a first generatio
Xinlin Zhao
Senior Data Analyst
Xinlin is a data analyst at Beyond 12. As a first generation college student and an international student, Xinlin recognizes the support needed for underserved college students. She believes that education equity is the foundation of an equitable society, which led her to the mission of Beyond 12. Xinlin has a hybrid background in the fields of data analytics, nonprofit management and philanthropy and a prolonged interest in leveraging technology and data to drive social changes. Xinlin holds a BA in International Relations from University of Southern California and a MS in public policy from Uchicago’s Harris School.
Our Board
Beyond 12 Board members are dedicated and passionate about ensuring that all students have access to a quality education. Their experience spans the nonprofit, education, technology, entertainment, and financial services industries.
Ethan Beard
Co-Founder, Yoz Labs; Angel Investor; former Director of Platform Partnerships, Facebook
Ethan Beard is the co-founder of Yoz Labs. A longtime tech executive and entrepreneur, Ethan has focused on the intersection of te
Ethan Beard
Co-Founder, Yoz Labs; Angel Investor; former Director of Platform Partnerships, Facebook
Ethan Beard is the co-founder of Yoz Labs. A longtime tech executive and entrepreneur, Ethan has focused on the intersection of technology companies and their partners including leading Ripple’s blockchain developer program, the Facebook Developer Network and New Business Development at Google. He is also an active investor in and advisor to early stage technology startups and was an EIR at Greylock Partners. Ethan lives in San Francisco with his wife and two children and is an active philanthropist supporting organizations in contemporary art, education, and democracy reform.
Alexandra Bernadotte
Founder & CEO, Beyond 12
Alex has more than 18 years of executive management and strategic development experience in both the nonprofit and private sectors
Alexandra Bernadotte
Founder & CEO, Beyond 12
Alex has more than 18 years of executive management and strategic development experience in both the nonprofit and private sectors. Immediately before launching Beyond 12, she was an Entrepreneur in Residence at NewSchools Venture Fund where she conducted the research and developed the business plan for Beyond 12. Alex's previous professional experience includes serving as executive director of The Princeton Review's Silicon Valley office, co-founder and vice president of marketing and online strategy at educational travel startup Explorica, director of operations at EF Education, and operations manager at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, where she coordinated the efforts of an international youth substance abuse prevention foundation.
Alex was also the executive director of Foundation for a College Education (FCE). She currently serves on the FCE advisory board, as well as the board of directors of the Great Oakland Public Schools Leadership Center. Alex received her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and earned a master's degree with a concentration in policy and organizational leadership from Stanford. She is an Ashoka Fellow, a recipient of the 2011 NewSchools Venture Fund Entrepreneur of the year award, and a 2012 Jefferson Award for Public Service. In addition, Fast Company recently named Beyond 12 “one of the world’s top 10 most innovative companies in education. “
Angela Jackson (Vice Chair)
Chief Ecosystem and Investment Officer, Kapor Center
Angela’s career started in the private sector leading business development for organizations like Viacom and Nokia. While workin
Angela Jackson (Vice Chair)
Chief Ecosystem and Investment Officer, Kapor Center
Angela’s career started in the private sector leading business development for organizations like Viacom and Nokia. While working internationally, she began to wonder: if multinational companies can deliver their products consistently and with quality at scale, what would it take to deliver social interventions like education and health in a similar manner?
She began to tackle this question by founding Global Language Project, a social venture that aimed to transform how we prepare students with skills to succeed in a global economy and workforce. Angela completed a Doctoral degree at Harvard University, where her focus was on this question, along with the role of scale and strategic capital deployment and philanthropy in systems change initiatives.
Angela’s work with New Profit allowed her to marry her research interests with practice. She led New Profit's $15M Future of Work global fund to invest in entrepreneurs and companies developing innovative technical solutions to upskill low-income and entry-level workers at scale. Angela recently launched a $6 million Future of Work Grand Challenge, powered by XPRIZE and MIT Solve, to rapidly reskill 25,000 displaced workers into living-wage jobs in the next 24 months.
