Our staff
Our exceptional teachers and staff partner with our scholars and their families through college graduation and beyond.
Meet our leadership team
Sarah Smith
Executive Director
B.A. History, University of Virginia
M.A. in Education, Stanford University
Monica R. Parker, Esq.
Associate Executive Director
B.A. English and American Literature, cum laude, Harvard College
J.D., Harvard Law School
206-838-6677
Mary Bristow
Director of Development
B.A. Child and Family Studies, Washington State University
206-407-2115
Fred Capestany
Director of College Support
B.A. Psychology, Whitman College
M.A. in Education, Seattle University
206-407-2148
Roy Fisher
Mental Health Therapist
B.A. Psychology, University of California, Berkeley
M.A. Marriage and Family Therapy, Pacific Lutheran University
206-838-6648
Sumiko Huff
Academic Director
B.A. Art, Willamette University
Masters in Teaching, Seattle University
Principal Certification, City University
Ed.D. Candidate Education, University of Washington
206-407-2118
Kaila Davis Nsimbi
Director, Academic Counseling and Support Services
B.A. History, Seattle University
206-407-2145
Susie Wu
Director of Leadership Development
B.A. English, Stanford University
M.Ed in Education, Stanford University
206-407-2142
Meet our staff
Aisha Cathcart
Academic Counselor
B.A. Speech and Hearing Sciences, Washington State University
206-838-6647
Erika Chen
Event and Volunteer Manager
B.B.A. Economics, University of Miami
M.P.A. and Certificate in Nonprofit Management, University of Washington
206-838-6678
Dominique Daba
Director of Placement
B.A. Literatures and Cultures in English, Brown University
206-407-2114
Bethany Furubayashi
Director of Corporate Engagement
B.A. Mathematics and Computer Science, Indiana University
206-407-2181
Mizan Howard
Recruitment, Retention and Family Engagement Manager
B.A. Environmental Studies, University of Washington
Master of Liberal Arts, Extension Studies, Harvard University
206-838-6625
Simmy Kumar
Program Assistant, ACSS & LD
B.A. International Relations and Economics, Franklin University
206-407-2149
Drego Little
Learning Support Specialist and Literature/Writing Teacher
B.A. Law, Society and Justice, University of Washington
M.Ed. Literacy, University of Washington
206-235-0409
Marilyn Lopez
Academic Counselor
B.A. History, The University of Texas at Austin
Master of Nonprofit Leadership, Seattle University
832-692-4293
Karen Merz
Career Program Manager
B.A. Kinesiology, University of Washington
Teaching Certification
206-407-2116
Giovanni Milan
Academic Counselor
B.A. Human Services, Western Washington University
206-407-2141
Rosida Mohamathno
AEP Dean of Students and Recruitment/Program Assistant
B.A. Communications, University of Washington
206-838-6673
Kisa Nishimoto
Marketing & Communications Manager
B.A. Business, University of Washington
206-838-6679
Kathryn Pienta
Social Worker/Family Services Coordinator
B.A. Psychology, Wheaton College
Masters in Social Work, Simmons College
206-303-9588
Colin Roberts
Database Administrator
B.S. Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
206-838-6672
L. Diana Robinson
Office Manager/College Support Program Assistant
Seattle Central Community College (Foundations of Banking Certificate), PCDI Online Learning (Accounting & Bookkeeping Certificate)
206-407-2147
Derek Rogers
Director of College Counseling
B.S. Business Administration, California Lutheran University
206-407-2146
Liz Sadler
Interim Academic Director
B.A. Mathematics, Hamilton College
B.A. Classical Languages, Hamilton College
Masters in Teaching, Seattle University
206-407-2118
Julie Stephens
Program Assistant for Recruitment
B.A. Sociology and Education, Boston College
M.A. Criminology, University of South Florida
Kasey Walker
Academic Counselor
A.A., Bellevue College
B.A. Sociology, University of Washington
206-310-5088
JT Williams
Director of Recruitment & Enrollment
B.A. Community, Environment and Planning, University of Washington
M.Ed., University of Washington
206-407-2144
Thomas Wilson
Internship and Networking Manager, College Support
B.A. Communication, Washington State University
M.Ed., Seattle University
206-838-6675
Meet our faculty
Sean Baughn, History/Research
B.A. History and Philosophy, University of Washington
M.I.T. Education, Western Washington University
Jackie Billups, Mathematics
B.S. Economics, Seattle Pacific University
Dr. Heather Clark, Invictus
B.A. Evergreen College
Ph.D. Social Cultural Anthropology, University of Washington
Danica Hendrickson, Science
B.S. Science, Seattle University
M.Ed, Mind, Brain and Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Jon Howland, Mathematics
B.A. Politics, Government and International Relations, University of Puget Sound
M.S. Education, City College of New York
Alexandra Ibarra, History
B.A. History, Humboldt State University
M.Ed. Social and Cultural Foundations of Education, University of Washington (2016)
M.A. Secondary Education, Loyola Marymount University
Drego Little, Literature/Writing
B.A. Law, Society and Justice, University of Washington
M.Ed. Literacy, University of Washington
Alexa Matlack, NCSP, Conclave
B.S. Psychology, University of Florida
Ed.S. School Psychology, University of Washington
Doctoral student in School Psychology, University of Washington
Jason Medeiros, Science
B.S. Biology, Yale University
M.S. Soil Microbiology, University of California, Berkeley
M.S. Landscape Architecture, University of Washington
Lindsey Mutschler, Literature/Writing and History
B.A. Secondary Education (Art), Western Washington University
Liz Sadler, Mathematics
B.A. Mathematics, Hamilton College
B.A. Classical Languages, Hamilton College
Ashley Sirls, Literature/Writing
B.A. Secondary Education (English & African American Studies), University of Arizona
M.Ed. Literacy, University of Washington
Connect with our community
We walk beside our scholars throughout their journey to college graduation and beyond. Your belief in our work and our scholars enriches our region, developing college graduates and leaders who reflect the diversity of our communities and our world.
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Meet our team
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