Her work and writing has been featured in CNN, Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, Stanford Social Innovation Review and Harvard Business Review. You can read her thoughts on the intersection of race and the Future of Work on Medium and follow her on Twitter at @angjack.
Renuka Kher (Chair)
Former Chief Operating Officer, Tipping Point Community; Founder and former Managing Director, T Lab
Renuka Kher has supported entrepreneurial efforts in under-resourced communities for her entire career. She has spent 16 years in
Renuka Kher (Chair)
Former Chief Operating Officer, Tipping Point Community; Founder and former Managing Director, T Lab
Renuka Kher has supported entrepreneurial efforts in under-resourced communities for her entire career. She has spent 16 years in philanthropy and helped direct over $100M through various roles. Her professional experience spans the public, private, philanthropic and non-profit sectors. She has served on the board of and as an advisor to many of the nation’s leading social change organizations including, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Beyond 12, Year Up, Global Citizen Year and Revolution Foods.
Most recently, she served on the executive team of Tipping Point Community a nonprofit grant-making organization that fights poverty in the Bay Area. During her six year tenure at Tipping Point she helped lead the growth of the organization as its Chief Operating Officer and also founded T Lab, Tipping Point's R+D engine.
Before joining Tipping Point, Renuka served as a Principal at NewSchools Venture Fund whose work is focused on education and prior to that she was a Senior Program Officer at the Robin Hood Foundation where her work included developing and implementing a strategy for a $65 million relief fund, one of the nation's largest, created to respond to the terrorist attacks of September 11th.
Her work has been featured in The San Francisco Chronicle, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, OZY, and Social Startup Success. Renuka received her bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Michigan, and completed her graduate work at Emory University, where she received a master's in public health from the Rollins School of Public Health. She is an alumnus of the Coro Leadership Program and also holds a certificate in Innovation Leadership from California College of the Arts. She currently lives in Oakland with her husband and two young children.
Deborah McGriff
Former Managing Partner, NewSchools Venture Fund
Deborah has been committed to transforming the lives of underserved urban school students for more than four decades. In 1993, Deb
Deborah McGriff
Former Managing Partner, NewSchools Venture Fund
Deborah has been committed to transforming the lives of underserved urban school students for more than four decades. In 1993, Deborah became the first public school superintendent to join Edison Learning (formerly Edison Schools). There, she held numerous positions including, President of Edison Teachers College, Executive Vice President of Charter Schools, and Executive Vice President of several external relations functions. Prior to joining Edison Learning, Deborah served as the first female General Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools. Crain’s Detroit Business named her Newsmaker of the Year for 1992. Before that, she was the first female Assistant Superintendent in Cambridge, Massachusetts and the first female Deputy Superintendent in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was a teacher and administrator in the New York City Public Schools for more than a decade. Deborah is the former President of the Education Industry Association. In addition to serving on the boards of several high-performing charter management organizations, she is the Chair of the board of Beyond 12. She serves on the executive committee of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Policy Innovators in Education Network, and is a founder and national board member of the Black Alliance for Educational Options. She also serves on the advisory board of the Games and Learning Publishing Council, Hechinger Report, Program on Education Policy and Governance at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and is a member of the Review Board for the Broad Prize in Urban Education. Deborah holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Norfolk State University, a master’s degree in education with a specialization in reading pedagogy from Queens College of the City University of New York, and a doctorate in Administration, Policy and Urban Education from Fordham University.
Tulaine Montgomery
Co-CEO, New Profit
Tulaine Montgomery is an entrepreneur, educator, writer and organizer. She has played leadership roles in the launch and expansion
Tulaine Montgomery
Co-CEO, New Profit
Tulaine Montgomery is an entrepreneur, educator, writer and organizer. She has played leadership roles in the launch and expansion of social enterprises across the U.S., the Caribbean, East Africa, Indonesia and South Africa.
Tulaine currently serves as Co-CEO of New Profit, a venture philanthropy organization that backs visionary leaders who are scaling innovations and transforming our nation’s most important and often inequitable systems. During her time at New Profit, Tulaine has led initiatives focused on strengthening education-to-employment pathways for underserved youth, driving resources and support to entrepreneurs who have been directly impacted by the American legal system, and building a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization and philanthropic sector. Tulaine has also served as the lead architect of New Profit’s Inclusive Impact strategy and Proximate Capital fund, which seeks to bridge the resource gap faced by Black, Latino/a/x, Indigenous, rural and other underinvested social entrepreneurs.
Outside of New Profit, Tulaine is a trusted advisor to nonprofit organizations and socially responsible companies, and serves as the Board Chair for GirlTrek, the largest public health nonprofit for African-American women and girls in the nation. Her other board positions include Beyond 12, YouthBuild, College for Social Innovation, and Jitegemee (a youth-serving organization in Kenya). She is also the Host and Executive Producer of "Say More: Live conversations with Tulaine,” an Instagram Live virtual ‘salon’ that explores what it would take to build a world that works for everyone.
Tulaine’s writing has been featured in Stanford Social Innovation Review, The Root, Worth Media, and more. She has a master’s in public policy from Tufts University and a bachelor’s degree from Smith College.
Tulaine is an experienced cellist and writer; she has written and produced five original plays.
Scott Morgan (Secretary)
Head of Talent, Springboard; Founder & former CEO, Education Pioneers
Scott is an entrepreneur and builder who is passionate about empowering purpose-driven leaders, organizations, and communities to
Scott Morgan (Secretary)
Head of Talent, Springboard; Founder & former CEO, Education Pioneers
Scott is an entrepreneur and builder who is passionate about empowering purpose-driven leaders, organizations, and communities to reach their full potential for impact.
Scott founded Education Pioneers in 2003 to build a diverse network of leaders dedicated to transforming education so that all students receive a quality education. He served as CEO for 15 years while raising $40M+ from national funders and leading the organization's recruitment and training of 4,000+ leaders to drive impact at 750+ education organizations serving millions of students.
Scott currently serves as the head of employer partnerships at Springboard, a mission-driven company that is bridging the world's skills gap by offering transformative online education experiences in tech-related fields such as data science, UI/UX design, machine learning, and software engineering. Scott has also served in a variety of roles at pioneering education organizations during his career, including teacher at St. Jude High School, in-house counsel at Aspire Public Schools, and founding talent leader at Wonderschool.
Scott graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in government from the University of Notre Dame, received his Master of Arts in teaching from the University of Portland, and earned his law degree from Stanford Law School. He is a Draper Richards Kaplan Entrepreneur, a board member of Beyond 12, an advisor at BookNook, a Pahara-Aspen Education Fellow, Class of 2010, and the recipient of the 2017 Notre Dame Award for Outstanding Contributions to Catholic Education.
Shonda Rhimes
Television producer, film writer, and author; creator, head writer, and Executive Producer of Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, and Scandal
Shonda is an award-winning writer, director, and producer who created the hit ABC series Grey's Anatomy and Scandal. Shonda als
Shonda Rhimes
Television producer, film writer, and author; creator, head writer, and Executive Producer of Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, and Scandal
Shonda is an award-winning writer, director, and producer who created the hit ABC series Grey's Anatomy and Scandal. Shonda also created the Grey's Anatomy spinoff series, Private Practice, which ran on ABC for six seasons. Now in its eleventh season, Grey's Anatomy continues to be hailed by audiences and critics. For her work on the series, Shonda received the 2007 Television Producer of the Year award from the Producers Guild of America, the 2007 Golden Globe for Outstanding Television Drama, the 2007 Lucy Award for Excellence in Television from Women in Film, consecutive wins from 2007-2011 for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series as well as five wins for Outstanding Drama Series, the 2006 Writers Guild Award for Best New Series, in addition to Emmy nominations for Outstanding Drama Series and Writing for a Drama Series. For Scandal, Shonda was the 2013 winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Drama Series as well as nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series. Shonda was the recipient of the 2012 GLAAD Golden Gate Award, 2010 RAINN Hope Award and a 2009 GLSEN Respect Awards Honoree. Shonda has twice been included in TIME Magazine's 100 list of the most influential people. Shonda holds a B.A. from Dartmouth College in English Literature with Creative Writing and an M.F.A. from the USC School of Cinema-Television, where she was awarded the prestigious Gary Rosenberg Writing Fellowship. The child of educators, Rhimes blames her parents for her rampant addiction to books. The youngest of six, she was born and raised outside of Chicago, IL, and now resides in Los Angeles with her three daughters.
Dr. Carmen Rojas
President & CEO, Marguerite Casey Foundation
Dr. Carmen Rojas is the president and CEO of the Marguerite Casey Foundation. Prior to joining Marg
Dr. Carmen Rojas
President & CEO, Marguerite Casey Foundation
Dr. Carmen Rojas is the president and CEO of the Marguerite Casey Foundation. Prior to joining Marguerite Casey Foundation, Dr. Carmen Rojas was the Co-Founder and former CEO of The Workers Lab, an innovation lab that invests in entrepreneurs, community organizers, and government leaders to create replicable and revenue-generating solutions that improve conditions for low-wage workers. For more than 20 years, Carmen has worked with foundations, financial institutions, and nonprofits to improve the lives of working people across the United States.
Prior to building The Workers Lab, Carmen was the Acting Director of Collective Impact at Living Cities. She supported 22 of the largest foundations and financial institutions in the world to invest in improving economic opportunity for low-income people by supporting projects in the fields of economic and workforce development, energy efficiency, and asset building. From 2008 to 2011, Carmen was the Director of Strategic Programs at the Mitchell Kapor Foundation, where she oversaw the foundation’s Green Access and Civic Engagement programs. Alongside her work at the foundation, Carmen also taught in the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to this, Carmen was the Coordinator of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency’s Taskforce on African American Out-Migration to address African American displacement from the city.
Carmen currently sits on the boards of the Neighborhood Funders Group, General Service Foundation, JOLT, Certification Associates, and on the Advisory Boards of Fund Good Jobs and Floodgate Academy.
Carmen holds a Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley and was a Fulbright Scholar in 2007.
Natalie A. Walrond (Treasurer)
Director, Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety, WestEd
Natalie Walrond brings to her work twenty-five years of experience in K- 12 education, finance, and strategy, for both for-profit
Natalie A. Walrond (Treasurer)
Director, Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety, WestEd
Natalie Walrond brings to her work twenty-five years of experience in K- 12 education, finance, and strategy, for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Walrond serves as director of the national Center to Improve Social & Emotional Learning and School Safety housed at WestEd. In this role she leads the vision, strategic direction, and external engagement of the center. Walrond leads a team of 17 people who work nationally to build state and local capacity to integrate evidence-based approaches to social and emotional development and school safety with academic teaching and learning, school climate and culture, and all of the ways that children and youth experience school. Walrond speaks and writes for the Center on social and emotional well- being, excellence, alignment and coherence, and equity.
Walrond began her career in investment management and investment banking. After ten years, she served as a nonprofit Chief Financial Officer, before becoming an associate partner at NewSchools Venture Fund. Prior to joining WestEd, she was an independent consultant for several years serving mission-driven education organizations, providing strategic planning, financial strategy, and board effectiveness consulting. She earned a B.A. in international studies and international business from Trinity University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, with concentrations in analytic finance and policy studies. She earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1999. Walrond has served on several boards and is currently a member of Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC).
Our Supporters
A growing number of individual donors, foundations, and corporations, make our work possible. We are so grateful for their partnership and support. The following are some of our major supporters. Get involved.
